Topic overview

Start with the big picture

Epidemiology studies patterns of disease and the factors associated with them. A causal perspective asks whether and how a factor contributes to an outcome, a question that is distinct from simply observing that two events occur together. Understanding this distinction provides a foundation for interpreting epidemiologic findings and considering explanations for disease occurrence. This preview introduces the concept of causality; the full lesson develops the topic further and situates it within the broader study of causation and disease patterns.