39 Questions
What is a major focus of epidemiology?
Informing efforts to prevent and control disease
Why is understanding the causes of disease or injury important?
For prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
What does a cause express in terms of disease or outcome?
Something that contributes to a causal mechanism
What is meant by complementary components of a causal factor?
Necessary elements for expressing a cause
When does a cause express itself in relation to a causal mechanism?
When a sufficient causal mechanism is complete
What does it mean when factors work together in a given causal mechanism?
They interact causally or causally interdependent
Which criterion refers to the necessity that the cause must precede the disease in time?
Temporal sequence
What does the strength of association measure?
The relative risk
Which criterion refers to changes in exposure being related to a trend in relative risk?
Biological gradient
What does coherence imply in the context of causal relationships?
It does not conflict with what is known of the natural history and biology of the disease.
What does specificity of association mean?
An exposure leads to a single or characteristic effect.
Which criterion refers to evidence from laboratory experiments on animals or from human experiments?
Experimental evidence
What does biological plausibility refer to?
Is there a logical mechanism by which the supposed cause can induce the effect.
What is necessary for establishing temporality in time?
'Temporality refers to the necessity that the cause must precede the disease in time.'
What does consistency refer to in the context of causal relationships?
Consistency refers to the repeated observation of an association in different populations under different circumstances.
What is coherence's implication for causal relationships?
Coherence implies that a cause-and-effect interpretation for an association does not conflict with what is known of the natural history and biology of the disease.
What type of relationship does biological gradient (dose-response relationship) refer to?
Changes in exposure being related to a trend in relative risk.
What is a direct cause in epidemiology?
A causal factor very close to the pathogenic event
What is a necessary cause in epidemiology?
A factor without which the disease would not have occurred
What is a sufficient cause in epidemiology?
A factor that makes disease inevitable in an individual
Which term refers to a set of factors that makes disease inevitable in an individual?
Sufficient causal constellation
What is causal inference?
The term used for the process of determining observed associations
What does an observed association between two factors NOT imply?
The presence of cause and effect relationship
What is a confounder in epidemiology?
A third factor that affects the outcome when present with exposure
What does a necessary cause mean in epidemiology?
It must be present for disease to occur, disease never develops in the absence of that factor
What do sufficient causes refer to in epidemiology?
They are a minimum set of conditions, factors, or events needed to produce a given outcome
What does an association in epidemiology refer to?
It refers to the statistical dependence between two variables
What are necessary causes often described as?
Component causes that are members of every sufficient cause
What is the term used to describe factors that are associated with the risk of development of a disease, but are not sufficient to cause the disease?
Risk factors
Which factor refers to repeated exposure, environmental conditions, and hard work that may aggravate an established disease or injury?
Reinforcing factors
According to Koch's postulates, what must be present in every case of the disease caused by a specific living organism?
All of the above
What is the term used to describe the effect of two or more causes acting together, often resulting in a greater effect than expected?
Interaction
Which factor may be necessary but is rarely sufficient to cause a particular disease or state?
Predisposing factors
What type of factors such as low income, poor nutrition, bad housing, and inadequate medical care may favour the development of disease?
Enabling (or disabling) factors
What term is used to describe factors that are positively associated with the risk of development of a disease but are not sufficient to cause the disease?
Risk factors
What concept describes the interconnectedness of possible causes, illustrating the complexity of origin?
Web of Causation
What does Pasteur's work on microorganisms lead to the formulation of by Henle and then by Koch?
Koch's rules for determining causation
What type of causative agent makes Koch's postulates most valuable?
All of the above
What may disappear when a disease has developed, making it impossible to demonstrate in the sick person?
The causative organism
Test your knowledge about the causes and risk factors of cholera, including genetic factors, exposure to contaminated water, susceptibility, and the effects of cholera toxins on bowel wall cells. Explore the hierarchy of causes and learn about the potential pathways leading to the presence of the pathogenic agent in the organ.
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