Title: From Theory Practice in Environmental Epidemiology: Developing, Conducting and Disseminating Health Research

(Download book here for free)

By Colin L. Soskolne, James E. Andruchow and Francesca Racioppi with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Azerbaijan World Health Organization, 2008

Book Information: Sumgayit, a large city in Azerbaijan, was declared an "ecological disaster zone" in 1992. The city’s residents suffer from a high incidence of disease, especially among children, that was thought to be linked to nearby chemical pollution. In conjunction with WHO Europe, the UN Development Program, the UN Support Program and researchers at the University of Alberta, Canada, public health activities were developed and undertaken to study the link between diseases and environmental pollutants in Sumgayit.

The process of developing and undertaking these studies have been caputured in this manual. This manual aims to build the capacity of researchers in all parts of the world by guiding public health investigators through straighforward study steps.

Five key features of the manual:

• Audience oriented: it is addressed primarily to novice researchers, health care professionals, and medical or graduate students interested in the conduct of epidemiological research, especially in data-poor regions of the world;

• Clear outline: it explains the steps for conducting an epidemiological research study, taking the reader through a real-life case study, based on the experience of work in Azerbaijan;

• Participatory approach: it was developed with direct input from young researchers and professors in Azerbaijan;

• Toolkit included: it contains a "toolkit" to help students take action, including for example model templates to write proposals, advice on preparing budgets, lists of academic resources, potential donors/sponsors/funding sources, key journals, and a glossary);

• Publication guidance: it advises on how to produce and publish research findings in international literature.

More information on the manual can be found on the WHO Europe webpage

Contact Francesca Racioppi (healthimpact@ecr.euro.who.int)