Epidemiology, 2e [Paperback]

Leon Gordis MD MPH DrPH (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2000 | ISBN-10: 072168338X | ISBN-13: 978-0721683386 | Edition: 2

The 2nd Edition of Epidemiology teaches the basic principles and methods of epidemiology in an understandable and interesting manner. Both the underlying concepts as well as the practical uses of epidemiology in both public health and clinical practice are emphasized. The book is organized into three sections: Section One focuses on the epidemiologic approach to assessing the extent and severity of disease in the community. Section Two deals with using epidemiology to identify the causes of disease. Section Three discusses the use of epidemiology for evaluating health services and screening programs. Many of the diagrams and illustrations have been developed by the author in over 20 years of professional practice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The book by Gordis has become my overall favourite as a first serious textbook in epidemiology; it is ideal for the master's level entrant and has a great deal of material suitable for the undergraduate. -- Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

About the Author

Leon Gordis, MD , Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Saunders; 2 edition (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 072168338X
• ISBN-13: 978-0721683386
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #439,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good source for medical students and epidemiologists., September 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Epidemiology, 2e (Paperback)

This is a well written book that touches upon all basic areas of Epidemiology. A strong point of the book is its use of illustrations, they help keep the material somewhat interesting rather than bland full of text.

It goes through plenty of examples to help you memorize concepts as well as give you practice of each chapter's readings by having review questions for that chapter.

It is a good aid for medical students, epidemiologists as well as anyone involved in the related health services.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introductory Text, October 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Epidemiology, 2e (Paperback)

When it comes to textbooks, the section I usually use most often is the index so I don't have to plod through pages of material to find the information I need. This is one of the few textbooks I've ever read cover to cover and actually enjoyed. The text is very readable with many examples to demonstrate the concepts discussed. There are also plenty of illustrations and charts to reinforce the information. Also, this isn't just one more book taking up space on my bookshelf -- I still use it as a reference to clarify questions that come up. Epidemiology is a clearly written, methodologically presented introduction to the most important concepts in the field.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for the basics - but know what you need before buying., November 1, 2006

By 

Raphael See (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Epidemiology, 2e (Paperback)

The Gordis text is excellent if you are a newcomer to clinical research and want to get your feet on the ground in a hurry. Explanations of basic epidemilogic concepts (prevalence, indcidence, odds and hazard ratios, sensitivities and specificities, basic study designs and limitations) are written in an easy-to-grasp manner, and the exercises at the end of each chapter ensure you are really able to put these concepts into practice. It is a quick and easy read, and will really give you a leg-up when you begin formal coursework.

HOWEVER, if you are looking to learn about hypothesis testing, statistical tests, and how data are typically analyzed and presented at the end of clinical trials, this book will not help you. You will need a dedicated statistics book - for beginners like myself, the Douglas Altman text is a wonderful (albeit rigorous) supplement to this one.