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Definitions Flashcards

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1
Q

Epidemiology?

A

Epidemiology refers to the distribution and determinants of health- related states or events in specifies populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems.

Keywords: distribution, determinants, health-related states or events specified populations

Also a scientific study of what befalls or happens to a population.
Talk about th

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2
Q

Public health?

A

It is the process of promoting health, preventing disease, prolonging life and improving quality of health through the organized efforts of society

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3
Q

What is distribution of health states and events?

A
  • refers to a description of the frequency and pattern of health events in a population
  • the frequency refers to the number of occurrences of health related events in a population within a time period. It is measured by rates and risks of health events in a population
  • pattern refers to the occurrence of related events by personal characteristics, place and time
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4
Q

Determinants of health related events or states?

A

Also known as risk factors or protective factors depending on which health- related events they are associated with

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5
Q

Health related events?

A

Refer to health outcomes (eg death, illness and disability) as well as positive health states (eg survival and reduced risk of stroke), and the means to improve health

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6
Q

The epidemiological approach 5W’s

A

Who- person
Where- place
When- time
Why- cause
What- case discussion

Fundamentals to know about a disease in a population are who, when and where

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7
Q

Use of epidemiology

A
  • to identify factors that can affect the occurrence of the disease
  • to access the effectiveness of preventive and therapeutic treatments
  • to access the impact of health care services
  • to predict future health care needs
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8
Q

Exposure?

A

It is the risk factor that we are investigating, which may or may not be the cause
Aka: independent variable

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9
Q

Outcome?

A

It is the disease or event or health- related state, that we are interested in.
Aka: dependent variable

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10
Q

Methods of carrying out an epidemiological study

A
  • Observational
    Surveillance and descriptive studies are used to study distribution
    Analytic studies are used to study determinants (causes, risk factors)
  • interventional or experimental
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11
Q

Descriptive study falls under observational studies

A

A study in which distribution of an exposure and/or an outcome are examined without any attempt by the investigator to influence them

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12
Q

Interventional study/ experimental study

A

A study designed to test a hypothesis by modifying an exposure within the study population
This study has interventions

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13
Q

Case report

A
  • most simple possible report where only one person is looked at
  • single clinical subject
  • information is obtained from the past and present and the future is also taken into consideration
  • can give information on the first time the new disease comes to light

Disadv:
- only one person is considered in a case report

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14
Q

Case series

A
  • a group of clinical subjects with the same disease are picked
  • shared similarities can be looked at thereby providing a list of diagnostic criteria

Disadv
All we have are cases ie people with the disease. There are no controls ( non- disease people)

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15
Q

Cross sectional study aka prevalence study

A
  • a study in which the prevalence of an exposure and/or an outcome are measured in a given population at a specified point in time.
  • it can be descriptive or analytic
  • at a single point you are taking a snapshot of a condition in a particular population. Hence, you are looking at people who have and those who do not have the disease
  • there is no incidence just prevalence

Disadv: one is unable to tell which symptom came first but you will have information on the disease

NB: in cross sectional, we are studying the exposure and outcome in individuals who have the condition not in non diseased people

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16
Q

Case control study

A
  • a study involving individuals with and without the outcome of interest are identified
  • it is a retrospective study where the outcome is known but the exposure is not
  • does not involve incidence nor prevalence
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17
Q

Cohort studies

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A
  • a study in which one or more groups of individuals are followed up over a period of time to determine the frequency of a particular outcome in a group
  • aka : confirmation study
  • opposite of case control since the outcome isn’t known
  • has incidence but no prevalence

Disadv: you have to exclude people who have the disease

18
Q

Pathogen

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A

Refers to a disease causing organism

19
Q

Pathology

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A

Refers to the scientific study of a disease

20
Q

Etiology

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A

refers to the causative agent of a disease

21
Q

Infection

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A

Refers to the invasion or colonization of the body by a pathogenic organism

22
Q

Disease

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A

Refers to the abnormal state in which all or part of the body is not functioning properly

23
Q

Host

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A

Refers to organisms that shelters and supports the growth of pathogenic organisms

24
Q

Control/ controlling diseases

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A
  • refers to the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity or mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate efforts; continued intervention measures are required to maintain the reduction. Eg: diarrheal diseases

