2 Epidemiology: The Basic Science o f Public Health Flashcards
epidemiology
The science of public
health, which studies
the distribution and
determinants of
health-related events
in a population and
applies the findings
to help control health
problems.
morbidity
Sickness or illness
within a population
group
mortality
Death within a
population group.
demography
The study of
populations in terms
of various factors (e.g.,
numbers, fertility,
mortality, growth,
vital statistics) and
the interaction of
these factors with the
social and economic
environments.
frequency
The rate of occurrence
for a disease
epidemic
The occurrence of an
illness or other healthrelated event clearly
in excess of normal
expectancy
outbreak
A localized epidemic,
with an increase in the
incidence of a disease
within a limited area
endemic
Having a constant
presence within a given
area or population
group.
pandemic
An epidemic occurring
worldwide, or over
a very wide area,
usually affecting large
numbers of people.
epidemic threshold
The minimum number
of cases or deaths
required for an event
to be considered an
epidemic.
surveillance
The ongoing
systematic collection,
analysis, and
interpretation of health
data. Surveillance
is essential to
the planning,
implementation, and
evaluation of public
health practice
passive surveillance
Surveillance efforts
that largely depend
on the submission of
standardized reporting
forms from healthcare
providers and
laboratories
active surveillance
Surveillance efforts
that involve local public
health practitioners
collecting information
via in-person
interviews, phone calls,
and other methods.
population-based
surveillance
Surveillance that
involves the reporting
of information from
healthcare providers
and laboratories about
unusual diseases
or diseases that are
required by law to be
reported.
notifiable disease
A disease for which
frequent and timely
information about
individual cases is
considered necessary
for public health.
