Bases históricas da Epidemiologia

O presente ensaio tenta sistematizar uma série de informações esquemáticas sobre a história da Epidemiologia, a fim de compreender a sua evolução enquanto disciplina articulada ao desenvolvimento histórico dos principais movimentos sociais na área da saúde. Discute-se as raízes da Epidemiologia a partir do tripé Clínica-Estatística-Medicina Social, o seu desenvolvimento inicial subsidiário à Saúde Pública, a sua constituição ideológica e o seu avanço técnico no bojo do projeto preventivista. Finalmente, a Epidemiologia moderna é vista como uma disciplina que retorna às suas raízes históricas e políticas no movimento da Saúde Coletiva, opondo-se, a nível teórico, às pressões para torná-la um mero instrumento "método-lógico " da pesquisa clínica.<br>The present article is an attempt to organize some information about the history of Epidemiology, in order to understand its evolution as a scientific discipline connected with the historical development of major social movements in the health fields. The roots of Epidemiology from the triad Clinics-Statistics-Social Medicine, its initial development depending on the Public Health, its Technical advancement and ideological constitution within the preventive project, are all discussed. Finnally, modem Epidemiology is seen as a discipline that recovers its historical and roots through the movement of Collective Health, in opposition, at a theoretical level, to pressures to make it a mere "methodological" tool for clinical research

Which book? A comparative review of 25 introductory epidemiology textbooks.

We are witnessing an epidemic of epidemiology. One outcome is a greater demand for books to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. A widening range of professionals and researchers are discovering the power and fascination of the subject, and their heterogeneity of specialist knowledge and interest poses special challenge. Revisions of classics and many new texts mean difficult choices for teachers and students. The rise of epidemiology will spur new writings so we can anticipate even more. This review is primarily to help students and teachers to find the first textbook for the keen postgraduate or undergraduate. Practitioners may welcome this as a way of tracking down the book which covers epidemiology in the style they prefer. Aspiring text book writers might see gaps for future work. I have concentrated on books published since 1980 and in choosing which books to review I was guided by these questions: Might students chose this book as their first textbook? Might teachers recommend this book for general, introductory reading? Is the book attractive to students and teachers on the basis of reputation? Is it already in use as a general text? If yes, my tendency was to review it. Specialist, advanced, and reference works were excluded, especially if the author(s) did not consider the book as introductory. Some books consisting of exercises and meant for self study have been included if they tried to cover the theory and principles too. I hope to have included the main contenders for the first textbook role in English-based courses in epidemiology in the USA and Europe. (Inevitably, some will have been omitted intentionally or unintentionally.