Learning Objectives for the Lecture:
At the end of the lecture the student is going to be able to:
1. Define epidemiology and related concepts.
2. Describe the purpose of epidemiology.
3. List the uses of epidemiology.
4. Identify the term of causality and its related terms.
5. Describe the epidemiological triad and the variations among its elements.
Simple Old Definitions
1. Study the occurrence of illnesses.
2. Branch of medical science which treats epidemics (Oxford English Dictionary).
3. Study of epidemics and their prevention (Kuller,1991).
A modern Definition
The study of the occurrence and distribution of health-related states or events in specified populations ,including the study of determinants influencing such states, and the application of this study to control health problems (Last,1995).
Epidemiology as a study: means that the use of basic science of public health. It is a discipline based on principles of statistics and research methodologies.
