Epidemiology provides the scientific foundation for public health interventions. By studying the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specific populations, epidemiologists can identify risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare. Key methods include:
- Surveillance: Continuous, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data. - Analytical Studies: Including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies to identify associations between risk factors and health outcomes. - Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Often considered the gold standard for testing the efficacy of interventions.
