Teaching epidemiology to the medical student.

The time allocated to epidemiology in the medical curriculum of most medical schools has increased and its importance has gained more general acceptance. The reason "Why?" epidemiology should be taught is perhaps best given by the World Health Organisation's report that epidemiology should aim to influence the future doctor's attitude to the problems of health and disease in the community by making the student more aware of the scientific approach to those problems. The question "How?" epidemiology should be taught is more difficult and there is evidence, at least from the United Kingdom, that the subject is regarded as both dull and the least difficult of sixteen subjects investigated. The question of whether epidemiology should be taught as a separate discipline or integrated into the curriculum is perhaps best answered by saying both should be done. The methods of instruction vary and a combination of methods is desirable in any course. The relations between epidemiology and other subjects and the place of epidemiology in formal examinations, varies greatly between medical schools. The ideal solutions to these and other problems still lie in the future.