The Use of Data Flashcards
Only about __% of the public consult their GP about their health complaints.
about 20%
Only _% are referred on to hospital investigation or care.
3%
List factors that affect the uptake of care
- Lay referral
Information sources;
- Family and friends
- Internet
- TV
- Magazines
- Leaflets, websites
Medical;
- New symptoms
- Visible symptoms
- Increasing severity, duration
Non-medical;
- Peer pressure
- Patient’s ICE
- Social/economic class
- Environmental, culture
- Ethnicity, age, gender
- Media
List the three main aims of epidemiology.
Description: to describe the amount and distribution of disease in human populations.
Explanation: to elucidate the natural history and identify aetiological factors for disease usually by combining epidemiological data with data from other disciplines such as biochemistry, occupational health and genetics.
Disease control: to provide the basis on which preventive measures, public health practices and therapeutic strategies can be developed, implemented, monitored and evaluated for the purposes of disease control.
Epidemiology compares groups (study populations) in order to detect differences pointing to… what three things?
- Aetiological clues
- The scope for prevention
- The identification of high risk or priority groups in society
Define ‘relative risk’.
The measure of the strength of an association between a suspected risk factor and disease under study.
Explain how to calculate relative risk.
Relative risk (RR) = incidence of disease in exposed group/incidence of disease in unexposed group.
Describe what is meant by health literacy.
Health literacy is about people having the knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence to use health information, to be active partners in their care, and to navigate health and social care systems.
Health literacy is being increasingly recognised as a significant health concern around the world.
The SIGN Guidelines are intended to;
- Help health and social care professionals and patients understand medical evidence and use it to make decisions about healthcare
- Reduce unwarranted variations in practice and make sure patients get the best care available, no matter where they live
- Improve healthcare across Scotland by focusing on patient-important outcomes
The SIGN Guidelines are intended to;
- Help health and social care professionals and patients understand medical evidence and use it to make decisions about healthcare
- Reduce unwarranted variations in practice and make sure patients get the best care available, no matter where they live
- Improve healthcare across Scotland by focusing on patient-important outcomes
Describe what is meant by a descriptive study.
- Attempt to describe the amount and distribution of a disease in a given population
- Does not provide definitive conclusions about disease causation, but may give clues to possible risk factors
- Cheap, quick and give a valuable initial overview of a problem
Describe a cross-sectional study (AKA disease frequency, prevalence study).
Observations are made at a single point in time.
- Quick BUT
- Impossible to infer causation
Describe a case control study.
Two groups of peopler compared;
- A group of individuals who have the disease of interest (cases)
- A group of individual who do not have the disease (controls)
Data is then gathered to determine whether individual were exposed to the suspected etiological factor. The average exposure in the two groups is compared to identity significant differences. The results are then expressed as relative risks.
Describe a cohort study.
In cohort studies, baseline data on exposure are collected from a group of people who do not have the disease under study.
The group is then followed through time until a sufficient number have developed the disease to allow analysis.
Define ‘trial’.
Experiments used to test ideas about aetiology or to evaluate interventions.
