Week 1: Measures of Disease

Question 1

Define epidemiology

Answer 1

the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations and the application of this study to control health problems

Question 2

Define population

Answer 2

group of people with common characteristic such as place of residence, gender, age, event, or use of medical services

Question 3

Define disease frequency

Answer 3

quantification of how often a disease arises in a population

Question 4

Define disease distribution

Answer 4

analysis of disease patterns according to person, place, and time

Question 5

Define disease determinants

Answer 5

factors that bring a change in a person’s health status including individual, societal, and environmental characteristics

Question 6

Define disease control

Answer 6

accomplished through epi research and surveillance of disease occurrence

Question 7

What are the objectives of epi?

Answer 7

1. study natural course of disease from onset to resolution
2. determine the extent of disease in a population
3. identify patterns and trends in disease occurrence
4. identify causes of disease
5. evaluate the effectiveness of measures that prevent and treat disease

Question 8

What are the sources of scientific knowledge in public health?

Answer 8

1. basic science – understanding disease mechanisms
2. clinical and medical sciences – improving diagnosis and treatment of disease
3. public health sciences – prevention of disease and promotion of health

Question 9

What are the regulations for human subjects protections under the Belmont Report?

Answer 9

1. respect for persons – respecting autonomy and consent of an individual
2. beneficence – do no harm; maximize benefits and minimize harm
3. justice – fair distribution of benefits and burdens

Question 10

What are key considerations of informed consent?

Answer 10

1. information exchange – disclose aspects of research to participants including purpose/procedures/risks/etc
2. comprehension – deliver info in an understandable and culturally appropriate manner
3. voluntariness – consent was given without coercion
4. documentation – the investigator documents written consent

Question 11

What should be taken into consideration when measuring disease?

Answer 11

1. number of people affected by the disease in a population
2. size of the population in which cases of disease arise
3. the length of time that the population is followed

Question 12

Define prevalence (P)

Question 13

Define point prevalence

Question 14

Define period prevalence

Question 15

Define incidence

Question 16

Define incidence rate (IR)

Question 17

Define cumulative incidence (CI)

Question 18

What is the relationship btwn CI and IR?

Question 19

What is the relationship btwn P and IR?

Question 20

Define crude mortality rate

Answer 20

total number of deaths from all causes per 100,000 per year (incidence rate)

Question 21

Define cause-specific mortality rate

Answer 21

number of deaths from a specific cause per 100,000 per year (incidence rate)

Question 22

Define age-specific mortality rate

Answer 22

number of deaths from all causes amongst individuals in a specific age group per 100,000 per year (incidence rate)

Question 23

Define years of potential life lost (YPLL)

Answer 23

number of years an individual was expected to live beyond when they died (takes into consideration specific cause and age of individuals)

Question 24

Define live birth rate

Answer 24

number of live births per 1,000 per year

Question 25

Define infant mortality rate

Answer 25

number of deaths of infants less than 1 year old per 1,000 live births per year (separate neonatal and postneonatal)

Question 26

Define birth defect rate

Answer 26

number of children born with defects per 10,000 births

Question 27

Define morbidity rate

Answer 27

number of existing or new cases of a particular disease/condition/event per 100 people

Question 28

Define attack rate

Answer 28

number of new cases of disease that develop per number of healthy people at risk at the start of the specified time frame

Question 29

Define case fatality rate

Answer 29

number of deaths per number of cases of disease over a specific length of time (cumulative incidence)

Question 30

Define survival rate

Answer 30

number of living cases per number of cases of disease over a specific length of time (cumulative incidence)