NB: for control and elimination of disease continuous measures are needed to prevent re- establishment of disease or infection

25
Elimination or disease
Reduction to zero of the incidence of a specified disease in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts; continuous intervention measures are required. Eg: neonatal tetanus NB: for control and elimination of disease continuous measures are needed to prevent re- establishment of disease or infection
26
Elimination of infections
Reduction to zero of the incidence of infection caused by a specific agent in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts; continued measures to prevent reestablishment of transmission are required. Eg measles, poliomyelitis
27
Eradication
Permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection caused by a specific agent as a result of deliberate efforts; intervention measures are no longer needed. Eg: smallpox
28
Extinction
The specific infectious agent no longer exists in nature or in the laboratory Eg: none
29
Normal Flora
Refer to microorganisms on or in a host, but do not cause disease They can be transient or resident Nose- S. Aureus Skin- S. Aureus and S.epidermis Urogenital- S. Saprophyticus Intestines- E. Coli, enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia
30
Microbial antagonism
Belief that normal Flora benefits a host by preventing overgrowth of more harmful microbes
31
Types of relationship in Flora
Symbiosis: close relationship between two different organisms Commensalism (+,0) : one organism benefits but the other is unaffected (harmless). Eg: remora fish and shark Mutualism (+,+): both organisms benefit from each other (helpful) Eg: normal Flora and humans Parasitism: one organism benefits whilst the other is harmed. Eg: roundworms, ticks, leeches Opportunism : organism dosent cause disease unless appropriate condition exists ( potentially harmful) eg bacteria such as E. coli, S. Aureus
32
Classifying diseases
- based on transmission: communicable and non- communicable diseases - based on frequency of occurrence: sporadic, endemic, epidemic, pandemic - based on severity: acute, chronic, subacute, latent
33
Based on transmissibility
- communicable diseases refers to diseases transmitted directly or indirectly from one host to another Contagious diseases refer to diseases that spread easily from one person to another Eg: Ebola, Covid-19, HIV - non- communicable diseases refer to diseases that do not spread from one host to another Eg: diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis
34
Based on frequency of occurrence
Sporadic: Occur irregularly, harphazardly from time to time and generally infrequently. Eg: cases of certain infectious diseases Endemic: the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness, specific health related behavior clearly in excess of normal expectancy Pandemic refers to an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people Eg ebola
35
Based on severity
Acute: develops quickly but last for a short duration Chronic: develops slowly but lasts for a longer duration Subacute: in between acute and chronic Latent: causative agent remains inactive for a period of time and then becomes active to produce symptoms
36
Types of infection
Primary infection: acute infection caused by initial illness Secondary infection/ caused by opportunistic microbe after host immune system is weakened by primary infection Subclinical infection: does not cause noticeable disease
37
Stages of disease development
Stage 1: Incubation period- no signs or symptoms Stage 2: prodromol period- mild signs and symptoms. The symptoms may not be specific but distress and discomfort can be felt. Normal activities still go on Stage 3: illness - death can occur since the immune system is down and treatment can fail Stage 4: Period of decline Stage 4: Period of convalescence- gradual recovery of health and strength after illness or injury
38
Reservoir of infection Mode of transmission
Theee types of reservoir: humans, animals and non- living things Routes/ Contact: direct, indirect or droplet Vehicle: eg housefly Vector
39
Nosocomial infections
Infection acquired during the course of stay in a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility _ common Pseudomonas sp. - introduced to the body via surgery or catheter - direct contact with other patients or staff predisposes one - compromised hosts are most susceptible
40
A community
Refers to a group of people who share a common interest. Commonly cited in the definition of community are geography, culture and social stratification
41
Community diagnosis
Refers to a quantitative and qualitative description of the health of citizens and the factors which influence their health
42
Importance of community diagnosis
- to act as a data reference for the district - to provide an overall picture of the local community and the resident’s concerns - to suggest priority areas for intervention and the feasible solutions - to indicate the resource allocation and the direction of work plans - to create opportunities for inter sectoral collaboration such as veterinary services or evirkmental protection agency and media involvement - to form basis of setting indicators for health evaluation - discuss the data with concerned people including the community leaders and appropriate health inter should be planned - implement and evaluate the results of intervention

Community health (2 decks)

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