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Define the Term "Epidemiology"

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Epidemiology is concerned with the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability, and mortality in populations. Epidemiology studies are applied to the control of health problems in populations.

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Describe two ways in which epidemiology may be considered a liberal arts discipline

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Skills acquired through training in epidemiology include the use of an interdisciplinary approach and being an observational science (amongst other ways). Epidemiology is an interdisciplinary science because it uses information from fields including sociology, mathematics and biostatistics, behavioral sciences, ethics, etc. Epidemiology is an observational science that capitalizes upon naturally occurring situations in order to study the occurrence of disease. This includes "descriptive" and "analytic" epidemiology. Descriptive epidemiology refers to epidemiology studies concerned with characterizing the amount and distribution of health and disease within a population. Analytic epidemiology examines casual (etiologic) hypotheses regarding the association between exposures and health conditions.

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The natural history of disease refers to __(1)__? The period of __(2)__ is the time period in the natural history of disease before a disease agent (e.g., a bacterium) has interacted with a host (the person who develops the disease). The agent simply exists in the environment. __(3)__ occurs after the agent has interacted with a host.

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(1) the course of disease from its beginning to its final clinical endpoints. (2) prepathogenesis (3) Pathogenesis

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Describe three uses of epidemiology

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Epidemiology aids with health promotion, alleviation of adverse health outcomes (eg., Infectious and chronic diseases), and prevention of disease

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What is an epidemic? Give an example.

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An epidemic refers to the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior, or other health-related events clearly in excess of normal expectancy.

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What is a pandemic? Give an example.

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A pandemic is an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries, and usually affecting a large number of people. The 1918 influenza pandemic is an example of this.

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Give some examples of the types of questions that can be answered by epidemiology research.

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1. Is it safe to eat the tomatoes? 2. Will I get lung cancer if I smoke? 3. How can youth violence be prevented? 4. What's causing the obesity epidemic? 5. Who is at risk for substance abuse?

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Name six key characteristics of epidemiology:

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1. Population focus 2. Distribution 3. Determinants 4. Outcomes 5. Quantification 6. Control of health problems

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What is the definition of a population as it relates to epidemiology?

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The population is all of the inhabitants of a given country or area considered together.

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Define the term "distribution" as it applies epidemiology.

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The term distribution implies that the occurrences of diseases and other health outcomes varies in populations, with some subgroups of the populations more frequently affected than others.

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Define the term "determinant" as it applies to epidemiology. Give some examples.

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A determinant is any factor that brings about a change in a health condition or other defining characteristic. Examples of determinants are biological agents (e.g., bacteria and viruses), chemical agents, and less specific factors (e.g., stress and deleterious lifestyle practices).

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Three modes of prevention are directed toward the periods of prepathogenesis and pathogenesis from the public health point of view, define and provide examples of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

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Primary prevention involves the prevention of disease before it occurs. This targets the stage of prepathogenesis and embodies general health promotion and specific prevention against diseases. Secondary prevention takes place during the early phases of pathogenesis and includes activities that limit the progression of disease. Examples are programs for cancer screening and early detection of other chronic diseases. Tertiary prevention is directed towards the later stages of pathogenesis and includes programs for storing the patient's optimal functioning. Examples are physical therapy for stroke victims and fitness programs for recovering heart attack patients.

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What is the definition of "outcomes" as a relates to epidemiology?

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Outcomes are all the possible results that may stem from exposure to a causal factor. Outcomes are expressed as types and measures of "morbidity" and "mortality". Morbidity is the illness due to a specific disease or health condition. Mortality is death (from various causes).

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Friis Epidemiology 101 Chapters 1-6 & 8 – Flashcards

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