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Cards (49)

  • Epidemiology
    The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the prevention and control of health problems
  • Fields that epidemiology makes use of
    • Biology
    • Sociology
    • Demography
    • Geography
    • Environmental science
    • Policy analysis
    • Statistics
  • Components of epidemiology
    • Studies of disease frequency
    • Studies of the disease distribution
    • Studies of determinants of disease
  • Study
    Includes surveillance, observation, hypothesis testing, analytic research, experiments
  • Distribution
    Refers to analysis by time, places, classes of people affected
  • Determinants
    Include all factors that influence health: biological, chemical, physical, social, cultural, economic, genetic, behavioral
  • Health-related states or events
    Refer to diseases, causes of death, behaviors, positive health states, reactions to preventive regimens, provision and use of health services
  • Specified populations
    Include those with identifiable characteristics such as occupational groups
  • Cases
    People afflicted with a disease, the number of people diagnosed with the illness
  • Epidemic
    An unexpectedly large number of cases of a disease in a particular population, disease occurrence above normal expectancy
  • Endemic
    A disease that occurs regularly in a population as a matter of course, normally prevails in the community
  • Hyperendemic
    Persistent, high levels of disease occurrence, a situation where there is a persistent and consistently high level of disease occurrence
  • Pandemic
    An outbreak of disease over a wide geographical area such as a continent, the global spread of disease affecting large populations
  • Sporadic disease
    Few scattered cases, a disease that occurs infrequently and in isolated or scattered cases
  • Epidemic
    • 10 cases of legionellosis occurred within 3 weeks among residents of a particular neighborhood (usually 0 or 1 per year)
  • Hyperendemic
    • The average annual incidence was 364 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis per 100,000 population in one area, compared with the national average of 134 cases
  • Pandemic
    • Over 20 million people worldwide died from influenza in 1918-1919
  • Sporadic
    • A single case of histoplasmosis was diagnosed in a community
  • Endemic
    • About 60 cases of gonorrhea are usually reported in this region per week, slightly less than the national average
  • Practical applications of epidemiology
    • Assessment of the health status of the community
    • Elucidation of the natural history of disease
    • Determination of disease causation
    • Prevention and control of disease
    • Monitoring and evaluation of health interventions
    • Provision of evidence for policy formulation
  • Disease
    An abnormal condition of an organism or part, especially resulting from an infection, inherent weakness, or environmental stress that impairs normal physiological functioning
  • Disease
    The outcome variable (dependent variable)
  • Exposure
    A catch-all term for agents, interventions, conditions, policies, anything that might affect health, the predictor or explanatory variable (independent variable)
  • Studies of disease frequency
    Measurement of the frequency of disease, disability, death, helps in understanding the burden of these health outcomes and provides information for public health planning
  • Prevalence
    The proportion of individuals in a population who have a particular disease or condition at a specific point in time, gives an estimate of the total number of existing cases
  • Incidence
    The rate at which new cases of a disease occur within a population during a specified time period, provides insights into the risk of developing the disease
  • Studies of the disease distribution
    Characterize who, where, or when in relation to what (outcome), helps identify patterns and risk factors associated with the disease
  • Descriptive epidemiology
    The branch of epidemiology that aims to describe and summarize disease patterns and characteristics, provides a foundation for generating hypotheses
  • Studies of determinants of disease
    Test hypotheses about the causes and risk factors of a disease, provide insights into the underlying reasons and mechanisms behind the occurrence of a disease
  • Analytical epidemiology
    The branch of epidemiology that focuses on analyzing and interpreting data to assess the associations between potential determinants and disease outcomes
  • Areas of concern of epidemiology
    • Describing the distribution of disease
    • Interpretation of the distribution of the disease in terms of possible etiologic agents or causal factors
  • Epidemiologists investigate and identify the origin of the source of an epidemic
  • Analytical epidemiology
    Provides crucial evidence for the development of effective health programs, interventions, and policies
  • Findings from analytical epidemiology
    Help inform strategies for the prevention, control, and management of the disease, leading to improved public health outcomes
  • Areas of Concern of Epidemiology
    • Describing the distribution of disease in terms of sex, age, race, geography, etc.
    • Interpretation of the distribution of the disease in terms of possible etiologic agents of causal factors
  • Scope of Epidemiology
    • To trace the source of the epidemic
    • Limit the spread
    • Institute control measures
    • Prevent similar occurrences in the future
  • Ultimate Concern of Epidemiology
    • Prevention of Diseases
    • Maintenance of Health
  • Public Health Importance of Epidemiology
    • It provides a framework for different approaches to control measures
    • Assessment of the Health Status of the Community (Community Diagnosis)
  • Types of Health Indicators
    • Health status indicators (morbidity/mortality)
    • Population indicators
    • Indicators for the provision of health care
    • Risk reduction indicators
    • Social and economic indicators
    • Environmental indicators
    • Disability indicators
    • Health policy indicators
  • Stages in the Natural History of Disease and the Levels of Prevention
    • Stage of Susceptibility (Pre-pathogenesis Stage)
    • Stage of Subclinical Disease
    • Stage of Clinical Disease
    • Stage of Recovery, Disability, or Death