Chapter 1 Flashcards
Definition of epidemiology?
is the study of the occurance and distribution of health related events, states, and processes in specified locations, inlcuding the study of the determinants influencing processes and the application of this knowledge to control of relevant health problems.
How would clinical and epidemiological descriptions of a disease differ?
A clinical description would include specific signs, characteristics of patient, and symptoms. The epidemiological description would indicate which age groups would be most likely to be affected, time trends, geographic trends, and other variables.
To what extent does epidemiology rely on medical disciplines for its content? Explain it as interdisciplinary.
Epidemiology relies microbiology, morphology, and virology to understand disease mechanisms, risk factors, and treatment outcomes at a population level. These medical insights are essential for identifying, preventing, and controlling diseases through research and public health interventions
How would clinical and epidemiological descriptions of a disease be similar?
Usually, clinical descriptions of the condition are the first data available. these initial descriptions can lead to subsequent epidemiologic investigations. If more than one person complains about a health problem, a medical provider may develop suspicion that some widespread exposure is occurring. THe clinical observation might suggest further epidemiologic investigation of the problem.
Define the significance for epidemiology of the following historical development: use of vital statistics
Pioneered by Graunt, he organized mortality data in a mortality table. His procedures allowed the discovery of trends in births and deaths due to specific causes.
Define the significance for epidemiology of the following historical development: use of natural experiments
John Snow’s natural experiment about cholera was noteworthy because it used many of the features of epidemiologic inquiry: a spot map of cases and tabulation of fatal attacks and deaths. Through this experiment, he developed a hypothesis that contaminated water might be associated with outbreaks of cholera.
Define the significance for epidemiology of the following historical development: identification of specific agents of disease
because it lead to identifying specific organisms that cause a disease and previously, grouping together of diseases hampered their epidemiological study.
Explain what is meant by the following definition of epidemiology: determinants
are factors or events that are capable of bringing about a change in health. Some examples are biological agents or chemical agents that may act as carcinogens.
Explain what is meant by the following definition of epidemiology: distribution
Related to differences in disease patterns in subgroups of the population. Variations in disease frequency illustrate how disease may have different distributions depending on the underlying characteristics of the population being studied.
Explain what is meant by the following definition of epidemiology: morbidity and mortality
One designates illness and the other refers to death.
What is an epidemic
to an excessive occurrence of a disease. Excessive prevalence of normal expectancy.
Describe a scenerio in which only one or two cases of disease may represent an epidemic
“first invasion” where occurrence of two new cases linked in time and place can be considered an epidemic. Also, when a communicable disease has disappeared and a single case reappears, that event represents an epidemic.
What is the purpose of surveillance?
denotes the systemic collection of data pertaining to the occurrence of specific diseases, the analysis and interpretation of this data. It also ascertains epidemic trends by having data about the usual occurrence of a disease.
Give an example of disease that has cyclic patterns
influenza
What is the epidemic threshold for a disease?
THE MININUM NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT AN EPIDEMIC WAS UNDER WAY. IT IS BASED ON STATISTICAL PROJECTIONS.
