Principles & Methods of Epidemiology Questions Answered

Principles & Methods of Epidemiology Questions Answered What is epidemiology? The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to prevent and control health problems What is descriptive epidemiology? Characterizing the distribution of health-related states or events according to person, place, and time It also enables researchers to generate testable hypotheses regarding etiology and evaluate trends in health and disease within a population What is analytical epidemiology? A means for identifying and quantifying associations - Testing hypotheses - Generating new or more specific hypotheses - Inferring about causality What are some examples of the applications of epidemiology? Infectious diseases Chronic diseases Accidents and injuries Environmental health Social determinants of health Lifestyle and health promotion Psychiatric and social epidemiology Molecular and genetic epidemiology Drug abuse Homicide Stroke Suicide Mental disorders Nutrition Environmental pollution and Legislative policies (Seat belt use) What are determinants? Factors or events that are capable of bringing about a change in health What are some health related states or events? Disease states, conditions associated with health, and events What are the steps of the epidemiologic approach in the order? -Define a problem -Describe the problem according to person, place, and time -Formulate and test a hypothesis -Communicate recommendations -Evaluate an intervention What is distribution? The study of frequency and pattern of health events in the population What is frequency? The count and number in relation to the population What is pattern? Frequency of disease occurrence may vary from one population group to another Ex: Hypertension more common among young black men than among young white men What is an endemic? A disease that is habitually present in a particular region or population Ex: -Thousands of cases of Ebola in West Africa -2 cases of smallpox in New Jersey -100 or more cases of meningitis in a Rutgers dorm What is an epidemic? The occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness; an outbreak What is a pandemic? An epidemic on a worldwide scale; during a pandemic, large numbers of persons may be affected and a disease may cross international borders What is an epidemic threshold? Minimum number of cases (or deaths) that would support the conclusion that an epidemic was underway What did Louis Pasteur do? -Developed vaccines for rabies and anthrax -Discounted the theory of "spontaneous generation" -Pasteurization Who applied experimental methods to identify that oranges and lemons were effective remedies for scurvy? James Lind Who demonstrated that cholera was transmitted through contaminated water, not miasmata? John Snow Who is the father of medicine, the 1st epidemiologist, and introduced the terms epidemic and endemic? Hippocrates Who was the first to employ statistics in the study of disease? John Graunt Who is the founder of immunization and tried to prevent smallpox? Edward Jenner Who developed the numerical method? Pierre Charles Louis Who developed modern vital statistics system and a method for coding? William Farr Who is the Father of Handwashing? Ignaz Semmelweis Who used photography to capture the first images of microorganisms? Robert Koch What did Doll & Hill do? A case-control design used to study lung cancer and cigarette smoking in British physicians What is the influence of population dynamics on population health? Demographic and Epidemiologic transition Which category would diabetes be classified in? Metabolic What is susceptibility (Pre-pathogenesis)? Before the disease has started What are the components of the Epidemiology Triangle? Agent, Host, Environment What is an agent? A microbial organism with the ability to cause disease Ex: Bacteria, Virus, Protozoa, and Parasite What are some host factors? Age, sex, ethnic group, nutritional status, socioeconomic status What are some environmental factors? • Physical -Weather -Climate -Geology • Biological -Sources of food, water, and air -Presence of vectors, flora, and fauna • Social and cultural -Density and crowding -Adequate housing -War -Sanitation -Access to health care What are the types of disease transmission and what factors influence it? Vertical transmission: transmission from an individual to its offspring that can be through sperm, placenta, milk, or vaginal Horizontal transmission: transmission of infectious agents from an infected individual to a susceptible contemporary. This includes: -Direct contact (STD's) -Indirect contact -Common vehicle transmission (food-borne), Airborne (TB), and Vector-borne (Malaria) What is primary prevention (active/passive)? Active-Requires behavior change on part of subject • Wearing protective devises • Immunization • Behavior changes • Ensuring healthy conditions at home, school and workplace Passive-Does not require behavior change • Vitamin fortified foods • Fluoridation of public water supplies