title: The epidemiologic field investigation: science and judgment in public health practice.
abstract: Epidemiologic field investigations are often done in response to acute public health problems. When outbreaks of disease occur, there usually is an urgent need to identify the source and/or cause of the problem as a basis for control. Alternatively, the identification of environmental or occupational hazards frequently demands evaluation of exposed persons and assessment of the risks of disease. In this commentary, the authors present a perspective on the public-sector practice of epidemiology by considering the factors that influence epidemiologic prospectively planned studies; and examining the complexities of the relations between epidemiology and public health practice.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Buehler
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Koplan
mesh_terms: D015984:Causality; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D000078329:Workforce