Epidemiology Flashcards
Epidemiology Definition
The study of the occurrence and distribution of health-related states or events in specific populations, including the study of the determinants influencing such states and the application of the knowledge to control the health problem
- the science used in community health practice
- infectious disease/public health epidemiology
- To describe, explain, predict & control challenges to population health
- How & why: examine causality & modes of transmission
- The who, what, where, when of disease causation and distribution patterns. Contact tracing
Public Health Nursing Role: Communicable Disease control is considered the number one priority of the public health system
- Are frontline in identification of outbreaks
- Do case management and support for quarantined individuals
-Provide information to the public - Are responsible for case finding0identification of the contacts
Outbreak
sudden occurrence of a disease in a community which has never experienced the disease before OR cases occur in > numbers than expected
Epidemic
Occurrence of illness/disease is excess of what would normally be expected in community or region (example: SARS)
Endemic
a disease occurring regularly within a geographic region (ie. Lice)
Pandemic
a disease affecting large portions of the population throughout the world (globally)
Screening
secondary prevention - tool for early diagnosis and test to detect presence of disease (mammogram, pap smear)
Case Finding (contact tracing)
determining individuals whose health status is at risk
Surviellance
constant monitoring of disease to assess patterns & identify events that do not fit the pattern
- surveillance of Reportable diseases: diseases that are required (by Drs./nurses) to be reported by law (TB, STIs, AIDS)
Premordial Prevention
starts at the very beginning. looking at how society structures, the changes, can cause changes in SDOH and could be possibly causing disease. Climate change, inadequate housing. Bigger pieces that could lend themselves to disease
Primary Prevention
education. Health promotion. How we might be able to alter the exposure. Promotion of healthy behaviours. Harm reduction, safe spaces. Children vaccinations
Secondary Prevention
early detection of disease and the treatment. Looking at pathology that might be leading to other treatment. Mammogram/papsmear/testicular screening. Something is already going on and we are looking for it
Tertiary prevention
managing the effects of disease and trying to manage the hospitalization. Referrals, case management.
Quaternary Prevention
Identifying people at risk due to overmedicalization. Seen with antibiotics
Descriptive epidemiology
uses person, place and time variables to describe disease patterns
- what people/where/when did this disease take place
- Ex. heart disease occurred in X% of men and X% of women over 40 yrs. In BC in the year 2000
Analytic epidemiology
examines complex relationships among determinants of disease
- why? (causation)
- focus on disease etiology
- cardiac disease is related to smoking and lack of exercise and diet which is related to culture and Socioeconomic determinants of health
Epidemiologic model
host, agent & environment
Epidemiologic variables
descriptive factors to describe events
Susceptibility
vulnerability, determines individual response
Modes of transmission
direct/indirect (can be > 1 mode)
Natural Hx/Progression
- Enhanced susceptibility (pre-pathogenesis period)
- Stage 1 in disease process (pathogenesis period - host begins to react to agent to recovery, disability, or death)
- Primary Prevention - measures alter exposure promote optimal health
- Secondary Prevention - detect pathol process/early diagnosis - screening
- Tertiary prevention - increased vulnerability/susceptibility, prevent relapsed/deterioration - education, rehab, palliation
Association & Causation
connection between stressor & disease/confirmed (definite cause and effect relationship)