BIOL 437 Week Four Part 2

Question 1

epidemic curve

Answer 1

• histogram
• shape can suggest hypothesis
• incubation period

Question 2

incubation period

Answer 2

-time between exposure and onset of symptoms

Question 3

common source types

Answer 3

• point: same exposure over limited time period
• intermittent
• continuous

Question 4

propagated (simple)

Answer 4

-spread from person to person

Question 5

mixed epidemics (simple)

Answer 5

-a mixture of common source and propagated

Question 6

common source

Answer 6

-tend to result in more cases occuring more rapidly
>sooner than host-to-host epidemics
-removing exposure to common source typically causes the epidemic to rapidly decrease

Question 7

examples of common source

Answer 7

• anthrax: milk or meat from infected animals

- botulism: traced to soil-contaminated foods

Question 8

propagated

Answer 8

• arise from infections being transmitted from one infected person to another
• indirect or direct transmission
• host-to-host epidemics rise and fall more slowly than common source

Question 9

examples of propagated

Answer 9

• tuberculosis
• whooping cough
• influenza
• measels
• covid-19

Question 10

mixed epidemics

Answer 10

• occurs when a common source is followed by person-to-person contact
• disease is spread as a propagated outbreak
  ex. shigellosis

Question 11

time-series analyses

Answer 11

-ecologic: group level
-longitudinal data: individual level
>age effect
>cohort effect
>period effect

Question 12

time-series design

Answer 12

• searching for patterns of disease over time
• secular trend/temporal variation
• cyclic patterns

Question 13

cyclic patterns

Answer 13

-recurrent alterations in the occurence, interval or frequency of diseases
>seasonality
-periodic increases and decreases in occurence

Question 14

types of trends

Answer 14

• secular
• short term
• cyclic patterns/trends

Question 15

secular trends

Answer 15

-represent long-term changes in health-related states or events

Question 16

short-term trends

Answer 16

-usually brief, unexpected increases in health-related states or events

Question 17

surveillance types

Answer 17

• medical: individual level

- public health: population level

Question 18

public health surveillance

Answer 18

-systematic ongoing collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of health data

Question 19

monitor

Answer 19

• identify sudden changes in occurence
• follow long-term trends and patterns
• identify changes in risk factors

Question 20

as a result of monitoring

Answer 20

-we identify wheter:
>a health problem exists
>the problem is getting worse

Question 21

explanations

Answer 21

-for observed changes in frequency not due to changes in risk factors
>inconsistent interpretation
>change in case definition
>improved diagnosis
>change in reporting
>random events

Question 22

health programs may be aimed at

Answer 22

• increasing vaccination levels
• reducing smoking
• increasing physical activity
• decreasing obesity
• increasing screening

Question 23

vaccine preventalbe disease

Answer 23

-monitor
-may say program is not reaching specific at risk populations
-barriers exist?
>address them and alter program

Question 24

field investigation

Answer 24

• public health department
• vary in extent
• vary with regard to objective
• learn about natural history, risk factors

Question 25

analytic studies

Answer 25

-evaluating hypotheses generated from surveillence and field investigations
>study design
>case definition development
>calculation of rates
>reccomendations based on intrepretation

Question 26

effectiveness

Answer 26

-does the program produced intended result in the field?

Question 27

efficiency

Answer 27

-does the program produce intended results with a minimum cost of the time and resources?

Question 28

team approach multidisciplinary

Answer 28

• local, provincial and federal
• academia, clincial, private
• shared online info and professional meetings

Question 29

value determined by

Answer 29

• appropriate actions have been taken
• info has been used to make decisons and take action
• relates to level and distribution
• info may be used in the future

Question 30

policy development

Answer 30

-reccomendation of appropriate interventions
>disease control
>reportable disease regulations
>health care policy

Question 31

causal insights

Answer 31

• plotting over time can give insights into probable determinants
• if only occurs in summer then search for causal factors

Question 32

confounding factors

Answer 32

-always a treat in descriptive studies

>analytic epidemiologic studies and better for minimizing the threat of confounding