Ch9

Question 1

proportion

Answer 1

a type of ratio in which the denominator includes the numerator

Question 2

incident rate

Answer 2

reflects the number of NEW cases developing in a population at risk during a specified time. It estimates the risk for developing the disease in the observed population within a specified time.

Question 3

incident proportion

Answer 3

reflects the cumulative effect of the incidence rate over the time period.

Question 4

prevalance proportion

Answer 4

The prevalence proportion measures existing disease in a population at a particular time; that is, the number of existing cases divided by the current population.

Question 5

risk

Answer 5

risk is the probability that an event will occur within a specified period. It is distinguished from a HIGH-RISK POPULATION, those persons for whom a greater probability exists of the event occurring.

Question 6

epidemic

Answer 6

rate of disease exceeds typical rate of spread

Question 7

attack rate

Answer 7

The attack rate is a measure of morbidity, defined as the proportion of persons exposed to an agent who develop the disease. Attack rates are often specific to an exposure.

Question 8

mortality

Answer 8

Mortality rates provide information about deaths and fatal diseases. Commonly used mortality rates include the crude mortality rate, age-specific rate, case-fatality rate, and the infant mortality rate

Question 9

web of causality

Answer 9

The web of causality illustrates the complex interrelationships of numerous factors interacting to increase (or decrease) the risk of disease.
Recognizes the complex interrelationships of many factors interacting, sometimes in subtle ways, to increase or decrease the risk for disease
Relationships are sometimes mutual, with lines of causality going in both directions

Question 10

sensistivity

Answer 10

Sensitivity: quantifies how accurately the test identifies those with the condition or trait; true positives

Question 11

specificity

Answer 11

Specificity: indicates how accurately the test identifies those without the condition or trait ; true negatives

Question 12

Define epidemiology

Answer 12

Epidemiology: the study of the distribution and factors that determine health-related states or events in a population, and the use of this information to control health problems

Question 13

Discuss the steps in the epidemiologic process

Answer 13

Step 1 – Answer the “what” question – ex: what disease – cancer
Step 2 – Answer the “who, where, when” – the distribution
Example – men in Bryan, Texas in 2012
Step 3 – Answer the “why and how” question

Question 14

Explain how nurses use epidemiology in community health practice

Answer 14

nurses look at health and at disease causation and investigate how to both prevent and treat illness
Nurses are involved in the surveillance and monitoring of disease trends and can identify patterns of disease in a group. Nurses in the community may be the first to notice a new illness or symptoms

Question 15

a form of epidemiology that describes disease in terms of person, place, or time
For example: What is the disease? Who is affected? Where are these people? When do events occur?

Answer 15

Descriptive epidemiology:

Question 16

looks at the etiology (origins or causes) of the disease and deals with determinants of health and disease
For example: How does it occur? Why are some people affected more than others?

Answer 16

Analytic epidemiology:

Question 17

purpose of epidemiology

Answer 17

monitor the health of the population
identify determinants of health and disease in the communities
investigate and evaluate intervention to prevent disease and maintain health

Question 18

first person to use the ideas that are now part of epidemiology

Answer 18

hippocrates was the first person to use the ideas that are now part of epidemiology

Question 19

developed both germ theory and pasteurization

Answer 19

louis pasteur

Question 20

developed antiseptic surgery

Answer 20

joseph lister

Question 21

developed pure culture and identified the cusal organisms that cause TB, anthrax, and cholera disease

Answer 21

john snow ( father of epidemiology)

Question 22

who is the father of epidemiolgy?

Answer 22

john snow

Question 23

considered relationship between environmental conditions and recovery of soldiers during Crimean War. Able to decrease mortality rates by improving environmental conditions and adding nursing care

Answer 23

Florence Nightingale

Question 24

rate

Answer 24

the basic measure in epidemiologic studies. A rate is a measure of the frequency of a health event in a defined population during a specified period

Question 25

prevalence

Answer 25

of existing cases divided by current population; health dept needs to know this for planning purposes

Question 26

agent

Answer 26

a factor that must be present or lacking in order for a disease or condition to develop

Question 27

host

Answer 27

is a living species capable of being infected or affected by an agent

Question 28

environment

Answer 28

is everything internal or external to a given host or agent and that is influenced and influences the host and/or agent

Question 29

how precise is the measurement? the measurement’s consistency or repeatability
take BP 3 times and it is different each time

Answer 29

relaiability

Question 30

the proportion of persons with a positive test who actually have the disease

Answer 30

Positive predictive value:

Question 31

the proportion of persons with a negative test who are actually disease free

Answer 31

Negative predictive value:

Question 32

in a screening test, how is validity measured?

Answer 32

using sensitivity and specificity

Question 33

what is validity?

Answer 33

the accuracy of a test or measurement in measuring what it claims to measure.

Question 34

A. Sources of data. Data for epidemiologic studies commonly come from three categories:
1. Routinely collected data such as census data, vital records, and surveillance data
2. Data collected for other purposes such as medical and insurance records
3. Original data collected for specific epidemiologic studies
B. Rate adjustment. Rates can be misleading when compared across different populations. Adjustments can be direct or indirect.

Answer 34

Basic methods in epidemiology

Question 35

Descriptive versus analytic epidemiology:

Answer 35

Descriptive epidemiology describes the distribution of health outcomes according to person, place, and time—the who, where, and when of disease patterns.
Analytic epidemiology searches for the determinants of the patterns observed—the how and why.