Dictionary making never ends because languages are always changing. Widely used throughout the world, this book will continue to serve as the standard English-language dictionary of epidemiology in its Fourth Edition. It covers all the common terms used in epidemiology and many from related fields such as biostatistics, infectious disease control, health promotion, genetics, clinical epidemiology, health economics, and medical ethics. The definitions are clear and concise, but there is space for some brief essays and discussions of the provenance of important terms. Sponsored by the International Epidemiological Association, the dictionary represents the consensus of epidemiologists in many different countries. All the definitions were reviewed repeatedly by an international network of contributors from every major branch of epidemiology. They are authoritative without being authoritarian. The Fourth Edition contains well over 150 new entries and substantial revisions of about the same number of definitions, plus a dozen new illustrations. Many of the new terms relate to methods used in environmental and clinical epidemiology.

John M. Last's profile page

John M. Last is at University of Ottawa.

"Many definitions are substantially more informative that their standard dictionary counterparts."--Annals of Internal Medicine

"Reflects an impressive array of contributors....A most useful help to precision in the use of epidemiological terms and ought to find a place on most library and department shelves."--British Medical Journal

"A unique and authoritative source of reference that should be widely available wherever epidemiological work is being undertaken."--Community Health Studies

From reviews of previous editions:

"The production of a second edition of A Dictionary of Epidemiology after only five years is a tribute to its success and a function of the rate of change of both the subject matter and the methods of epidemiological research...Buy the book. You will not regret it."--Canadian Journal of Public Health

"Last has performed a great service for students and professionals alike....A reference book that few college libraries--and certainly no medical library--will want to be without."--Choice

"This book needs no recommendation as its predecessor has already made its name. We should thank Professor Last and all his contributors for providing us with such a useful tool."--International Journal of Epidemiology

"Consider this an essential companion to serious reading of the medical literature."--Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine