Epidemiology in Public Health Practice: By A. Haveman-Nies, S. C. Jansen, J. A. M. van Oers, and P. van ‘t Veer

Extract

Epidemiology is often considered the key scientific underpinning of public health practice. This pivotal role of epidemiology was emphasized by the Institute of Medicine in its definition of the substance of public health as organized community efforts aimed at the prevention of disease and promotion of health, with linkages to many disciplines and a scientific core of epidemiology (1, 2).

Lilienfeld and Lilienfeld observed 3 decades ago that “… the discipline of epidemiology has become increasingly divorced from those activities in the real world that result in the improvement of public health” (3, pp. 146–147). The new text from Haveman-Nies et al. addresses the linkage and gaps between epidemiology and public health practice and policy. As noted in the introductory chapter, the book broadens the common definition of epidemiology (i.e., the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases in populations). A useful starting point is perhaps the most comprehensive definition and the one most relevant to public health practice (4).