title: [Same words, different meanings: How epidemiological terminology struggles with population health intervention research].
abstract: Public health research differs from clinical epidemiological research in that its focus is primarily on the population level social and structural determinants of individual health and the interventions that might ameliorate them, rather than having a primary focus on individual-level risks. It is typically concerned with the proximal and distal causes of health problems, and their location within complex systems, more than with single exposures. Thus, epidemiological terms and concepts may have very different implications when used in the context of population health. This paper considers some key differences in relation to terms like 'population', 'baseline', 'control group' 'outcome' and 'adverse effects'. Even the concept of an 'intervention' often needs careful handling. The paper concludes that there is a need for an expanded, and more realistic use of these terms in the population health intervention research context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, Angleterre. Electronic address: Mark.Petticrew@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petticrew
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viehbeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, Angleterre.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.affiliation: UMR1027 Inserm, laboratoire d'épidémiologie et analyses en santé publique (LEASP), université III Paul-Sabatier, 37, allées Jules-Guesde, 31062 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000145:classification* / Q000458:organization & administration; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods; D009626:Terminology as Topic
keywords: Clinical epidemiological; Population health; Public health research; Recherche en santé publique; Santé des populations; Épidémiologie clinique