Ch. 1. Introduction to epidemiology -- Ch. 2. Basic measurements in epidemiology -- Ch. 3. Observations used in epidemiology -- Ch. 4. Basic methods of study -- Ch. 5. Descriptive studies -- Ch. 6. Cross-sectional studies -- Ch. 7. Case-control studies -- Ch. 8. Cohort studies -- 9. Experimental studies -- Ch. 10. Clinical studies of disease outcome -- Ch. 11. Making sense out of statistical associations -- Ch. 12. Introduction to multivariate analysis -- Ch. 13. Introduction to molecular and genetic epidemiology -- Ch. 14. How to carry out a study -- Ch. 15. Epidemiology and patient care -- Ch. 16. Epidemiology, medical care, and the health of the community -- Ch. 17. Quick review -- Ch. 18. Answers to problems

Written for physicians, medical students, and other health care professionals, this text explains epidemiologic concepts clearly and simpy, illustrating them with clinically relevant case studies. It bridges the gap between clinicians and epidemiologists, showing the relatioship between individual patients and the groups to which they belong, in epidemiologists' eyes. It also examines the relevance of epidemiology to the study of socially and politically important issues, such as changing health care systems and environmental hazards