IE - Introduction to Epidemiology Overview

Introduction to Epidemiology

Introduction

Did you look at the name of this course and think "What in the World is Epidemiology?" In this module you will not only learn what epidemiology is but you will also learn the role of epidemiology in public health practice. Also, you will explore the history of epidemiology to understand how its role has evolved in improving population health. Finally, you will learn about several epidemiological data sources and organizations integral to the field.

Essentials Questions

  • What is epidemiology and what is its role in public health practice?
  • How have historic events in epidemiology shaped the present day?
  • Who are key individuals that have made contributions to the field of epidemiology?
  • What are the websites of some of the important public health agencies?
  • What can epidemiological data sources tell me about my surroundings?

Key Terms

  1. Case - an instance of a particular disease, injury, or other health conditions that meets selected criteria.
  2. Population - the total number of inhabitants of a geographic area or the total number of persons in a particular group.
  3. Epidemiology - the study of the distribution and determinants of health conditions or events among populations and the application of that study to control health problems.
  4. Epidemiology, analytic - the aspect of epidemiology concerned with why and how a health problem occurs.
  5. Epidemiology, descriptive - the aspect of epidemiology concerned with organizing and summarizing data regarding the persons affected (e.g., the characteristics of those who became ill), time (e.g., when they become ill), and place (e.g., where they might have been exposed to the cause of illness).
  6. Epidemiology, applied - the application or practice of epidemiology to control and prevent health problems.
  7. Epidemiology, field - applied epidemiology (i.e., the application or practice of epidemiology to control and prevent health problems), particularly when the epidemiologist(s) must travel to and work in the community in which the health problem is occurring or has occurred.
  8. Determinant - any factor that brings about change in a health condition or in other defined characteristics.
  9. Distribution - in epidemiology, the frequency and pattern of health-related characteristics and events in a population.
  10. Outbreak - the occurrence of more cases of disease, injury, or other health condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a specific period. Usually, the cases are presumed to have a common cause or to be related to one another in some way. Sometimes distinguished from an epidemic as more localized, or the term less likely to evoke public panic.
  11. Outcome(s) - any or all of the possible results that can stem from exposure to a causal factor or from preventive or therapeutic interventions all identified changes in health status that result from the handling of a health problem.
  12. Risk factor - Patient characteristics or factors associated with an increased probability of developing a disease or condition.
  13. Public health - the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.
  14. Surveillance - the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of information or data about a health-related event to those who need to know so that action may be taken to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve the public's health.

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