This important textbook presents epidemiologic methods for studying injuries and evaluating interventions to prevent them. The formation of research questions and the choice of research methods may reveal or obscure patterns that can lead to remarkable reductions in injury. Injury control programs can be targeted and improved with the help of relatively simple descriptive studies, but some changeable factors are revealed only by more sophisticated analytic methods. The sources for reliable, valid data and exemplary study designs are described in this text. In addition, the difficulties in using rates and ratios and in applying epidemiologic methods when evaluating programs, laws, medical care, and regulations are discussed in detail. The use of economic concepts and policy analysis--topics not usually found in epidemiology texts--is also covered. Students and health care and safety professionals will find this a valuable guide in studying injury epidemiology and prevention.