Definitions Epidemiology Flashcards
Basic definitions of terms
Epidemiology Definition
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems
Is epidemiology qualitative or quantitative
Quantitative
Why is epidemiology a quantitative study
It uses probability, statistics, numbers and research methods to answer health-realated questions.
What does epidemiology do?
Provides the foundation for practical and appropriate public health action based on science and causal reasoning by using probability, statistics and research methods.
Explain frequency
The number of health events in a population e.g. diabetes and the relationship of that number to the size of the population.
The resulting rate allows epidemiologists to compare disease occurrence across different populations.
Disease distribution / pattern
Analysis of disease patterns or health-related events by time, place, and person. WHO, WHERE, HOW
Define different time patterns
Time patterns may be annual, seasonal, weekly, daily, hourly, weekday versus weekend, or any other breakdown of time that may influence disease or injury occurrence.
Define place patterns
Place patterns include geographic variation, urban/rural differences, and location of work sites or schools.
Define personal characteristics
Demographic factors including risk of illness, injury, or disability such as age, sex, marital status, and socioeconomic status, as well as behaviours and environmental exposures.
What are determinants
Factors that bring about change or make a difference in a person’s health. Can be individual, environmental or societal.
Define health-related states or events
Anything that affects the well-being of a population. Health related states and events. Also known as disease.
How do epidemiologists search for determinants?
Epidemiologists use analytic epidemiology or epidemiologic studies to provide the “Why” and “How” of such health-related events. They assess whether groups with different rates of disease differ in their demographic characteristics, genetic or immunologic make-up, behaviors, environmental exposures, or other so-called potential risk factors
Example of health-related states
Disease, behaviours e.g. smoking or vaping, therapeutic regimes,
Define endemic
A regularly occurring disease present in a community or area.
Define epidemic
The widespread occurance of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
Why are populations important in epidemiology?
Important to identify the exposure or source that caused illness; the number of other persons who may have been exposed; the potential for further spread in the community; and interventions to prevent additional cases or recurrences.
Application in epidemiology
Use of scientific methods of descriptive and analytic epidemiology as well as experience, epidemiologic judgment, and understanding of local conditions in “diagnosing” the health of a community and proposing appropriate, practical, and acceptable public health interventions to control and prevent disease in the community.
Empirical evidence
Information obtained through observation and documentation of patterns or certain behaviours through an experiment. Rather than an educated guess or common knowledge.
Population
A group of people with a common characteristic e.g. gender, age, same city etc.
