PUBH 6003 WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY
AND DESCRIPTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY || CORRECT ANSWERS
100%.
Define epidemiology and explain its objectives correct answers The study of how diseases are
distributed in populations and the factors that influence or determine these distributions.
Objectives:
-Epidemiology is more application-oriented than theory-oriented
-the goal is to know what interventions will make a difference in overall population health.
-it is not as concerned with why something works as if it works (think of how John Snow didn't
focus on specifics of the vibrio cholerae virus as much as he did on stopping cholera
transmission)
Become familiar with the development of epidemiology historically correct answers -In the mid
1600s, in England, statistical techniques were used to describe patterns of morbidity and
mortality.
-In the 1790s, William Jenner showed vaccination using pus from cowpox against smallpox,
leading to large campaigns of vaccinations in both military and civilian populations through
Europe and the Americas.
-In 1799 in Boston, Massachusetts, the first health department in the US was established.
-in the 1850s, the Epidemiological Society of London was formed (at this point, germ theory still
wasn't made)
-in the late 1800s the germ theory was finally accepted
-in the early 1900s, contagions were finally being understood, viruses had been discovered, more
vaccines created, and the causes of many diseases identified.
-in the mid 1950s, tobacco smoke was linked to lung cancer
Become familiar with selected important figures in the history of epidemiology correct answers
In chronological order:
, Hippocrates
Galen
Sir Frances Bacon
John Graunt
William Farr
John Snow
Ignaz Semmelweis
Louis Pasteur & Robert Koch
Florence Nightingale
Janet Layne-Claypon
Simon Flexner
Richard Doll & Austin Bradford
(There are questions within this set about each individual figures or pair of figures)
Who was Hippocrates and what was his contribution to the history of epidemiology? correct
answers Greek physician who believed in the 4 humors (which turned out to be incorrect) and
coined the terms epidemic and endemic. "The Father of Western Medicine."
Who was Galen and what was his contribution to the history of epidemiology? correct answers
Turkish physician that promoted the miasma theory and bloodletting.
Who was Sir Frances Bacon and what was his contribution to the history of epidemiology?
correct answers He was the Lord High Chancellor of England, philosopher, and scientist. He is
credited with developing the scientific method and laid the foundation for the empirical
approach.
AND DESCRIPTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY || CORRECT ANSWERS
100%.
Define epidemiology and explain its objectives correct answers The study of how diseases are
distributed in populations and the factors that influence or determine these distributions.
Objectives:
-Epidemiology is more application-oriented than theory-oriented
-the goal is to know what interventions will make a difference in overall population health.
-it is not as concerned with why something works as if it works (think of how John Snow didn't
focus on specifics of the vibrio cholerae virus as much as he did on stopping cholera
transmission)
Become familiar with the development of epidemiology historically correct answers -In the mid
1600s, in England, statistical techniques were used to describe patterns of morbidity and
mortality.
-In the 1790s, William Jenner showed vaccination using pus from cowpox against smallpox,
leading to large campaigns of vaccinations in both military and civilian populations through
Europe and the Americas.
-In 1799 in Boston, Massachusetts, the first health department in the US was established.
-in the 1850s, the Epidemiological Society of London was formed (at this point, germ theory still
wasn't made)
-in the late 1800s the germ theory was finally accepted
-in the early 1900s, contagions were finally being understood, viruses had been discovered, more
vaccines created, and the causes of many diseases identified.
-in the mid 1950s, tobacco smoke was linked to lung cancer
Become familiar with selected important figures in the history of epidemiology correct answers
In chronological order:
, Hippocrates
Galen
Sir Frances Bacon
John Graunt
William Farr
John Snow
Ignaz Semmelweis
Louis Pasteur & Robert Koch
Florence Nightingale
Janet Layne-Claypon
Simon Flexner
Richard Doll & Austin Bradford
(There are questions within this set about each individual figures or pair of figures)
Who was Hippocrates and what was his contribution to the history of epidemiology? correct
answers Greek physician who believed in the 4 humors (which turned out to be incorrect) and
coined the terms epidemic and endemic. "The Father of Western Medicine."
Who was Galen and what was his contribution to the history of epidemiology? correct answers
Turkish physician that promoted the miasma theory and bloodletting.
Who was Sir Frances Bacon and what was his contribution to the history of epidemiology?
correct answers He was the Lord High Chancellor of England, philosopher, and scientist. He is
credited with developing the scientific method and laid the foundation for the empirical
approach.
