Qualified, early specialism training

This resource reviews the current status of cancer epidemiologic research and training — rationale, requisite infrastructure, methodologic principles, and illustrative examples in low- and middle-income countries — in order to facilitate future advances by trained health professionals. It summarizes and reviews research studies that are in progress concerning major prevalent cancers of the breast, uterine cervix, lung and bronchus, upper aerodigestive tract, stomach, liver, colon, and HIV-associated cancers. It also covers specific studies conducted in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Middle East, as well as studies in Australia, Europe, North America, and in populations that migrate from LMICs to developed countries. The result is a valuable resource for both program leaders as well as graduate and post-graduate students pursuing careers in international cancer epidemiologic research.Less

This book presents a system of critical appraisal applicable to clinical, epidemiological and public health studies and to many other fields. It assumes no prior knowledge. The methods are relevant to students, practitioners and policymakers. The book shows how to assess if the results of one study or of many studies show a causal effect. The book discusses study designs: randomised and non-randomised trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and surveys, showing the presentation of results including person-time and survival analysis, and issues in the selection of subjects. The system shows how to describe a study, how to detect and assess selection biases, observation bias, confounding, and chance variation, and how to assess internal validity and external validity (generalisability). Statistical methods are presented assuming no previous knowledge, and showing applications to each study design. Positive features of causation including strength, dose-response, and consistency are discussed. The book shows how to do systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and discusses publication bias. Systems of assessing all evidence are shown, leading to a general method of critical appraisal based on 20 key questions in five groups, which can be applied to any type of study or any topic. Six chapters show the application of this method to randomised trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and case-control studies. An appendix summarises key statistical methods, each with a worked example. Each main chapter has self-test questions, with answers provided.Less

Essentials of Environmental Epidemiology for Health Protection guides front-line public health practitioners through the decisions they are likely to face when dealing with environmental health problems, and shows how to integrate relevant aspects of environmental science, communication sciences, toxicology, and environmental epidemiology skills to conduct initial investigations.Less

This comprehensive resource not only summarises the management of common symptoms and disorders but also outlines the increasing evidence base for the efficacy of these techniques. This new edition has been fully revised to appeal to the whole rehabilitation team. Less

Easy-to-use, concise and practical, and reflecting recent advances, this resource presents the most promising developments in practical public health, as well as maintaining essential summaries of core disciplines. Less

The Oxford Textbook of Infectious Disease Control discusses the issues of geographical spread of human communicable diseases. Split into six chapters it tackles surveillance, quarantine, vaccination, and forecasting for disease control. A wide selection of representative maps and diagrams are used to illustrate the ideas explored. Less

The Oxford Textbook of Zoonoses comprehensively provides a systematic, cross disciplinary approach to the science and control of all zoonoses - diseases naturally transmissible between vertebrate animals and man.Less

The association between mental health and physical health forms the core of this book. While it is recognized that serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia carry a reduced life expectancy, it is often assumed that suicide is the main cause of this disparity. But in actuality, suicide accounts for no more than a third of the early mortality associated with schizophrenia: the vast majority is due to cardiovascular factors. This book seeks to put this stark fact in context, detailing the extent of cardiovascular risk, sharing information regarding reasons for this excess, and outlining approved approaches for screening for and treatment of such risk factors in people with schizophrenia. As such, this book seeks to inform those caring for people with schizophrenia of these parameters and suggests ways in which they may be addressed, using a holistic model which embraces shared decision-making and which is compatible with the recovery framework. It provides guidance regarding monitoring as well as information about focused interventions that can help ameliorate risk. It also addresses those physical health factors apart from cardiovascular, that add to the burden of ill health amongst people with schizophrenia: pulmonary health, bone health, sexual health, and cancer risk are just some of these. In addition, the book provides patient and carer information material that can be used to try to ensure that all involved have a truly informed role in decision-making about their treatment and that both psychiatric and physical health issues are taken seriously.Less

This resource provides a general introduction to epidemiological techniques for psychiatric research. As demand grows for evidence based practice in psychiatry, there is increasing use of epidemiological methods for studies into causes, prognosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders, although working in the field of mental health throws up its own particular challenges. This resource explains how to adapt the tried and tested methods used in generic epidemiology to the special circumstances of psychiatric epidemiology.Less

The Tropical Medicine Notebook provides a concise overview of the key topics in tropical medicine using short notes, diagrams, maps, and tables. The book is divided into eight sections. The first five cover infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and helminths. The following three present the topics of vector biology, disease syndromes, and envenomation. A final section listing relevant guidelines, publications, and other resources guides the reader to more detailed information when required.Less