Introduction To Epi Flashcards
Do we study individuals or populations in epidemiology? Why?
Populations
Bc - to aim at protecting or improving the health of a population of community
What is the definition of epidemiology using the Greek roots?
Epi - what is or upon
Demos - population
Logy - the study of
What is primary prevention? Example.
Prevention
Hand washing, exercise, helmet, diet, condoms
What is secondary prevention? Example.
Cure disease
Meds, antibiotics, bandages
What is tertiary prevention?
Reduction/decrease progression
Therapy, braces, chemotherapy,
What is the underlying principle of epidemiology?
The disease is NOT randomly distributed
What are the five objectives of epidemiology?
- I.D.the cause of the disease & risk factors
- modifiable or nonmodifiable - Determine disease burden in the pop
- Describe natural history of disease
- Evaluate prevention plans
- Provide research evidence for public policy & legislation
What are non-modifiable risk factors? Examples.
You can’t change it AKA RISK MARKERS
Genes, age, gender, race, human
Who was the first to dispel superstitious beliefs about disease and recognized it as a population phenomenon?
Hippocrates (father of clinical medicine)
- first epidemiologist
- recognized disease at pop level
What was the largest epidemic disease to spread during the dark ages and how did it spread?
Bubonic plague
Crusades- rats had a flee that carried the plague
Who determined citrus fruits were beneficial for preventing scurvy?
James Lind
Who did the first vaccination experiment?
Edward Jenner
Small pox via the milk maids
Who examined the cholera epidemic in England by going house to house to determine who was infected and who was not?
John snow
Observational data
Who is known as the “father of epidemiology”?
Girolamo fracastro
Who is known as the “father of medicine”?
Hippocrates
