Introduction to Epidemiology Flashcards
Study of distribution of disease, or physiologic condition in human population
Epidemiology
Components of Epidemiology
Population
Disease
Distribution
Factors
What are the 3 dimensions in pathologic process of disease
Biological (Physical)
Perceptual (Physiological)
Social (Behavior)
Occurence of disease/conditions in groups of people
Distribution
Responsible for observed distribution
Factors
refers to analysis of time, person, place and classes of people affected
Distribution
Include those with identifiable characteristics
Specified population
Epidemiologic triad
Time, place, person
Determinants that influence time
Increase/decrease over the years
Seasonal variations
Sudden changes of disease occurence
Examine the distribution of disease in a population, observe basic features of its distribution. (Health and disease in the community)
Descriptive Epidemiology
- What, who, when, where
Essential characteristics for descriptive epidemiology
Person, place, time
Testing the hypothesis and the cause of disease by studying how exposure relate to disease
Analytical Epidemiology
- Why, How?
Characteristics for analytical epidemiology
Host, Agent Environment
Goal of epidemiology
- Biomedical
2. Public Health
Determinants of disease development is also known as
Risk factors
Development of human disease might be related to external and personal environemtn of an individual
Hippocrates
Something that falls upon people
Epidemic
Etiologic Theories
Galen
3 causes of epidemic constitution
Atmospheric, susceptibility, Lifestyle
Weekly reports of brth
John Graunt
Application of vital statistical data
William Farr
First investigator to draw all together the three components of definition of epidemiology
John Snow
T/F, in John Snow Era, risk of infection is highest in people using water from the Southwark and Vauxhall water company
True
Father of modern epidemiology
John Snow
group of people which may be defined geographic boundaries
Population
pathological processes which has 3 dimensions:
– biological (physical)
– perceptual (psychological) – social (behavioral)
Disease
the occurrence of disease/ condition in
groups of people
Distribution
Quantify disease
Measure disease frequency
Who is getting disease?
Where is disease occurring?
When is disease occurring?
Formulation of hypotheses concerning causal and preventive factors
Assess distribution of disease
Hypotheses are tested using epidemiologic studies
Identify determinants of disease
Preventing the initial development of a disease
Primary
ex. Immunization
Early detection of existing disease to reduce severity and complications
Secondary
ex Screening for cancer
Reducing the impact of the disease
Tertiary
ex Rehabilitation for stroke
- preventive measure is applied to and entire population
POPULATION-BASED APPROACH
- target a high-risk group with the preventive measure
HIGH-RISK GROUP APPROACH
one of the founders of the field of toxicology
Paracelsius
first to employ quantitative methods to describe population vital statistics by organizing mortality data in a mortality table
John Graunt
Father of Occupational Medicine
Ramazzini
first to describe an environmental cause of cancer
Percival Pott
Chimney sweeping and scrotal cancer
Percival Pott
– In 1798 discovered small pox vaccine
– Observed that dairymaids who had been infected with cowpox (a milder disease transmitted by cattle) were immune to small pox (a severe disease)
Edward Jenner
In 1839, developed a more sophisticated system for codifying medical conditions
- explored the possible linkage between mortality rates and population density
William Farr
bad or malodorous air as a cause of disease
Miasma
