Perspectives of clinical epidemiology in Germany

The aim of this article is to discuss the perspective of clinical epidemiology in Germany. The following statements are discussed: (1) There is some confusion about the definition of clinical epidemiology. (2) There is a latent and growing need for clinical epidemiology in Germany. (3) Clinical epidemiology is an interdisciplinary field and not simply clinical medicine, epidemiology, biometry, or medical informatics. (4) We must continue with the education of clinicians and nonclinical methodologists in clinical epidemiology to develop the field of clinical epidemiology in Germany. Biometry, medical informatics, and epidemiology will play an essential role for this purpose. (5) The German scientific community urgently needs clinicians and scientists with experience in methodological research to specialize in the methods of clinical epidemiology. (6) The starting point for the development of clinical epidemiology in Germany, clear deficits in the past notwithstanding, is promising. However, we will only be able to develop the field if the egoism of the different disciplines can be tamed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.