Relevance in epidemiology ensures that research addresses pressing public health issues. It is crucial because:
1. Policy Impact: Research that tackles current health crises can guide policymakers in _resource allocation_ and _intervention strategies_. 2. Public Health: Findings that are relevant to the community can lead to effective _disease prevention_ and _health promotion_. 3. Funding: Studies that address significant health concerns are more likely to receive financial support from _funding agencies_.
For instance, during the _COVID-19 pandemic_, epidemiological research provided actionable data that influenced global health policies.