Lecture 1: Overview of the Discipline of Epidemiology

Question 1

Define Epidemiology

Answer 1

The study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations and the application of this study to control health problems.

Question 2

Name 2 of the 3 epidemiological assumptions.

Answer 2

1) Disease occurrence is not random
2) Systematic Investigation of different populations can identify associations and causal/preventive factors and changes/adjustments can improve health of the population (have to ask the right questions in the right way).
3) Making comparisons is the cornerstone of systematic desease assessments/investigations

Question 3

What are the 3 W’s of descriptive epidemiology?

Answer 3

Who / Where / When

The three W’s (or person, place, and time) is encompassed by patterns of disease occurrences and must be examined first to determine if there’s a problem.

Question 4

What are the 2 subsets that must be considered when looking at the distribution of disease?

Answer 4

1) Frequencies of Disease Occurrences
not only counts but also counts in relations to size of the population (this is what makes the comparisons between populations possible)

2) Patterns of Disease Occurrences
Who / Where / When

Question 5

What are the subsets that go into finding the “Determinants of Disease”?

Answer 5

• Factors of Susceptibility/Exposure/Risk
• Etiology/Causes of Disease
• Mode(s) of Transmission
• Social/Environmental/Biologic elements that determine the occurrence/presence of disease

The Why / How (1 W/ 1 H) Analytic Epidemiology

Question 6

What is the 1W/1H of Analytic Epidemiology?

Answer 6

the Why and How of the determinants of a disease.

Question 7

What are the 6 core functions of epidemiology?

Answer 7

1) Public Health Surveillance
2) Field Investigation
3) Analytic Studies
4) Evaluation
5) Linkages
6) Policy Development

Question 8

Who is considered the father of epidemiology?

Answer 8

John Snow