Introduction to Epidemiology Flashcards
It is an investigative method used to detect the cause or source of diseases, disorders, syndromes, conditions, or perils that cause pain, injury, illness, disability, or death in human populations or groups.
Timreck
Koch’s contribution to Epidemiology
Postulates for disease causation
Etymology of Epidemiology
Epi = on, upon, befall Demos = people, population, man Logy = study of
Investigated risk factors for coronary heart disease
Framingham Heart Study
Anatomy of Epidemiology
- Population of interest are human populations.
- It describes the distribution of health and disease by person, place, and time variables.
- It identifies determinants of health and disease.
- Health and disease (injury, illness, disability, or death)
Purpose of determining the burden of disease in the community
For planning and prioritization of health services and facilities
For training of future health care providers
What are determinants of disease in Epidemiologic terms?
Risk factors
Causes
Described the role of environment in health and disease among men
Hippocrates
Factors that contributed to the success of eradication of smallpox
- Universal political commitment
- Clear and specific goal with precise timetable
- Well trained and committed staff
- Flexible strategy
- Features of the disease that made its elimination possible
- Availability of an effective and stable vaccine
It is the study of the nature, cause, control, and determinants of the frequency and distribution of disease, disability, and death in human populations.
Timreck
Major role of Epidemiology
To provide clues to changes that take place over time in the health problems that are present in the community
Doll and Peto’s contribution to Epidemiology
Identified strong association between smoking and lung cancer
Purpose of knowing the relative frequency of disease in a population
It enables intervention programs to target a specific population
Uses of Epidemiology
- To identify the etiology of the disease
- To determine the extent of disease found in the community
- To explain/address local disease patterns and problems
- To describe the natural history and prognosis of disease
- To evaluate new preventive and therapeutic measures and new modes of health care delivery
- To provide foundations for developing public policies and regulatory decisions relating to environmental health problems
- To provide guidance in the administration and evaluation of health services
First to employ quantitative methods in describing vital statistics
John Graunt
