Other concepts in Part 1 (Background and Surveillance)

Question 1

What is the chain of infection?

Answer 1

Agent –> Reservoir –> Portal of Exit
–> Mode of transmission –> Portal of entry –> Susceptible host

Question 2

What is the agent?

Answer 2

A microbial organism with the ability to cause disease.

Question 3

What is the reservoir?

Answer 3

A place where agents can thrive and reproduce.

Question 4

What is the portal of exit?

Answer 4

A place of exit that allows the agent to leave the reservoir.

Question 5

What is the mode of transmission?

Answer 5

A method of transfer by which the organism moves or is carried from one place to another.

Question 6

What is the portal of entry?

Answer 6

An opening allowing the microorganism to enter the host.

Question 7

What is the susceptible host?

Answer 7

A person who cannot resist a microorganism that is invading the body and multiplying and resulting in an infection.

Question 8

What is the natural history and spectrum of disease?

Answer 8

The progression of a disease in a person over time if they aren’t treated.

Question 9

What are the four health determinants from greatest to least importance?

Answer 9

1. Social and societal characteristics
2. Health behaviors
3. Access to and use of health services and medical care
4. Genes and Biology

Question 10

What is a health outcome?

Answer 10

The result of a medical condition that impacts the length or quality of a person’s life.

Question 11

What are the 4 steps of the public health approach?

Answer 11

1. Surveillance
2. Risk Factor Identification
3. Intervention Evaluation
4. Implementation

Question 12

What are the 5 steps of surveillance?

Answer 12

1. Data collection
2. Data analysis (by where the cases was located)
3. Data interpretation (by using the person, place, and time to figure out the how and why)
4. Data dissemination (distribution)
5. Link to action

Question 13

What is a determinant?

Answer 13

Any factor (event, characteristic, or other definable entity) that brings a change to the health condition or other defined characteristic.

Question 14

What is clinical care?

Answer 14

Prevention, treatment, and management of illness.

Question 15

What is epidemiology?

Answer 15

The study of the distribution and determinants of health related states or events in specific populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems.

Question 16

What are the purposes of epidemiology? (think DIED)

Answer 16

1. Determine the agent, host, and environmental factors that affect health.
2. Determine the relative importance of causes of illness, disability, and death.
3. Identify those segments of the population that have the greatest risk from specific causes of ill health.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of health programs and services in improving population health.