Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
Appendix 2 - A glossary of epidemiological terms
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
Summary
Introduction
This glossary contains a sample of the terms used in epidemiology. The definitions given below are based on those provided by Last (1988). For further details, other sources should be consulted (Stedman, 1982; Friedman, 1980; Lilienfeld & Lilienfeld, 1980; Kendall & Buckland, 1982; Abramson, 1984; Murphy, 1985; Pressat, 1985; Last, 1986; Schuman, 1986; Jammal et al., 1988).
Glossary of terms
Adjustment a procedure in which potentially misleading effects of differences in the composition of populations being compared have been minimized – as much as is possible – by statistical methods. The mathematical procedure commonly used to adjust incidence or mortality rates for age differences is direct or indirect standardization.
Age-specific rate a rate calculated for a specific age-group, i.e., the numerator and denominator refer to the same age group. A multiplier, usually 100,000, is chosen to produce a rate that can be expressed as a convenient number.
Analytical study a study designed to examine hypothesized causal relationships. An analytical study is usually concerned with identifying the health effects of specific risk factors. In this type of study, individuals are classified either according to the absence or presence of a specific disease and/or according to the presence or absence of risk factors presumed to influence disease occurrence.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Human CancerEpidemiology and Environmental Causes, pp. 522 - 528Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992