Chapter 5: Sources of Data for Use in Epidemiology Flashcards
Availability of the data
Refers to the investigator’s access to data (e.g., patient records and databases in which personally identifying information has been removed).
Completeness of population coverage
Encompasses representativeness of the data and thoroughness of case identification.
External validity
Measure of the generalizability of the findings from the study population to the target population.
Multiphasic screening
Use of two or more screening tests simultaneously among large groups of people.
Nature of the data
Refers to the source of the data (e.g., vital statistics, physician’s records, case registries, etc.).
Public health surveillance
The process of reporting diseases.
Record linkage
System of joining data from two or more sources.
Registry
Centralized database for collection of information about a disease.
Reportable disease statistics
Statistics derived from diseases that physicians and other healthcare providers must report to government agencies according to legal statute. Such diseases are called reportable diseases.
Representativeness (also, external validity)
Refers to the degree to which a sample resembles the parent population; affects the generalizability of the findings of an epidemiologic study to the population.
Screening
Presumptive identification of unrecognized disease or defects by the application of tests, examinations, or other procedures that can be applied rapidly.
Screening Survey
An investigation of a particular group of persons in order to identify individuals who have unrecognized health conditions, for example, infectious or chronic diseases.
Strengths versus limitations
Pertains to the usefulness of data for various types of epidemiologic research.
Thoroughness
A sub-criterion related to the care that has been taken to identify all cases of a given disease including subclinical cases.
Vital statistics
Mortality and birth statistics maintained by government agencies.
