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Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the branch of medical science that deals with the transmission and control of disease. Epidemiology is the study of health events, health characteristics and health determinant patterns in a population. It is a cornerstone method of public health research and its major areas of work include outbreak investigation; disease surveillance and screening; biomonitoring; and comparisons of treatment effects such as in clinical trials.
131 Questions
How is anthropology related to epidemiology?
Anthropology and epidemiology intersect by examining how cultural, social, and environmental factors influence health and disease patterns in populations. Anthropological approaches can provide insights into community beliefs, behaviors, and practices that affect health outcomes, while epidemiology focuses on the distribution and determinants of diseases. Together, they enhance our understanding of health issues by incorporating both biological and social perspectives, leading to more effective public health interventions. This interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for addressing complex health challenges in diverse populations.
The general formula for a rate in epidemiology is expressed as the number of events (such as cases of a disease) divided by the population at risk during a specific time period, often multiplied by a constant (e.g., per 1,000 or 100,000) to facilitate interpretation. Rates are used instead of absolute counts because they provide context by accounting for the size of the population, allowing for meaningful comparisons between different groups and time periods. This helps in understanding the likelihood of an event occurring and in assessing the impact of public health interventions.
What are threats to validity in epidemiological studies?
The main threats to validity are bias, confounding and chance.
But keep in mind the internal and the external validity. Internal validity is the extent to which systematic error is minimised during the stages of data collection. where as the external validity encompasses the extent to which the results of the trials provide a correct basis for generalisation.
What are the components of epidemiology?
The components of epidemiology includes:
Disease frequency, Distribution of disease, Out comes of disease
What are the advantages and disadvantages of case control studies?
Advantages
Less expensive than other analytic studies
Less time consuming
Good for rare diseases
Disadvantages - Bias
Recall bias - people who have had the disease and better able to determine their exposure
Information bias- the difference between the measurment of each group
Selection bias- the difference between how the groups wre selected.
What is the importance of epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the study of the spread of disease. It helps scientists to predict how far a disease will spread, how much damage it may do, and plan treatment, the creation of vaccines, and so forth. The current preparations for swine flu were a result of epidemiological studies.
What is the difference between epidemiology and clinical research?
Biostatistics is application of statistical methods in biology, medicine and public health. Epidemiology is the study of patterns of health and illness and associated factors at the population level.
What is a sporadic in epidemiology?
sporadic infection mean the infection occur from time to time without maintaining in the population because its lack suitrable vector as Malaria in the UK
John Snow is called the father of modern epidemiology because?
In 1854 John Snow mapped the cases of cholera in Soho, London, and realised that almost all of them were likely to have taken their water from the same pump. The spread of cholera stopped when the handle of the Broad Street pump was removed.
What is a weakness of Epidemiological studies?
A epidemiological research method is a study of the frequency and distribution of a certain disorder within a certain population. For example a epidemiological research method could include how the AIDS virus affects people differently concerning gender and race. This method of research is also very effective in providing occurrence variables in concurrence with social and cultural factors concerning each group as a method of explanation to why certain people are more prone to certain disease or disorders. This research method primarily focuses on the prevalence of a disease or disorder, the incidence concerning how many new cases occurred within a year and the risk factors that are associated with the disease or disorder. This knowledge of course provides to be very important information to public and to health care facilities to properly orchestrate their facilities to best treat people most effectively. It also provides much more detailed information concerning individuals and what risk factors they need to be aware of and what factors to pay more attention to as being prone to certain diseases over others. The results of a epidemiological research study can be used to more thorough research methods.
What are the main features of epidemiology?
well I have the idea that first in science of medicine there are prefixes and suffixes to the meaning of their words.
Here the suffix ology means , the study of something. The second part or rather the pre-fix is close to the word "epidemic" . I would venture to say this is asking: what is done in the study of epidemics. I would think to keep a spread of a disease to the masses,
first there might be quarantine for the affected. Perhaps even those possibly affected.
If there is already a vaccine for the illness , the health departments would give free shots until the supply ran out for those not yet positive with the illness.
The cause of the epidemic would be important to know so that scientist could test the possible cause for the massive outbrake. We would want to know...how it travels,spreads, what we should stay clear of ..... for example any thing that might give the illness opportunity to gain power or strength. As soon as we knew more about the cause and its affects on the people the government would hopefully take the measures needed to at least narrow the geographics down and confine it in that space . I think this would help the scientist know how much time they have to discover a vaccine if there isn't one, possibly a cure ,but the ability to give the knowledge the public would need to stay alive would be crucial in keeping the spread minimal. Tracking of the people infected, their families, their recent activities and travels. Any thing that might have occured in their life that was not in their usual day to day activities.Also tracking of other things that have commonalities in the specifically defined area affected.
There I do not know if I am correct totally or not at all. So if this is a ? from someone needing help I suggest a doctor visit immediately or even the health department. Can't think of one more thing. I'm surprised I came up with that many ideas not being a scientific person.
If any one knows if I'm correct or even incorrect ,please write it. I want to learn what is really done.
How can an epidemic stop without medical intervention?
An epidemic that is caused by poor water quality or some other environmental cause can be stopped in time if the cause is corrected and remedied. An infectious or viral epidemic needs to have sick people isolated so that the healthy folk do not catch the disease. An example of intervention was for the ebola outbreak, where everyone was told to stay home to help stop the spread.
Why are humans more vulnerable to the spread of disease then animals?
Humans are more vulnerable to the spread of disease than many other animals becasue we tend to live in closely packed communities. Many herd and hive living animals have the same vulnerability. And other animals experience that vulnerability when their population in a particular area gets too high.
What is the role of epidemiology as a practice in public health?
Epidemiology allows scientists the ability to track diseases and to predict where they may show up. They are most interested in diseases that are passed from one person to another and how they are passed from one person to another. They try to stay one step ahead of where the 'bugs' like to hide.
These are the steps that field epidemiologists would use.
1. Determine the existence of an outbreak (may not be real)
2. Confirm the diagnosis (by testing)
3. Define a case
4. Search for cases
5. Generate hypotheses using descriptive findings
6. Test hypotheses with an analytical study
7. Draw conclusions
8. Compare hypothesis with established facts, additional studies
9. Communicate findings
10. Execute prevention measures
What is the importance of epidemiology in HIV AIDS?
The importance of studing hiv and aids The importance of studing hiv and aids
How many people in an epidemiological study?
An epidemic is when 7.7% of any given population is infected.
1 Koerner, Brendan I. 2003. Outbreaks vs. epidemics: whether it's time to freak about the flu. Slate [Internet]. [cited 31 May 2009]. Available from: http://www.slate.com/id/2092969/
