What is the nature of epidemiology? Why is epidemiology so important in the context of health, and particularly public health, in South Africa? How can it help us answer important questions in clinical medicine and public health? Epidemiology: A Research Manual for South Africa 3e provides lecturers with useful resources on which to base introductory Epidemiology and Research Methods courses and helps to answer these questions. Written by South African experts, Epidemiology: A Research Manual for South Africa 3e is aimed at undergraduate or postgraduate students encountering epidemiology and, more generally, quantitative public health research methods for the first time. Epidemiology is taught within the following programmes: MBChB, BCur, Diploma: Primary Health Care, and National Diploma: Environmental Health. It enables readers to evaluate data critically and to report their findings lucidly and accurately.

"Blackwell Publishing is delighted to announce that this book has been Highly Commended in the 2004 BMA Medical Book Competition. Here is the judges' summary of this book: "

""This is a technical book on a technical subject but presented in a delightful way. There are many books on statistics for doctors but there are few that are excellent and this is certainly one of them. Statistics is not an easy subject to teach or write about. The authors have succeeded in producing a book that is as good as it can get. For the keen student who does not want a book for mathematicians, this is an excellent first book on medical statistics.""

"Essential Medical Statistics" is a classic amongst medical statisticians. An introductory textbook, it presents statistics with a clarity and logic that demystifies the subject, while providing a comprehensive coverage of advanced as well as basic methods.

The second edition of "Essential Medical Statistics" has been comprehensively revised and updated to include modern statistical methods and modern approaches to statistical analysis, while retaining the approachable and non-mathematical style of the first edition. The book now includes full coverage of the most commonly used regression models, multiple linear regression, logistic regression, Poisson regression and Cox regression, as well as a chapter on general issues in regression modelling. In addition, new chapters introduce more advanced topics such as meta-analysis, likelihood, bootstrapping and robust standard errors, and analysis of clustered data.

Aimed at students of medical statistics, medical researchers, public health practitioners andpractising clinicians using statistics in their daily work, the book is designed as both a teaching and a reference text. The format of the book is clear with highlighted formulae and worked examples, so that all concepts are presented in a simple, practical and easy-to-understand way. The second edition enhances the emphasis on choice of appropriate methods with new chapters on strategies for analysis and measures of association and impact.

"Essential Medical Statistics" is supported by a web site at www.blackwellpublishing.com/essentialmedstats. This useful online resource provides statistical datasets to download, as well as sample chapters and future updates.

The thoroughly revised and updated fourth edition of "Foodservice Manual for Health Care Institutions" offers a review of the management and operation of health care foodservice departments. This edition of the book--which has become the standard in the field of institutional and health care foodservice--contains the most current data on the successful management of daily operations and includes information on a wide range of topics such as leadership, quality control, human resource management, product selection and purchasing, environmental issues, and financial management.

This new edition also contains information on the practical operation of the foodservice department that has been greatly expanded and updated to help institutions better meet the needs of the customer and comply with the regulatory agencies' standards.

Topics covered include: Leadership and Management SkillsMarketing and Revenue-Generating ServicesQuality Management and ImprovementPlanning and Decision MakingOrganization and Time ManagementTeam BuildingEffective CommunicationHuman Resource ManagementManagement Information SystemsFinancial ManagementEnvironmental Issues and SustainabilityMicrobial, Chemical, and Physical HazardsHACCP, Food Regulations, Environmental Sanitation, and Pest ControlSafety, Security, and Emergency PreparednessMenu PlanningProduct SelectionPurchasingReceiving, Storage, and Inventory ControlFood ProductionFood Distribution and ServiceFacility DesignEquipment Selection and Maintenance

Learning objectives, summary, key terms, and discussion questions included in each chapter help reinforce important topics and concepts. Forms, charts, checklists, formulas, policies, techniques, and references provide invaluable resources for operating in the ever-changing and challenging environment of the foodservice industry.

Back by popular demand: the world's most widely-used medical reference, now in its 20th edition. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy has been thoroughly updated and expanded with a larger trim size to include 40% new and revised content, including 36 new chapters with more than 200 tables and 100 figures. Packed with essential information on diagnosing and treating medical disorders, this comprehensive guide was written by a team of renowned medical experts. It is intended for everyday use by healthcare professionals to ensure delivery of the best care to their patients. The new Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy makes it easy to find the right information at the moment it's needed, with the help of section thumb tabs. It is a must-have for medical students, residents, practicing physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. New larger trim 7 3/4 x 9 1/4 to accommodate 40% new content 36 completely new chapters Revised and expanded chapters in Cardiovascular, Genitourinary, Gynecologic, Neurologic, Pregnancy, and Infants and Children Pediatrics and trauma section significantly revised and expanded Key Points summarize the facts at-a-glance New Pearls & Pitfalls highlight noteworthy medical info and areas of caution 16-page full-color insert aids visual recognition of skin, eye, and oral disorders