Epidemiology (community) Flashcards
Define Epidemiolgy
- Refers to the study of health and disease in a population
- Requires that disease be measured quantitatively
Define Quantitatively
Is information that can be counted or expressed numerically and is often collected in experiments, manipulated and statistically analyzed; represented in graphs and charts
Define Precalence
Usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing a disease at any given time.
Define Incidence
Refers to the annual diagnosis rate or the number of new cases of a particular disease diagnosed each year.
What are some uses for Epidemiology?
- collecting data to describe normal biological processes
- understanding the natural history of a disease process
- measuring the distribution of a disease in a given population
- identifying determinants of disease
- testing hypotheses for prevention and control of a disease through studies
- planning and evaluating health care services
Define epidemic
an unexpectedly large number of cases of disease in a particular population at a particular place and time
Define endemic
a disease that occurs regularly in a population as a matter of course
Define pandemic
an outbreak of disease over a wide geographical area often worldwide