NU 302 Exam 3 Flashcards
What is epidemiology?
The study of causal mechanisms of diseases and methods for disease and control
What is an epidemic?
Increase in occurrence in a specific community or region
What is a pandemic?
Increased occurrence or outbreak world-wide
What is R-Zero (reproduction number)?
How many people may be affected by the disease
What is the attack rate?
Number of new cases/number of individuals at risk.
What is included the epidemiology triad?
The host, agent, and environment
What is a host?
Susceptible human or animal who harbors and nourishes a disease-causing agent. May have ability to resist infection
What is an agent?
A factor that causes or contributes to a health problem or condition.
What is an environment?
All the external factors surrounding the host that might influence vulnerability
What does the chain of causation explain?
The causation in infectious diseases
What is the chain of causation in order?
Reservoir > Portal of Exit > Mode of Transmission > Agent > Portal of Entry > Host
What is a web of causation?
Multiple factors that may contribute to an illness. Theoretically, breaking any chain nearest the outcome should stop the web.
What is immunity?
A host’s ability to resist a particular infectious disease causing agent.
What is passive immunity?
Short term resistance such as a transfer of antibodies from mom to baby. Naturally acquired.
What is active immunity?
Long term; may be long and may be natural or artificial.
What is cross immunity?
May be passive or active. Exposure to one infection may increase immunity to another.
What is herd immunity?
Level of immunity to a group of people.
How do you calculate the relative risk ratio?
exposed group/ unexposed group
What are the stages of disease?
Susceptibility- not exposed but may be more susceptible
Subclinical- Exposed but asymptomatic
Clinical—Signs and symptoms of the disease develop
Resolution-May return to health may have chronic conditions
During which of the following stages would the community health nurse first expect to see signs of a disease via laboratory testing?
A. Susceptibility stage
B. Subclinical disease stage
C. Clinical Disease Stage
D. Resolution stage
C. Clinical Disease Stage
What is descriptive epidemiology?
Investigates patterns of health conditions. Includes counts and rates.
What is analytic epidemiology?
Includes prevalence studies, case-control studies, and cohort studies.
What is incidence?
Number of new cases of a specific disease or condition during a period of time.
How do you calculate incidence?
Number of persons developing disease(new cases)/total number at risk per unit of time.