Is there epidemiology in Russia?

Objective-To examine the current state of epidemiology in Russia. Design-The structure of clinical research and statistical methods was used to shed light on the epidemiology in Russia. The frequencies of specific st udy designs were evaluated using Medline data for 1970-1997. To determine t he proportion of advanced design clinical studies the frequency of cohort, prospective, follow up, or longitudinal studies, and controlled trials was evaluated. All diagnosis related studies were found to determine the usage of advanced statistical technique (ROC analysis). The adequacy of Medline i nformation was checked by hand search of journals. All dissertations in epi demiology defended in Russia in 1995 and 1996 were evaluated for their meth odology. The curriculum recommended by Ministry of Health to Medical Univer sities was evaluated. Available literature and library indexing of epidemio logical terms examined. Main results-Russian medical research uses less frequently advanced study d esigns and methods of data analysis. Medical students are taught epidemiolo gy as a science of spread of infectious diseases. There is no department of epidemiology in Russian universities where epidemiology is taught in the m odern sense and no epidemiological and biostatistical periodicals available in Russia. Conclusion-Epidemiology in Russia remains in an archaic state of science of the spread of infectious diseases and it is detrimental to methodology of medical research in Russia.