A Study Guide for Modern Epidemiology 3rd Edition

By Genevieve M. Nangit

This study guide covers the basic concepts of modern epidemiology

(Rothman, Greenland & Lash, 2008) which is presented in chapters 2 to 5.

Contents
A Study Guide for Modern Epidemiology 3rd Edition.................................... 1
Chapter 2 Causation and Causal Inference ................................................. 2
Chapter 3 Measures of Occurrence ............................................................. 3
Chapter 4 Measures of Effect and Measures of Association ...................... 4
Chapter 5 Concepts of Interaction .............................................................. 5
Reference .................................................................................................... 5

Page 1 of 5
Chapter 2 Causation and Causal Inference

Guide Questions
1. What is the difference of epidemiology from other sciences?
2. Why is it necessary in epidemiology to develop a refined conceptual
model?
3. What are the characteristics of “cause” in epidemiology?
4. Differentiate the 3 models of causation in epidemiology: sufficient-
component cause model, potential-outcome model, and graphical causal
model.
5. What are the 3 meanings of probability in epidemiology?
6. What are the 2 circumstances that affect a factor‟s strength of effect?
7. Identify and describe Hill‟s criteria for causal association.

Important Terms To Remember

Sufficient cause Interaction Sufficient-component cause model
Component cause Sequential causal relation Potential-outcome cause model
Necessary cause Synergistic interaction Graphical model
Risk Indirect effect Hill‟s criteria of causal association
Causal
Induction period
complement
Strength of effect Latent period

Page 2 of 5
Chapter 3 Measures of Occurrence

Guide Questions
1. What is the objective of epidemiologic research?
2. Differentiate the four basic measures of disease occurrence.
3. Differentiate an open and closed population.
4. What are the limitations of incidence rate?
5. Differentiate the term „population‟ and „cohort‟.
6. Why does a steady state occurs only in open population and not closed
population?
7. What makes prevalence seldom used in epidemiologic studies?

Important Terms To Remember

Incidence times Closed population Incidence odds
Incidence rate Life-table methodology Case fatality rate
Incidence proportion Cohort Conditional risk
Prevalence Population Prevalence pool
Time origin Steady state Prevalence odds
Censored Competing risk Life expectancy
Average age at death Absolute rate Standardization
Person-time Person-time rate
Population time-at-risk Relative rate
Open population Survival probability

Page 3 of 5
Chapter 4 Measures of Effect and Measures of Association

Guide Questions
1. When does association become a poor estimate of effect of the
population?
2. State the two perspectives of effect according to epidemiologist.
3. Define a counterfactual measure and give an example.
4. How do investigators remove or minimize effects mediated by competing
risks?
5. Differentiate measures of effects and measures of association.
6. What are the two key points that epidemiologists should keep in mind
when interpreting effect measures?
7. What is the meaning of “population-attributable fraction”?

Important Terms To Remember

Effect Causal risk ratio Preventable fraction
Exposure Causal ratio of disease-free time Noncollapsibility
Population effect Causal odds ratio Confounders
Absolute effect Excess relative risk Excess fraction
Relative effect Excess rate Index of susceptibility
Causal rate difference Rate fraction Attributable proportion
Causal risk difference Risk fraction Prevalence odds ratio
Causal difference Attributable fractions Counterfactual
definition
Causal rate ratio Etiologic fraction

Page 4 of 5
Chapter 5 Concepts of Interaction

Guide Questions
1. Describe “statistical interaction.
2. Describe the two approaches of biologic interaction.
3. Describe “synergistic interaction”.
4. Describe “antagonistic interaction”.
5. Differentiate statistical interaction and biologic interaction.
6. What is the rationale of considering “public health interaction”?

Important Terms To Remember

Statistical interaction Multiplicativity Synergism
Effect-measure modification Non-additivity of effects Antagonism
Heterogeneity Additivity of effects Biologic interaction
Homogeneity Interaction contrast Case-load reduction
Risk difference Superadditivity Mechanistic interaction
Risk ratio Subadditivity

Reference
Modern Epidemiology, 3rd Edition, 2008 by Rothman, K J.; Greenland, S;
Lash, Timothy L

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