SOCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY - AN INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH AND PRACTICE STRATEGY APPLIED TO HOMELESSNESS

Social epidemiology, a sub-type of epidemiology, provides social worke rs with methodological tools that can lead to informed treatment choic es in dealing with complex social problems. This paper defines social epidemiology, delineates the types of research questions that can gene rate data applicable to social interventions, and briefly outlines som e of the standard methods in use, using homelessness as an example. Th ese include the development of empirically validated criteria for ''ca seness,'' determining incidence and prevalence and identifying the hum an population reservoir. The epidemiological triangle of host, agent a nd environmental risk factors is presented as a method of organizing a vailable research on homelessness, and conceptualizing methods of trea tment and prevention. Screening, and the evaluation of its validity us ing sensitivity and specificity are discussed. Finally, the use of rel ative risk ratios to quantify the importance of risk factors is sugges ted and demonstrated.