Epidemiology History NSC 301

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes the etymological origin of the term 'epidemiology'?

It is rooted in Latin, with 'epi' meaning 'spread', 'demos' meaning 'community', and 'logy' meaning 'knowledge'.

A combination of 'epi' meaning 'study of' and 'demos' meaning 'diseases'.

A blend of 'epi' meaning 'prevention' and 'demos' meaning 'population', combined with 'logy' meaning 'science or research'

Derived from the Greek words 'epi' meaning 'on, upon, or among' and 'demos' meaning 'the common people', combined with 'logy' meaning 'study of'. (correct)

What is a core focus of epidemiology as a field of study?

The development of new treatments for diseases.

The clinical management of hospital patients with acute illnesses.

The diagnosis of diseases at an individual patient level.

The study of the mass phenomena of infectious diseases including their incidence, distribution, and determinants. (correct)

According to the various definitions of epidemiology, what aspect is consistently highlighted?

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events including diseases. (correct)

The individual patient's experience of illness.

The biochemical processes of disease at a cellular level.

The economic impact of illnesses on households.

Which of the following would be considered one of the key objectives of epidemiology?

To study the occurrence and control of diseases and health conditions in defined populations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following did not contribute early in the field of epidemiology that is specifically mentioned in the text provided?

Louis Pasteur Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus in the study of epidemiology?

Analyzing the distribution of diseases within populations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a proposed objective of epidemiology?

To evaluate patient preferences regarding healthcare. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered to be a branch of epidemiology?

Cardiovascular epidemiology Signup and view all the answers

What was Hippocrates' primary contribution to the field of epidemiology?

Exploring the correlation between disease and environmental factors. Signup and view all the answers

What did Hippocrates believe was the main cause of sickness in the human body?

Imbalances of the four humors Signup and view all the answers

What is the key distinction between 'epidemic' and 'endemic' as defined by Hippocrates?

Epidemic diseases appear suddenly in a population, while endemic ones are always present. Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with initially proposing that diseases are caused by tiny, unseen, living particles?

Girolamo Fracastoro Signup and view all the answers

Which physician is credited with the first usage of the term 'epidemiology'?

Joaquín de Villalba Signup and view all the answers

What did Hippocrates believe caused sickness in the human body?

Imbalance of the four Humors Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first to propose the importance of personal and environmental hygiene to prevent disease?

Girolamo Fracastoro Signup and view all the answers

What did Anton van Leeuwenhoek's microscope reveal that supported the germ theory of disease?

Living particles consistent with a germ theory of disease Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered the father of modern epidemiology?

John Snow Signup and view all the answers

What substance did John Snow use in his attempt to clean water during the cholera outbreak?

Chlorine Signup and view all the answers

Which century did Girolamo Fracastoro first propose that diseases are caused by small, unseen particles?

16th century Signup and view all the answers

What was a major outcome of the British Doctors Study led by Richard Doll and Austin Bradford Hill?

Strong statistical support linking smoking to lung cancer Signup and view all the answers

What did epidemiology evolve to focus on after originally dealing primarily with infectious diseases?

Applying observational scientific method to prevent and control all health-related states and events Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the work of John Grant?

He was the first epidemiologist, statistician, and demographer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinction between 'disease' and 'sickness'?

Disease is medically definable, while sickness is about the social role of a person with disease. Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental aspect is critical when comparing disease rates across different populations?

The use of rates for comparison. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these terms describes a disease or injury rate that is consistently present?

Endemic Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes how 'pattern' is defined when discussing health events in epidemiology?

The occurrence of events by time, place, and personal characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Information

Course Title: Epidemiology
Course Code: NSC 301

History of Epidemiology

Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, was the first epidemiologist. He examined relationships between disease and environmental factors.
Hippocrates linked illness to an imbalance of four humors; air, fire, water, and earth. This led to practices like bloodletting and dieting.
Girolamo Fracastoro (16th century) proposed a theory that disease was caused by tiny living organisms that could spread through the air, reproduce, and be destroyed by fire.
John Graunt (1662) was the first to use statistical methods to study mortality patterns. He examined patterns of mortality and morbidity and the numbers of inhabitants, their age structure, and rate of population growth.
James Lind (1747) conducted a clinical trial to identify effective treatments for scurvy. He observed that citrus fruits could prevent/treat scurvy. This is considered a cornerstone of controlled clinical trials.
Edward Jenner (1796) discovered vaccination against smallpox after observing milkmaids who contracted cowpox did not contract smallpox.
John Snow (19th century) investigated cholera epidemics and determined that the source was contaminated water.
The 1920s saw Winslow and Sedgwick lecturing on epidemiology within the US, while W.H. Frost became the first professor of Epidemiology in the US.
The 1940s saw the introduction of the experimental study, regarding the use of Streptomycin to treat Pulmonary TB.
The 1950's saw research conducted to identify a relationship between smoking and Lung Cancer.

Definitions of Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the branch of medical science that studies epidemics.
Also the study of disease distribution and determinants in populations and their application to the control of health problems.
Epidemiology can be used to study all diseases, and not just infectious diseases.

Objectives of Epidemiology

Understanding the cause (etiology) of disease and relevant risk factors
Determining the extent of a disease in a community
Studying the natural history (and prognosis) of a disease
Evaluating preventive and therapeutic measures for a disease.
Establishing the foundation for public health policies

Branches of Epidemiology

Infectious disease epidemiology
Chronic disease epidemiology
Clinical epidemiology
Serological epidemiology
Cancer epidemiology
Genetic epidemiology
Occupational epidemiology
Psychosocial epidemiology

Key Terms in Epidemiology

Health: State of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.
Public Health: Organized effort to prevent disease and promote health.
Illness: Physiological or psychological experience of a person.
Disease: Medically definable physiological or psychological dysfunction.
Sickness: Dysfunction in the social role of a person with a disease.
Mortality: Related to death
Morbidity: Events and factors associated with disease or disability.
Frequency: Number/rate of disease occurrences.
Pattern: Occurrence of health events by time, place, and personal characteristics.
Time (in context of pattern): Annual, seasonal, or daily occurrences of diseases
Place (in context of pattern): Geographic variation, urban-rural differences, worksites, schools.
Personal Characteristics (in context of pattern): Age, race, sex, marital status, socioeconomic status, behaviors, environmental exposures.
Endemic: Diseases and injuries occurring at a consistent rate
Epidemic: Disease occurrences in excess of normalcy
Pandemic: An epidemic affecting multiple countries/continents

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Description

Explore the evolution of epidemiology and its key figures, from Hippocrates to John Graunt and James Lind. This quiz covers historical practices, theories of disease causation, and the beginnings of statistical methods in public health. Test your knowledge on the foundational concepts of epidemiology as outlined in your course.