EPIDEMIOLOGY

Question 1

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Answer 1

The study of the distribution and determinants of disease in populations

Question 2

INCIDENCE

Answer 2

Number of new cases of a disease occurring in a givenpopulation over a specifiedperiod of time

Question 3

INCIDENCE RATE

Answer 3

(Number of new cases /Population at risk) x 100000

Question 4

MORTALITY and MORTALITY RATES

Answer 4

Mortality
Number of deaths (from a disease) in a given population over a specified period of time

(No of deaths (from disease) in a given population/Population at risk over the same specifiedperiod of time) x 10000

Question 5

POINT PREVALENCE

PERIOD PREVALENCE

Answer 5

POINT PREVALENCE- No of casesin a given population at a specified time

PERIOD PREVALENCE – No of cases (new and existing) in a given population over a specified period of time

Question 6

Where do we get incidence and mortality data from

Answer 6

Population surveillance – e.g. cancer registries, death records

Special incidence (longitudinal) studies

Special cross-sectional (prevalence) studies

Hospital data

Surveys – cross-sectional studies

(Correlational studies – correlate prevalence data on risk factor and disease - year 2)

Question 7

RISK FACTOR

Answer 7

A risk factor is an event, condition or characteristic that is the cause of a disease or outcome of the disease – risk factor might also be termed cause or exposure.