Introduction

About Principles of Epidemiology: A Primer

Principles of Epidemiology: A Primer is an open-access, introductory textbook crafted for students and professionals in public health and allied health fields. The textbook is designed to provide an overview of the basic principles of epidemiology, providing a brief historical overview, summarizing tools, processes and principles of epidemiology and their contribution to public health.

Principles of Epidemiology: A Primer is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the core principles and methods of epidemiology. Throughout the following chapters, we will cover key concepts in epidemiology, providing a thorough exploration of how diseases are transmitted, how outbreaks are investigated and controlled, and how epidemiologists measure the frequency and distribution of health-related events in populations. We discuss the
importance of public health surveillance systems and their role in tracking disease patterns and guiding interventions. You will learn about screening and diagnostic tests, and how early detection helps improve health outcomes by identifying diseases before they progress. Various study designs are introduced, highlighting how researchers use these methods to understand the causes of health outcomes and inform public health decisions. The textbook also explores how epidemiologists approach causal thinking, identifying factors that contribute to disease and distinguishing between correlation and causation. Finally, the book provides insights into some of the subdisciplines within epidemiology, detailing the skills required and the wide range of career opportunities available in this evolving field.