Public Health Vocabulary Terms

Question 1

Bias

Answer 1

Systematic error in the design, conduct, or analysis of a study that results in a mistaken estimate of an exposure’s effect on the risk of disease.

Question 2

Burden of Disease

Answer 2

A measure of the impact of disease and injury in a population, often expressed in terms of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).

Question 3

Case-Control Study

Answer 3

An observational study that compares individuals with a disease (cases) to those without (controls) to identify risk factors.

Question 4

Case Fatality Rate (CFR)

Answer 4

The proportion of individuals diagnosed with a disease who die from that disease within a specified time period.

Question 5

Causality

Answer 5

The relationship between a cause and its effect; often evaluated using criteria such as Bradford Hill’s criteria.

Question 6

Census

Answer 6

A complete count of a population, typically used to collect demographic and health information.

Question 7

Clinical Trial

Answer 7

A research study involving human volunteers to evaluate the effects of an intervention or treatment.

Question 8

Cohort Study

Answer 8

An observational study that follows a group over time to examine how exposures affect outcomes.

Question 9

Communicable Disease

Answer 9

An infectious disease transmissible from person to person, animal to person, or environment to person.

Question 10

Community Health Assessment

Answer 10

A systematic process of collecting and analyzing health data to identify key health needs and issues in a population.

Question 11

Confounding

Answer 11

A distortion of the association between an exposure and outcome due to a third variable.

Question 12

DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year)

Answer 12

A metric that combines years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with disability.

Question 13

Demographic Transition

Answer 13

The shift from high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates as a country develops.

Question 14

Determinants of Health

Answer 14

Factors that influence health status, including social, economic, environmental, and individual behavior.

Question 15

Endemic

Answer 15

The constant presence of a disease within a specific geographic area or population.

Question 16

Epidemic

Answer 16

An increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected.

Question 17

Epidemiology

Answer 17

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations.

Question 18

Ethics in Public Health

Answer 18

The application of moral principles to public health practice, including equity, respect, and justice.

Question 19

Evaluation

Answer 19

A systematic process to determine the effectiveness or value of a public health program or intervention.

Question 20

Evidence-Based Practice

Answer 20

The integration of best current evidence with clinical expertise and population preferences in public health decision-making.

Question 21

Global Health

Answer 21

The health of populations in a global context, addressing transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions.

Question 22

Health Disparities

Answer 22

Differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare across different population groups.

Question 23

Health Equity

Answer 23

The attainment of the highest level of health for all people, emphasizing fairness and eliminating disparities.

Question 24

Health Literacy

Answer 24

The capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions.

Question 25

Health Promotion

Answer 25

Strategies to improve health and prevent disease through behavior change and supportive environments.

Question 26

Herd Immunity

Answer 26

Indirect protection from infectious disease when a sufficient proportion of a population is immune.

Question 27

Incidence

Answer 27

The number of new cases of a disease occurring in a population over a specified period of time.

Question 28

Indicators

Answer 28

Quantitative measures used to describe health status, service provision, or program performance.

Question 29

Informed Consent

Answer 29

A process by which individuals voluntarily agree to participate in research or medical procedures after being fully informed.

Question 30

Intervention

Answer 30

Any action intended to improve health or alter the course of disease.

Question 31

Logistic Regression

Answer 31

A statistical method used to model binary outcome variables in epidemiological studies.

Question 32

Morbidity

Answer 32

The state of having a disease or medical condition; also refers to the incidence or prevalence of disease.

Question 33

Mortality Rate

Answer 33

A measure of the frequency of occurrence of death in a defined population during a specified time.

Question 34

Multivariate Analysis

Answer 34

Statistical analysis involving multiple variables simultaneously to understand relationships and control for confounders.

Question 35

Noncommunicable Disease (NCD)

Answer 35

A disease that is not transmissible directly from one person to another, such as cancer or diabetes.

Question 36

Odds Ratio (OR)

Answer 36

A measure of association between exposure and outcome used in case-control studies.

Question 37

Pandemic

Answer 37

An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.

Question 38

Pathogen

Answer 38

A microorganism such as a virus or bacterium that causes disease.

Question 39

Peer Review

Answer 39

The process by which research is evaluated by experts in the field before publication.

Question 40

Population Health

Answer 40

The health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group.

Question 41

Prevalence

Answer 41

The proportion of a population with a particular condition at a given time.

Question 42

Prevention (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary)

Answer 42

Strategies to avoid disease occurrence (primary), detect and treat early (secondary), or reduce impact of ongoing illness (tertiary).

Question 43

Public Health Surveillance

Answer 43

The ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data for planning and response.

Question 44

Quarantine

Answer 44

The restriction of movement of persons who may have been exposed to a contagious disease.

Question 45

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Answer 45

A study design in which participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control groups.

Question 46

Relative Risk (RR)

Answer 46

A ratio of the risk of an outcome among exposed individuals compared to unexposed.

Question 47

Risk Factor

Answer 47

An attribute or exposure that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or injury.

Question 48

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Answer 48

The conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, and age that affect health.

Question 49

Surveillance

Answer 49

Continuous monitoring of disease occurrence and other health-related events in a population.

Question 50

Validity

Answer 50

The degree to which a study accurately reflects or assesses the specific concept it is intended to measure.