INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY Flashcards
→ study of what befalls a population.
epidemiology
the “epi” in epidemiology means?
upon
the “demi” in epidemiology means?
people
T or F. Statistics 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.
F (epi)
T or F. Epi includes studies of all conditions and circumstances important to man’s health
T
What does the “study” mean in the description of epi?
scientific, systematic, data-driven
What does the “distribution” mean in the description of epi?
frequency, pattern
What does the “determinants” mean in the description of epi?
causes, risk factors
What does the “application” mean in the description of epi?
application of this study to the control of health problems since epidemiology is a discipline within public health
T or F. Only medical people can be epidemiologists.
F
match only one term per activity from key terms taken from the definition of epidemiology:
Graph the number of cases of congenital syphilis by year for the country
distribution
match only one term per activity from key terms taken from the definition of epidemiology:
Mark on a map the residences of all children born with birth defects within 2 kilometers of a hazardous waste site
Distribution
match only one term per activity from key terms taken from the definition of epidemiology:
Tabulate the frequency of clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings among children with chickenpox in Quezon City
determinants
match only one term per activity from key terms taken from the definition of epidemiology:
Recommend that close contacts of a child recently reported with meningococcal meningitis receive Rifampicin
application
match only one term per activity from key terms taken from the definition of epidemiology:
Compare frequency of brain cancer among anatomists with frequency in general population
application
match only one term per activity from key terms taken from the definition of epidemiology:
Compare food histories between persons with Staphylococcus food poisoning and those without
Application
Uses of Epidemiology:
to assess the health of a population or community, relevant sources of data must be identified and analyzed by person, place, and time (descriptive epidemiology)
Assessing the community’s health
Uses of Epidemiology:
public health officials responsible for policy development, implementation, and evaluation use epidemiologic information as a factual framework for decision making
Assessing the community’s health
uses of epi:
public health officials used epidemiologic data and methods to identify baselines, to set health goals for the nation in a certain year and to monitor progress toward these goals.
Assessing the community’s health
responsible for policy development, implementation, and evaluation use epidemiologic information as a factual framework for decision making
public health officials
uses of epi:
More detailed data may need to be collected and analyzed to determine whether health services are available, accessible, effective, and efficient
Assessing the community’s health
Which does not belong?
● What are the actual and potential health problems in the community?
● Where are they occurring?
● When did it occur?
● Which populations are at increased risk?
● Which problems have declined over time?
● Which ones are increasing or have the potential to increase?
● How do these patterns relate to the level and distribution of public health services available?
● When did it occur? (Assessing the community’s health)
Uses of Epi
1950s, epidemiologists reported the increased risk of lung cancer among smokers.
Making individual decisions
Uses of Epi
1970s, epidemiologists documented the role of
exercise and proper diet in reducing the risk of heart disease.
Making individual decisions
Uses of Epi
mid-1980s, epidemiologists identified the increased risk of HIV infection associated
Making individual decisions
Uses of Epi
Using epidemiologic information to make daily decisions affecting health
Making individual decisions
Uses of Epi
they may be influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by epidemiologists’ assessment of risk
Making individual decisions
Uses of Epi
use a condom
Making individual decisions
Uses of Epi
eat a salad rather than a cheeseburger with fries for lunch
Making individual decisions
Uses of Epi
When investigating a disease outbreak, epidemiologists rely on health-care providers and laboratorians to establish the proper diagnosis of individual patients
Completing the clinical picture (To construct or complete the natural history of a disease)
T or F. Epidemiologists also contribute to physicians’ understanding of the clinical picture and natural history of disease
T
Uses of Epi
In late 1989, a physician saw three patients with unexplained eosinophilia and myalgias.
Although the physician could not make a definitive diagnosis, he notified public health authorities.
Within weeks, epidemiologists had identified enough other cases to characterize the spectrum and course of the illness that came to be known as eosinophilia-myalgia
Completing the clinical picture
Uses of Epi
the goal is to identify a cause so that appropriate public health action might be taken
Searching for causes
One can argue that epidemiology can never prove a causal relationship between an exposure and a disease, since much of epidemiology is based on?
ecological reasoning
T or F. Epidemiology often and does not often provides enough information to support effective action.
T
Uses of Epi:
the removal of the handle from the Broad St. pump following John Snow’s investigation of cholera in the Golden Square area of London in 1854
Searching for causes
Uses:
Epidemiologists were able to identify a variety of risk factors during an outbreak of pneumonia among persons attending the American Legion Convention in Philadelphia in 1976 (Legionnaires’ disease)
Searching for causes
Uses:
study of new diseases, endemic disease problems, epidemics, special events
To study immediate and special problems in the field of health.
Uses:
→ situations (situational analysis in health planning) conditions or occurrences, and implementation problems (operational research);
→ provides the necessary data upon which a program may be based; to guide the program, assessing its progress and pinpointing failures,etc.
To study immediate and special problems in the field of health.
Uses:
clinical trials
To evaluate the effectiveness of
therapy, preventive measures and
programs.
Uses:
evaluation research
To evaluate the effectiveness of
therapy, preventive measures and
programs.
synonymous with the scientific investigative method
epi method
any method or methods used to arrive at an epidemiologic synthesis of information
epi method
2 principles of epi method?
the clear statement of the problem in their entirety, the formulation of suitable solutions or answers, and the evaluation of such solutions
can utilize any other discipline of learning order to achieve its aims
epi
focus of observation is a group
stats
make diagnosis, assess effects of drugs and other factors on health
clinical med
What do you call someone who practices in the field of Medicine and Public health
Epidemiologist
