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The science of epidemiology has matured significantly from the times of [[Hippocrates]] and [[John Snow (physician)|John Snow]]. The techniques for gathering and analyzing epidemiological data vary depending on the type of disease being monitored but each study will have overarching similarities.<ref>[[Miquel Porta]] (2014) "A dictionary of epidemiology", 6th edn, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780199976737. ''[http://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-dictionary-of-epidemiology-9780199976737?cc=us&lang=en A dictionary of epidemiology]'', 6th edn, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199976737.</ref>
==Outline of the process of an epidemiological study==
#*The events can be characterized by [[incidence (epidemiology)|Incidence]] rates and [[prevalence]] rates.
#*Often, occurrence of a single disease entity is set as an event.
#*Given inherent [[Homogeneity_and_heterogeneityHomogeneity and heterogeneity|heterogeneous]] nature of any given disease (i.e., the unique disease principle <ref>Ogino S, Lochhead P, Chan AT, Nishihara R, Cho E, Wolpin BM, Meyerhardt AJ, Meissner A, Schernhammer ES, Fuchs CS, Giovannucci E. Molecular pathological epidemiology of epigenetics: emerging integrative science to analyze environment, host, and disease. Mod Pathol 2013;26:465-484.</ref>), a single disease entity may be treated as disease subtypes.<ref>Begg CB. A strategy for distinguishing optimal cancer subtypes. Int J Cancer 2011; 129: 931-937.</ref><ref>Begg CB, Zabor EC. Detecting and Exploiting Etiologic Heterogeneity in Epidemiologic Studies. Am J Epidemiol 2012; 176: 512-518.</ref> This framework is well conceptualized in the interdisciplinary field of [[molecular pathological epidemiology]] (MPE).<ref>Ogino S, Stampfer M. Lifestyle factors and microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer: the evolving field of molecular pathological epidemiology. J Natl Cancer Inst 2010;102:365-367.</ref><ref>Ogino S, Chan AT, Fuchs CS, Giovannucci E. Molecular pathological epidemiology of colorectal neoplasia: an emerging transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary field. Gut 2011;60:397-411</ref>
#Characterize the events as to epidemiological factors
##Predisposing factors
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