Lesson 1 - Definition of Epidemiology Flashcards
The breakdown of epidemiology: epi
“on” or “upon”
The breakdown of epidemiology: demos (demi)
“people”
The breakdown of epidemiology: logos (logy)
“the study of”
Epidemiology literal
definition (based on the latin?)
The study of what befalls a population
Epidemiology is a fundamental science of…
public health
Epidemiology has made major contributions to…
improving population health
Epidemiology is essential to the process of…
identifying and mapping emerging diseases
Acquiring epidemiological evidence and applying this evidence to health policy there is often…
a delay
The official definition
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states of events in specified populations, and the application of this study of the control of health problems.
What does epidemiology rely on to collect, analyze and interpret data?
a systematic and unbiased approach
What fields does epidemiology use methods from?
biostatistics, informations, biology, economics, social sciences and behavioral sciences
It employs c_____
causal reasoning by developing and testing hypotheses grounded in scientific fields
Is epidemiology quantitative or qualitative?
quantitative
What does epidemiology require an understanding of?
probability, statistics and rigorous research methods
Distribution definition
distribution is the frequency and pattern of health events in a population
descriptive epidemiology definition
descriptive epidemiology describes outbreaks or instances of disease in terms of person, place and time
frequency definition
frequency encompasses the number of health events and their relationship to the size of the population (the rate rather than just the number)
Why is using the rate rather than just the number important?
It allows epidemiologists to compare disease occurrence across different populations.
Pattern definition
patterns of time, place and person of health-related events
Examples of time patterns
-Annual
-Seasonal
-Weekly
-hourly
-weekday versus weekend
-any other breakdown of time
Examples of place patterns
- geographic variation
- urban/rural differences
- location of work sites or schools
examples of person patterns
usually demographics that could relate someone to illness, injury or disability. For example:
- age
- sex
- marital status
- socioeconomic status
- behaviours
- environmental response
Determinants definition
Determinants are the causes and other factors that influence the occurrence of disease and other health-related issues.
What are the two questions to ask when looking at determinants?
Why did it occur? How did it occur?
What do epidemiologists assume when looking a diseases?
Epidemiologists assume illness does not occur randomly but only under the accumulation of risk factors
What types of epidemiology are used to identify the determinants?
analytic epidemiology and epidemiologic studies
What is anything that affects the well-being of a poplation?
Health-related states or events
the term disease
is still used as shorthand for the wide range of health related states and events that are studied
What are some examples or health-related states or events
chronic illnesses, injuries, birth defects, maternal-child health, occupational health and environmental health
environmental epidemiology definition
environmental epidemiology is concern with environmental conditions or hazards that may pose a health risk to populations
What role do health agencies play?
Local and state health departments often receive inquiries from the public regarding illnesses associated with exposures to toxicants from hazardous waste sites in their communities.
Fill in the blank:
_______ maintain detailed cancer and disease registries that may address these issues.
states health departments
The patient definition
In epidemiology, the patient refers to the community being observed
What is a specified population?
members of a community with identifiable characteristics that are of interest
What do epidemiologists focus on identifying in a population?
- exposure to the source that caused the illness
- the number of persons who may have been similarly exposed
- the potential for further spread in the community
- interventions to prevent additional cases or recurrences
Application in Epidemiology definition
when one applies the knowledge of a disease in a community into a community based practice
