Biostatistics in Public Health
Institute of Medicine 1988: mission of public health? - correct answers assure the conditions in which
people can be healthy
what are the functions of public health - correct answers assessment, policy setting, assurance
approach and rationale: 1988 vs 2002 - correct answers 1988: government and others (?)
2002: other potential public health system actors (community, health care delivery system, employers
and business, the media, the academia, governmental public health infrastructure)
what is biostatistics? - correct answers art and science of making decisions in the face of uncertainty as
applied to life and health sciences
role of biostatistician in assessment? - correct answers (identify problems related to public's health and
find extent)
decide what information to gather and find patterns in data collected
role of biostatistician in policy setting? - correct answers (prioritize problems, find possible solutions,
predict effect on population)
develop mathematical tools
role of biostatistician in assurance? - correct answers (provide services as determined by policy/monitor
compliance)
*survey instruments should be designed to make it possible to check for inaccuracies, and to correct for
nonresponse and missing values
infant mortality (an example of community engagement) - correct answers high infant death in African
American community
maternal infant health:
-enhance the perinatal system
-foster community mobilization
-reduce racism
Institute of Medicine 1988: mission of public health? - correct answers assure the conditions in which
people can be healthy
what are the functions of public health - correct answers assessment, policy setting, assurance
approach and rationale: 1988 vs 2002 - correct answers 1988: government and others (?)
2002: other potential public health system actors (community, health care delivery system, employers
and business, the media, the academia, governmental public health infrastructure)
what is biostatistics? - correct answers art and science of making decisions in the face of uncertainty as
applied to life and health sciences
role of biostatistician in assessment? - correct answers (identify problems related to public's health and
find extent)
decide what information to gather and find patterns in data collected
role of biostatistician in policy setting? - correct answers (prioritize problems, find possible solutions,
predict effect on population)
develop mathematical tools
role of biostatistician in assurance? - correct answers (provide services as determined by policy/monitor
compliance)
*survey instruments should be designed to make it possible to check for inaccuracies, and to correct for
nonresponse and missing values
infant mortality (an example of community engagement) - correct answers high infant death in African
American community
maternal infant health:
-enhance the perinatal system
-foster community mobilization
-reduce racism
