What Will I Talk About?
             Review of Public Health.
             The role(s) of biostatistics in P.H.
             Tools available to the biostatistician.
             Example: bioinformatics.
               A. A. Afifi                    Biostatistics in Public Health                            2
       Introduction
         The press frequently quotes scientific articles 
          about:
              • Diet
              • The Environment
              • Medical care, etc.
         Effects are often small and vary greatly from 
          person to person
         We need to be familiar with statistics to 
          understand and evaluate conflicting claims
         A. A. Afifi       Biostatistics in Public Health      3
                                   Public Health
          A. A. Afifi                   Biostatistics in Public Health                             4
            What Is Public Health? 
        “Public Health is the science and art 
            of preventing disease, prolonging 
            life and promoting health through 
            the organized efforts of society.”
                   (World Health Organization)
               A. A. Afifi                    Biostatistics in Public Health                            5
            The Future of Public Health 
            Report (IOM 1988)
            The mission of public health is 
                 defined as:
                 “Assuring the conditions in which 
                 people can be healthy.”
               A. A. Afifi                    Biostatistics in Public Health                            6