Work

Should the mission of epidemiology include the eradication of poverty?

Year: 1998

Type: article

Abstract: Physicists seem to have escaped the old criticism that their work is impractical. Perhaps the criticism was blunted by technological innovations that rest on physical theory. Nevertheless, even astrophysicists, whose work seldom induces engineering breakthroughs, can now pursue knowledge for its own sake without fear of being badgered about the practical relevance of their work. What physicists have gained, however, epidemiologists seem to have lost. Accusations have been mounting that epidemiologists have abandoned their public-health mission of being “physician-scientist” to society1 in favour of studying the scientific arcana of disease causation.

Source: The Lancet

DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(98)01327-0

Authors: Kenneth J Rothman, Hans-Olov Adami, Dimitrios Ttichopoulos

Institutions: Boston University, Boston Medical Center, Karolinska Institutet, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Historical and modern epidemiology studies

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $7,890