Chapter 6

Question 1

Core Functions of Epidemiology
6 major tasks of epidemiology

Answer 1

1. Public health surveillance
2. Field investigation
3. Analytic studies
4. Evaluation
5. Linkages
6. Policy development

Question 2

1.Public health surveillance

Answer 2

 Systematic collection, analysis, interpretation
and dissemination of health data to help decision
making and action.
 Surveillance monitoring pulse of the community

Question 3

2. Field Investigation leads to:

Answer 3

 Identification of unreported or unrecognized ill
persons who might spread infection to others.
 Identification of source or vehicle of infection
that can be controlled or eliminated.
 Determination of exposed persons at risk.
 Determination of disease intervention methods.
(isolation and quarantine in SARS cases in 2003)

Question 4

Analytic Studies

Answer 4

Provides hypotheses about:
 Causes
 Modes of transmission
Then evaluates credibility of those hypotheses.

Question 5

Evaluation

Answer 5

Process
of
determining
systematically
and
objectively the relevance of effectiveness, efficiency
and impact of activities to established goals.
Effectiveness (ability of a program to produce the
expected results)
Efficiency (ability of a program to produce the
expected results with minimum time and resources
= ideal conditions)

Question 6

Linkages

Answer 6

Epidemiologists working in team sport (not in
isolation) either as a leader or a member of a team
with:
 Laboratorians
 Sanitarians
 Infection control personnel
 Nurses
 Other clinical staff
 Computer information specialists
Epidemiologists need to maintain relationships
with staff of academic institutions

Question 7

6. Policy Development

Answer 7

Epidemiologists
provide
recommended
interventions for:
 Disease control strategies
 Reportable disease regulations
 Health care policy