What qualifications does an epidemiologist need?
Epidemiologists need at least a master’s degree. A master’s degree in public health, with an emphasis in epidemiology is most common, but epidemiologists can earn degrees in a wide range of related fields and specialisations. Epidemiologists who direct research projects usually have a PhD in their chosen field.
Who studies epidemiology?
Epidemiologists are scientists who study diseases within populations of people. In essence, these public health professionals analyze what causes disease outbreaks in order to treat existing diseases and prevent future outbreaks.
What are the different fields of epidemiology?
Major areas of epidemiological study include disease causation, transmission, outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, environmental epidemiology, forensic epidemiology, occupational epidemiology, screening, biomonitoring, and comparisons of treatment effects such as in clinical trials.
What are the different methods of epidemiology?
The three major epidemiologic techniques are descriptive, analytic, and experimental. Although all three can be used in investigating the occurrence of disease, the method used most is descriptive epidemiology.
What are the three components of the epidemiological triangle?
Among the simplest of these is the epidemiologic triad or triangle, the traditional model for infectious disease. The triad consists of an external agent, a susceptible host, and an environment that brings the host and agent together.
What are the epidemiological tools?
Proportions, ratios, rates, prevalence, incidence, study designs, bias, confounding, effect modification, odds and risk ratios, statistical power, and confidence intervals are defined and discussed.
What are the disadvantages of epidemiological study?
Disadvantages
- The major disadvantage is the huge requirement for resources, viz.
- Unsuitable for rare diseases.
- Long periods of follow up needed.
- Attrition is a problem as long follow up is required.