Traditional Epidemiology Comparison To Field Epidemiology

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Pearce notes in his research a significant development in methodology used in epidemiology in comparison to those in the past. These include changes in fundamental concepts, techniques of exposure measurement, and data analysis techniques (687). In his opinion this change has both positively influenced development of epidemiology and also affected it negatively. He notes, rather negatively, that the modern epidemiology has shifted analysis from population to an individual level. Epidemiology today is no longer used as a multidisciplinary study of causes of disease in population, but instead it is used as a generic technique for determining relationship between disease and exposure in an individual. One characteristic of epidemiology is its multidisciplinary meaning it considers a wide range of issues like statistics, interpretations, policies as well as various mechanisms (Schoenbach & Rosamond 10). Pearce argues modern epidemiology increasingly applies technology in understanding simple issues while ignoring the major causes.

Gregg though notes a positive trend in epidemiology. Looking at recent trends in use of surveillance techniques he notes major advancement today (20). Surveillance was previously used in studying infectious diseases by analyzing individual cases reported in a particular disease. Under the modern epidemiology the scope has been expanded to include surveillance of syndromes and conditions that are beyond the traditional infectious diseases. Today surveillance is made on occupational and environmental health conditions, upcoming infectious diseases, as well as diseases that might result from bioterrorism. The modern epidemiology has also seen new methods of public health surveillance at national and state level. They include new techniques like Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System applied in surveillance of health risks such as tobacco smoking. Methods have also been developed to examine chronic conditions, occupational disease and injuries.

Work Cited

Gregg, Michael B. Field Epidemiology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2008.

Pearce, Neil. Traditional Epidemiology, Modern Epidemiology, and Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 86.5(1996): 678-683. Print.

Schoenbach, Victor J. & Rosamond, Wayne D. Understanding the Fundamentals of Epidemiology an Evolving Text. Department of Epidemiology School of Public Health University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.