Scope and Function of Epidemiology

Question 1

What is the simple definition of epidemiology?

Answer 1

The study of health and disease in human populations

Question 2

What is the comprehensive definition of epidemiology?

Answer 2

The study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations

Question 3

How is epidemiology different from other health disciplines

Answer 3

Epidemiology is the only scientific discipline that is concerned with the occurrence of disease in human populations and how it changes over time

Question 4

What is epidemiology’s role in public health?

Answer 4

To develop and apply methods for assessing health and disease

Question 5

What are the 5 main objectives of epidemiology

Answer 5

1) Identify the cause of disease and its risk factors
2) To determine the extent of disease found in the community
3) To study the natural history and prognosis of disease
4) To evaluate new preventative and therapeutic measures
5) To provide a foundation for developing public policy

Question 6

When did the public health service?

Answer 6

1) John Adams signed into law July 16th, 1798 “ The Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen”

Question 7

To Identify the Cause of Disease and its risk factors

Answer 7

1) Includes field work to identify the causative agents

2) Studying the conditions under which people life and work

Question 8

To determine the extent of disease found in the community

Answer 8

Involves going to the people

Question 9

What led to the establishment of local health departments?

Answer 9

Rural sanitary surveys conducted during 1900-1920

Question 10

Study the natural history and prognosis of disease

Answer 10

Involves understanding of the disease biology

Question 11

Evaluating new preventative and therapeutic measures

Answer 11

1) Involves going to the people with solutions and common problems
2) Involves tracking the effects of vaccination and other clinical interventions

Question 12

What does epidemiology look like in action?

Answer 12

1) Identifying immediate needs for information
2) Designing studies
3) Collecting data
4) Analysis
5) Making inferences
6) Communication

Question 13

Endemic

Answer 13

Usual occurrence of a disease within a given geographic area

Question 14

Epidemic

Answer 14

The occurrence o fan infectious disease clearly in excess of normal expectancy and generated from a common or propagated source

Question 15

Pandemic

Answer 15

A worldwide epidemic affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the global population

Question 16

What are the 10 steps of an outbreak investigation?

Answer 16

1) Prepare for field work
2) Establish the existence of an outbreak
3) Verify the diagnosis
4) Define and identify cases
5) Describe and orient the data in terms of person,place, and time
6) Develop hypotheses
7) Evaluate hypotheses
8) Refine hypotheses and carry out additional studies
9) Implement control and prevention measures
10) Communicate findings

Question 17

How do you know if it’s an outbreak?

Answer 17

1) Health data surveillance records for a notifiable disease
2) Sources such as hospital discharge records, mortality records and cancer or birth defect or other diseases and conditions
3) If local data is not available, make estimates using data from neighboring states or national data

Question 18

What does a case definition include?

Answer 18

• 4 components
• Clinical information about the disease
• Characteristics about the people who are affected (person)
• Information about the location (place)
• A specification of time during which the outbreak occurred (time)

Question 19

How do you develop hypotheses

Answer 19

Hypotheses should address:

1) Source of the agent
2) Mode of transmission (vehicle or vector)
3) Exposures: Associated with disease

Question 20

What is a Randomized Controlled Trials

Answer 20

Generally regarded as the most scientifically rigorous method of hypothesis testing

Question 21

Uses of Randomized trials:

Answer 21

1) Evaluated therapeutic and preventive aspects of medical practice
2) Evaluate new approaches to health care delivery
3) Evaluate impact of health education on health behavior

Question 22

What are characteristics of a cohort study

Answer 22

1) Designed to answer the same question as a randomized clinical trial
2) Groups of individuals defined on the basis of presence/absence of exposures
3) All potential subjects must be initially free of the disease under investigation
4) Eligible participants are then followed over time to assess occurence of disease