What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017.
<h4>Context</h4>Epidemiology is a discipline which has evolved with the changes taking place in society and the emergence of new diseases and new discipline related to epidemiology. With these evolutions, it is important to understand epidemiology and to analyse the evolution of content...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208442 |
| _version_ | 1819037344646299648 |
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| author | Mathilde Frérot Annick Lefebvre Simon Aho Patrick Callier Karine Astruc Ludwig Serge Aho Glélé |
| author_facet | Mathilde Frérot Annick Lefebvre Simon Aho Patrick Callier Karine Astruc Ludwig Serge Aho Glélé |
| author_sort | Mathilde Frérot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Context</h4>Epidemiology is a discipline which has evolved with the changes taking place in society and the emergence of new diseases and new discipline related to epidemiology. With these evolutions, it is important to understand epidemiology and to analyse the evolution of content of definitions of epidemiology.<h4>Objectives</h4>The main objective of this paper was to identify new definitions of epidemiology available since 1978. Secondary objectives were to analyse the content of these definitions, to compare them with those used by Lilienfeld and to determine whether changes have taken place over the last forty years.<h4>Methods</h4>A review of grey literature and published literature was conducted to find the definitions of epidemiology written between 1978 and 2017.<h4>Results</h4>102 definitions of epidemiology were retained. They helped to highlight 20 terms and concepts related to epidemiology. Most of them were already used in the definitions used by Lilienfeld. Five terms were present in more than 50% of definitions from the period 1978 to 2017: "population", "study", "disease", "health" and "distribution". Several developments have occurred: strengthening of the terms "control" and "health" already used, the concept of "disease" was less frequently encountered whereas the concepts "infectious diseases", "mass phenomenon" are no longer used in definitions from 1978 to 2017.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This evolution of content of definition of epidemiology is absent from books on epidemiology. A thematic analysis of definitions of epidemiology could be conducted in order to improve our understanding of changes observed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:19:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-208d471e17dc456796c1419dfa7149c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:19:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-208d471e17dc456796c1419dfa7149c72022-12-21T19:10:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-011312e020844210.1371/journal.pone.0208442What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017.Mathilde FrérotAnnick LefebvreSimon AhoPatrick CallierKarine AstrucLudwig Serge Aho Glélé<h4>Context</h4>Epidemiology is a discipline which has evolved with the changes taking place in society and the emergence of new diseases and new discipline related to epidemiology. With these evolutions, it is important to understand epidemiology and to analyse the evolution of content of definitions of epidemiology.<h4>Objectives</h4>The main objective of this paper was to identify new definitions of epidemiology available since 1978. Secondary objectives were to analyse the content of these definitions, to compare them with those used by Lilienfeld and to determine whether changes have taken place over the last forty years.<h4>Methods</h4>A review of grey literature and published literature was conducted to find the definitions of epidemiology written between 1978 and 2017.<h4>Results</h4>102 definitions of epidemiology were retained. They helped to highlight 20 terms and concepts related to epidemiology. Most of them were already used in the definitions used by Lilienfeld. Five terms were present in more than 50% of definitions from the period 1978 to 2017: "population", "study", "disease", "health" and "distribution". Several developments have occurred: strengthening of the terms "control" and "health" already used, the concept of "disease" was less frequently encountered whereas the concepts "infectious diseases", "mass phenomenon" are no longer used in definitions from 1978 to 2017.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This evolution of content of definition of epidemiology is absent from books on epidemiology. A thematic analysis of definitions of epidemiology could be conducted in order to improve our understanding of changes observed.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208442 |
| spellingShingle | Mathilde Frérot Annick Lefebvre Simon Aho Patrick Callier Karine Astruc Ludwig Serge Aho Glélé What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017. PLoS ONE |
| title | What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017. |
| title_full | What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017. |
| title_fullStr | What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017. |
| title_full_unstemmed | What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017. |
| title_short | What is epidemiology? Changing definitions of epidemiology 1978-2017. |
| title_sort | what is epidemiology changing definitions of epidemiology 1978 2017 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208442 |
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