Lesson 1 - Definition of Epidemiology

Question 1

The breakdown of epidemiology: epi

Answer 1

“on” or “upon”

Question 2

The breakdown of epidemiology: demos (demi)

Answer 2

“people”

Question 3

The breakdown of epidemiology: logos (logy)

Answer 3

“the study of”

Question 4

Epidemiology literal
definition (based on the latin?)

Answer 4

The study of what befalls a population

Question 5

Epidemiology is a fundamental science of…

Answer 5

public health

Question 6

Epidemiology has made major contributions to…

Answer 6

improving population health

Question 7

Epidemiology is essential to the process of…

Answer 7

identifying and mapping emerging diseases

Question 8

Acquiring epidemiological evidence and applying this evidence to health policy there is often…

Answer 8

a delay

Question 9

The official definition

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

What does epidemiology rely on to collect, analyze and interpret data?

Answer 10

a systematic and unbiased approach

Question 11

What fields does epidemiology use methods from?

Answer 11

biostatistics, informations, biology, economics, social sciences and behavioral sciences

Question 12

It employs c_____

Answer 12

causal reasoning by developing and testing hypotheses grounded in scientific fields

Question 13

Is epidemiology quantitative or qualitative?

Answer 13

quantitative

Question 14

What does epidemiology require an understanding of?

Answer 14

probability, statistics and rigorous research methods

Question 15

Distribution definition

Answer 15

distribution is the frequency and pattern of health events in a population

Question 16

descriptive epidemiology definition

Answer 16

descriptive epidemiology describes outbreaks or instances of disease in terms of person, place and time

Question 17

frequency definition

Answer 17

frequency encompasses the number of health events and their relationship to the size of the population (the rate rather than just the number)

Question 18

Why is using the rate rather than just the number important?

Answer 18

It allows epidemiologists to compare disease occurrence across different populations.

Question 19

Pattern definition

Answer 19

patterns of time, place and person of health-related events

Question 20

Examples of time patterns

Answer 20

-Annual
-Seasonal
-Weekly
-hourly
-weekday versus weekend
-any other breakdown of time

Question 21

Examples of place patterns

Answer 21

• geographic variation
• urban/rural differences
• location of work sites or schools

Question 22

examples of person patterns

Answer 22

usually demographics that could relate someone to illness, injury or disability. For example:
- age
- sex
- marital status
- socioeconomic status
- behaviours
- environmental response

Question 23

Determinants definition

Answer 23

Determinants are the causes and other factors that influence the occurrence of disease and other health-related issues.

Question 24

What are the two questions to ask when looking at determinants?

Answer 24

Why did it occur? How did it occur?

Question 25

What do epidemiologists assume when looking a diseases?

Answer 25

Epidemiologists assume illness does not occur randomly but only under the accumulation of risk factors

Question 26

What types of epidemiology are used to identify the determinants?

Answer 26

analytic epidemiology and epidemiologic studies

Question 27

What is anything that affects the well-being of a poplation?

Answer 27

Health-related states or events

Question 28

the term disease

Answer 28

is still used as shorthand for the wide range of health related states and events that are studied

Question 29

What are some examples or health-related states or events

Answer 29

chronic illnesses, injuries, birth defects, maternal-child health, occupational health and environmental health

Question 30

environmental epidemiology definition

Answer 30

environmental epidemiology is concern with environmental conditions or hazards that may pose a health risk to populations

Question 31

What role do health agencies play?

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

Fill in the blank:
_______ maintain detailed cancer and disease registries that may address these issues.

Answer 32

states health departments

Question 33

The patient definition

Answer 33

In epidemiology, the patient refers to the community being observed

Question 34

What is a specified population?

Answer 34

members of a community with identifiable characteristics that are of interest

Question 35

What do epidemiologists focus on identifying in a population?

Answer 35

• 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

Question 36

Application in Epidemiology definition

Answer 36

when one applies the knowledge of a disease in a community into a community based practice