Epidemiology Flashcards
What is epidemiology
The study of the causes, spread and frequency of disease
What is life course epidemiology
Looking at disease through life and how it affects certain age groups
In healthcare what does epidemiology support
Structure - services provided and where located
Process - how services are delivered
Outcome - mortality and morbidity, quality of life
How is disease frequency measured
Prevalence or incidence
What is prevalence
Total cases at a given time/total population at that time = snapshot in time
What is incidence
New cases in a period of time/population at risk
What is intra examiner variability
The same examiner measures the same thing at different times
What is inter examiner variability
Two examiners measure the same thing at the same time
What is descriptive epidemiology
Frequency of disease (incidence and prevalence) + distribution of disease
What is the aim of oral epidemiology
Provide robust, comparable information
Support local authorities
NHS England to oversee the provision of primary, specialist and secondary dental care
How does epidemiology help
It allows the distribution of health and illness in a population
Where and when
What is the problem and frequency
Who
Why does it occur
