title: Epidemiology for ophthalmologists: an introduction to concepts, study designs, and interpreting findings.
abstract: This review provides an overview of the types of information epidemiological research can provide and how these data can be used. The aim is to provide the readers with basic epidemiological skills to allow them to read critically scientific articles and to gain proficiency in communicating about epidemiological research. All examples in the review are drawn from the ophthalmic literature. The first part of the review is relatively conceptual and focuses on epidemiological theory, including case definition, measures of the burden of disease, sampling and the interpretation of results. In the second part different study designs are described--specifically, cross sectional surveys, cohort studies, case-control studies, and randomised controlled trials, and the strengths and limitations of each highlighted.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Eye Health, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK. hannah.kuper@lshtm.ac.uk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuper
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology
references.citation: Lancet. 2001 Apr 14;357(9263):1191-4
references.pmid: 11323066
references.citation: Ophthalmology. 2001 Dec;108(12):2219-24
references.pmid: 11733262
references.citation: Br J Ophthalmol. 2002 May;86(5):548-50
references.pmid: 11973252
references.citation: Lancet. 2002 Jul 20;360(9328):203-10
references.pmid: 12133654
references.citation: Proc R Soc Med. 1965 May;58:295-300
references.pmid: 14283879
references.citation: Br J Ophthalmol. 2003 Sep;87(9):1069-74
references.pmid: 12928267
references.citation: Lancet. 1981 Dec 5;2(8258):1249-50
references.pmid: 6118668
references.citation: BMJ. 1997 Dec 6;315(7121):1533-7
references.pmid: 9432252
references.citation: Br J Ophthalmol. 2003 Jul;87(7):820-8
references.pmid: 12812875