Why Are Smoothing Techniques Important in Epidemiology?
In epidemiology, data is often collected over time or across different geographical areas. This data can be noisy due to various factors such as reporting errors, seasonal effects, and random variations. Smoothing techniques help to:
Identify trends and patterns over time or space. Improve the accuracy of disease surveillance. Aid in the formulation of public health policies and interventions. Enhance the visualization of epidemiological data.