ch 7 describing health conditions: understanding and using rates Flashcards
ratio
fraction that represents the relationship between two numbers
EX: 1 nurse to four patents, 1:4
proportion
a type of ratio that includes the quantity in the numerator as a part of the denominator; it is the relationship of a part of the whole
EX: 1/8th of a pizza
rate
the primary measurement used to describe the occurrence (quantity) if a state of health in a specific group of people in a given period
EX: incidences of the health of a community, region, or country (mortality rates and maternal-infant rates)
variety of rates
incidence, prevalence, adjusted, and specific rates
specific rates calculated by person, place, and time provide the best description of a health condition.
adjusted rate
statistical procedure that removes the effects of differences in the composition of a population, such as age, when comparing one with another
crude rate
measurement of the occurrence of the health problem or condition being investigated in the ENTIRE population
incidence rate
measure of the probability that people without a certain condition will develop that condition over a period of time
(EX: mortality rate)
prevalence rate
measures the number of people in a given population who have an existing condition at a given point in time (INCLUDES INCIDENCE)
relative risk ratio
the ratio of the INCIDENCE rate in the exposed group and the INCIDENCE rate in the nonexposed group
EX: lung cancer in smokers vs. non smokers
sensitivity
the ability of a test to correctly identify people who have health problems under study (TRUE POSITIVE)
*they are sensitive so we need to be truly positive with them
sensitivity+ TP/TP+ FN = % of sensitivity
specificity
the ability of a test to correctly identify people who do not have the health problem (TRUE NEGATIVES)
*they were truly negative so we treated them like a spec of dust
specificity= TN/TN+FP= % of specificity
EVOLVING technology
training AI to better improve sensitivity/specificity
KEY CONCEPTS
measuring the magnitude or frequency of a state of health determines the characteristics of those who are at high risk
calculation of rates provides the best indicators of the probability that a specific state of health will occur
indices of the health of a community, region, or country include the comparisons of general mortality rates and maternal and infant mortality rates
a variety of rates can be calculated according to need, including incidences, prevalence’s, adjusted, and specific rates
specific rates calculated by person, place and time provides the best description of a health condition
prevalence is influenced by the number of people who have developed the condition in the past and the duration of their illness. It provides essential data for implementing prevention measures
before screening projects are undertaken, the sensitivity and specificity of screening levels or test values should be carefully reviewed.
