Week 1 - Intro + Basic Definitions + History Flashcards
Epidemiology Definition
Study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states among specific populations and the application of that study to the control of health problems
Epidemic or outbreak
disease occurrence among a population that is in excess of what is expected in a given time and pace
cluster
group of cases in a specific time and place that might be more than expected
endemic
a disease or condition present among a population at all times
pandemic
a disease or condition that spreads across regions
rate
the number of cases occuring during a specific period always dependent on the size of the population during that period
distribution
the frequency and pattern of a health events in a population
frequency
the number of health events and their relationship to the size of the population
determinant
the cuses and other factors that influence the occurrene of diseace and other health-related issues
patient
the entire community being observed (in an epidemiologic study)
Who started Epidemiology 2,500 years ago?
Hippocrates
What did Hippocrates try to do?
Hippocrates attempted to explain disease occurrence from a rational viewpoint rather than supernatural viewpoint
What was hippocrates’ epidemiological work called and what did he suggest in it?
“On Airs, Waters and Places” he suggested that environmental and host factors such as behaviors, might influence the development of disease
Who was John Graunt?
A London Haberdasher and councilman. He published landmark analysis of mortality data in 1662.
John Graunt’s publication was the first to…
quantify patterns of birth, death and disease occurrence.
What did John Graunt’s publication note?
disparities between males/females (person), high infant mortality, urban/rural differences (place), and seasonal variations (time).
Who is considered the father of modern vital statistics and surveillance?
William Farr
What did William Farr do?
He developed many of basic practices epidemiologists use today, he built upon the work of John Graunt by systematically collecting and analyzing Britain’s mortality statistics.
Who is considered the father of the field of epidemiology?
John Snow
What disease did Snow study?
Cholera - to discover the cause of disease and to prevent recurrence
What was John Snow’s first study?
he traced the death due to cholera and other factors and noticed a trend between the household’s water source and cholera. He linked it to a specific water well. Used 1854 data.
What was John Snow’s second study?
He used 1852 data and compared the incidence of cholera and which water company a household got their water from. Places serviced by downstream providers had higher incidences of cholera than those serviced by upstream providers.
What did Richard Doll and Andrew Hill do? When?
They studied the relationship between tobacco use and lung caner. This was during the 1950s
What was a correlation discovered by Richard Doll and Andrew Hill
Male doctors born between 1900-1930 who smoked cigarettes died, on average, about 10 years younger than lifelong non-smokers
What does molecular epidemiology do?
It measures exposure to specific substances and early biological response
what is genetic epidemiology?
it deals with the etiology distribution and control of disease in groups of relatives and with inherited causes of disease in populations
Genetic epidemiology establishes…
- a genetic component to the disorder
- the relative size of that genetic effect in the relation to other sources of variation in disease risk
- the responsible gene(s)
Study Definition
a method of collecting data
surveillance, observation, hypothesis, testing, analytic research and experiments
Distribution definition
refers to analysis of times persons, places and classes of people affected
Determinants
factors that influence health (biological, chemical, physical, social, cultural economic, genetic and behavioural
health-related states and events
diseases, causes of death, behavious positive health states, reactions to interventions
specified populations
those with identifiable characteristics such as occupational groups
applicaiton to prevention and control
the aims of public health - to promote, protect and restore health
