Unit I and II Flashcards
Top ten public health achievements
1) vaccination
2) motor vehicle safety
3) safer workplaces
4) Control of infectious diseases
5) Decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke
6) Safer and Healthier foods
7) Healthier mothers and babies
8) Family Planning
9) Fluoridation of drinking water
10) Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard
Epidemiology
the study of how disease is distributed in populations and the factors that influence or determine this distribution
Aim of epidemiology
1) identify the cause or etiology of disease
2) determine extent of disease
3) Study the natural history and prognosis and disease
4) Evaluate both existing and newly developed preventative and therapeutic measurements
5) Provide foundation for developing public policy
primary prevention
preventing initial development of disease (immunization)
secondary prevention
early detection of existing disease to reduce severity and complications (i.e screen for cancer)
tertiary prevention
reducing impact of disease (i.e. rehabilitation for stroke)
Preventative medicine
introduction to population health principles and application of these principles to health topics
Evidence-Based Medicine
-focuses on finding, critically appraising,and applying best research evidence to practice
What is preventative medicine?
-specialty of medical practice with focuses on the health of individuals and defined populations in order to protect, promote, maintain health and well being and prevent disease, disability and premature death
Traditional/Population based model
- traditional medical model focuses on the one to one physician patient relationship
- population-based model focuses on the one to many physician patient/group relationship; consider factors in the patient’s community if they contribute to the patient’s health and well-being
Online resources and physicians
-want to critically appraise the literature:
appropriateness of study design, appropriateness of statistical methods, how to interpret the results, how does the study apply to the patient
Board certification in preventative medicine
- aerospace medicine
- occupational medicine
- public health and general preventative medicine
where do preventative medicine physicians work?
- primary care and outpatient settings
- public health agencies
- community organizations
- industry
- managed care plans
- Academia
- international health agencies, NGOs
What do preventative medicine physicians do?
- provide patient care
- manage public and community health programs
- develop disease prevention and control programs
- identify health and safety hazards in the workplace
- work to improve access to health services for vulnerable and high risk populations
Public health
- an organized effort to improve the health of a community
- to improve the community’s health, must understand how disease is distributed, what causes disease, and what influences disease
Agent-Host-Environment
-model of causation: determinants of health
Host: age, SES, race/ethnicity, occupation, PMHx
Agent: A/B, H3N2, H5N1 etc
Environment: Geographic, congregate living
Why is epidemiology important
- population health- use to identify major causes of morbidity and morality and their modifiable/preventable risk factors
- clinical medicine: inform clinicians about- natural history of disease, differential diagnosis, testing, screening, counseling
Leading causes of death
1900- infectious diseases
2010- heart disease, cancer, COPD, stroke
Principles of epidemiology: study or investigate person, place, time
- describe natural history, etiology, and risk factors of disease
- predict disease occurrence
- develop and evaluate interventions to control/prevent disease
Outbreak of unknown disease
- look at who, when, and where to determine
- what, why, and how (transmission)
often but not always infectious/communicable disease (AIDS and SARS
Occurrence of known disease
- Know what-
- go back to look at who, when, and where
- to determine how and why
- often but not always, chronic disease
(ex. mesothelioma and asbestos
Principles of Epidemiology: Person
- identify who is already affected by disease or condition (age, gender, SES, occupation and so on)
- to find out: (who is at-risk, what case patients had in common)
Principles of Epidemiology: Place
- identify where exposure occurred (geographic, school, work site)
- to find out: who is at-risk, potential contributing factors
Principles of Epidemiology: Time
- identify when exposure occurred, when illness/death occurred, how long symptoms lasted
- to find out: who is at risk based on potential exposure time, natural history of disease
Easiest diseases to study
-clear onset
-narrow range of clinical expression
-high attack rate
-short incubation/latency period
Ex- Measles, mumps, chickenpox
Incidence
of new cases of disease/ # of individuals at risk for developing disease
- over a given time frame
- usually expressed per 1,000 but can be per 100,000 for rare diseases