Celentano; Moyses Szklo
Introduction to Epidemiology Learning Objectives: - ANSWER:Describe the definition
and major area of epidemiology.
Describe history of epidemiologic observation.
Describe a shift of disease burden.
Identify epidemiological key factors to explain disease / health patterns.
Discuss the value of epidemiology
Discuss epidemiologic approach.
measures of disease frequency - ANSWER:Incidence
Prevalence
Mortality
Incidence - ANSWER:of a disease is the rate at which new cases occur in a population
during a specified period. For example, the incidence of thyrotoxicosis during 1982
was 10/100 000/year in Barrow-in-Furness compared with 49/100 000/year in
Chester.
When the population at risk is roughly constant, incidence is measured as: -
ANSWER:Number of new cases: Population at risk×time during which cases were
ascertained
Sometimes measurement of incidence is complicated by changes in the population
at risk during the period when cases are ascertained, for example, through births,
deaths, or migrations. This difficulty is overcome by - ANSWER:relating the numbers
of new cases to the person years at risk, calculated by adding together the periods
during which each individual member of the population is at risk during the
measurement period.
Prevalence - ANSWER:of a disease is the proportion of a population that are cases at
a point in time. The prevalence of persistent wheeze in a large sample of British
primary school children surveyed during 1986 was approximately 3 per cent, the
symptom being defined by response to a standard questionnaire completed by the
children's parents. Prevalence is an appropriate measure only in such relatively
stable conditions, and it is unsuitable for acute disorders.
Mortality - ANSWER:the incidence of death from a disease
Interrelation of incidence, prevalence, and mortality - ANSWER:Prevalence =
incidence x average duration
A crude incidence, prevalence, or mortality (death rate) - ANSWER:is one that relates
to results for a population taken as a whole, without subdivision or refinement.
, transmission, development, and prognosis of disease in human populations -
ANSWER:
Health (World Health Report 2000) - ANSWER:A state of complete physical, social
and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is
a resource for everyday life, not the object of living. It is a positive concept
emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities.
Public Health - ANSWER:The science and art of :
1) preventing disease
2) prolonging life and
3) promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort.
Epidemiology; Describe the definition and major area of epidemiology - ANSWER:The
study of the determinants, distribution, and frequency of disease in human
populations. Factors related to disease.
The study of the distribution and determinants
of health and disease in human populations.
The branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible
control of diseases and other factors relating to health.
Who gets disease and why. Educate on risk factors.
Epidemiologists study sick and well people to determine the crucial difference
between those who get disease and those who are spared.
Epidemiology is a quantitative discipline. Collect data. Need to identify and eliminate
any bias or confounding factors. First formulate hypothesis; descriptive analysis first;
what is relationship between a factor and a disease; risk ratio or odds ratio:
measurement association between ...; test
bias in research - ANSWER:How research can be biased (research, sample, and
subject)
Population: - ANSWER:a group of individuals who share one or more characteristics
purpose of epidemiology - ANSWER:To provide a basis for developing disease control
and prevention measures for groups at risk. This translates into developing public
health measures to prevent or control disease
epidemiology as a population medicine/science - ANSWER:Study design, collection,
and statistical analysis of data.
Interpretation and dissemination of results.
Discipline with rigorous measures and methods.