Nick Wald’s latest edition of his introduction to epidemiology in medicine is appropriately titled an ‘approach’ to epidemiology, fostering in the reader an understanding of the basic principles of his human science. Epidemiology is often viewed as a rather peripheral subject by medical students, and perhaps also their teachers, whereas an understanding of how populations are studied are vital skill for all practising medicine. The tools described are all ones that we have the responsibility to appreciate as we interact with patients in order to improve medical care for them and others. The book has four short chapters dealing with causation, study methods, prevention and screening, and an examination of the patterns of life and death. Each section offers a readable account with clear explanations of some difficult concepts: confounding; bias; intention to treat analysis; confidence intervals; whether or not screening for a disease is worthwhile. How we know whether anything we do or offer to our patients has any benefit depends on the collection of accurate information, without bias, and its fair application to medical knowledge. Whether we are ourselves involved in large epidemiological or clinical studies, or simply need to seek and offer useful advice that will benefit our patients, or just complete a death certificate, our knowledge will be significantly enhanced by reading this book and, at only eighty pages long, is something we can all do.
Dr Denise Syndercombe Court
Department of Haematology
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
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Wald, NJ. The Epidemiological Approach. An Introduction to Epidemiology in Medicine. London, Royal Society of Medicine/Wolfson Institute, 2004. ISBN: 1-85315-584-5. Please click here for the publisher's web site. This book was Highly Commended in the Public Health category of the 2004 BMA Medical Book Competition. |