M101 Term 2 W4 - epidemiology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of epidemiology?

A

to improve the health of individuals and populations
to provide evidence to guide public health policy and clinical medicine with an overall objective of all health care professionals and all health sciences
To protect, restore and promote health

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does collective health involve?

A

collective action by society
collaborative working between physicians, nurses, engineers, environmental scientists, health educators, social workers, nutritionists, administrators, and an effective partnership with all levels of government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

In which eight ways does epidemiology guide public health policy and clinical medicine?

A

it describes the spectrum and extent of disease in the population
it identifies factors that increase or decrease the risk of disease
it looks at the natural history and prognosis of disease
it monitors and predicts disease trends in the population
it provides evidence for developing public health policy and making regulatory decisions
it evaluates the efficacy of preventive and therapeutic interventions
it evaluates public health programme
it evaluates the effectiveness of health services

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the equation for calculating the prevalence of a disease?

A

No. of existing cases at a specified time
/
No. of persons in the population at that time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the equation for calculating the incidence rate of a disease?

A

No. of new cases of a disease in a defined population, within a specified time period
/
No. of persons at risk (or person-time) of developing the disease during that period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the three different types of prevalences?

A

Point prevalence
Period prevalence
Lifetime prevalence / cumulative incidence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Give an example of a point prevalence q

A

do you have backache now?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Give an example of a period prevalence q

A

have you had backache in the last 12 months?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Give an example of a lifetime prevalence q

A

have you ever had backache?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the three factors that descriptive epidemiology takes into account?

A

person - who
place - where
time - when

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the factors about the person - who in descriptive epidemiology?

A

age, gender
race and ethnicity
marital and family status
social class / education / occupation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the factors about the place - where in descriptive epidemiology?

A

physical environment
ecological environment
social and cultural environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do we find out about the place - where in descriptive epidemiology?

A

Disease distribution maps

Clustering in time and place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How is time relevant to disease analysis?

A

Secular (long-term) trends
Short-term trends
Cyclical trends
Seasonal trends / variations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the two main types of epidemiological studies?

A

Observational studies

Intervention studies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Give four types of observational studies

A

Ecological (correlation studies)
Cross-sectional (surveys, prevalence studies)
Case–control
Cohort (incidence, longitudinal, follow-up studies)

17
Q

Give three types of intervention studies

A

Clinical trials
Field trials
Community trials (cluster randomized trial)

18
Q

How are exposure and disease related to eachother?

A

Epidemiological process - do a trial study

19
Q

Which clinical questions need epidemiology?

A
Causes
Prevention (early diagnosis/screening)
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis