Introduction to Epidemiology - Presentation PDF

1 2. INTRODUCTION EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDIES, TERMS DISEASES Course Title: Introduction to Epidemiology Course Code: (EPI 213) Program: Public health Department: Public health College: Public health and health informatics WHAT IS A STUDY?  Study is a research method used to inve...

1 2. INTRODUCTION EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDIES, TERMS DISEASES Course Title: Introduction to Epidemiology Course Code: (EPI 213) Program: Public health Department: Public health College: Public health and health informatics WHAT IS A STUDY?  Study is a research method used to investigate the causes, distribution, and control of diseases in human populations. Epidemiological studies can be used to identify risk factors for diseases, to assess the effectiveness of interventions, and to develop public health policies. TYPES OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES 1- Descriptive studies  Used to describe the distribution of health and disease in a population. They can be used to identify areas where there are high rates of disease, and to describe the characteristics of people who are affected by the disease. 2- Analytical studies:  Used to identify the causes of disease. They can be used to test hypotheses about the relationship between exposure to risk factors and the development of disease. THE METHODS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY  There are a variety of methods used in epidemiology to collect and analyze data on health and disease. Some of the most common methods include:  Cross sectional: cross-sectional study is a type of observational study in which data on a group of people is collected at a single point in time.  Cohort studies: Cohort studies follow a group of people over time to see who develops disease and who does not. This type of study can be used to identify risk factors for disease.  Case-control studies: Case-control studies compare people with a disease (cases) to people without the disease (controls) to see if they have different exposures to risk factors.  Randomized controlled trials: Randomized controlled trials are the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of public health interventions. In this type of study, participants are randomly assigned to either receive the intervention or a placebo. The results of the study are then used to determine whether the intervention was effective. THE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY Epidemiological research often involves working with human subjects, which raises ethical concerns. Some of the ethical issues that need to be considered in epidemiological research include:  Confidentiality: Researchers must protect the confidentiality of their participants' data.  Informed consent: Participants must give their informed consent before participating in research.  The use of human subjects: Researchers must ensure that the risks of participating in research are outweighed by the benefits. Epidemiologists must carefully consider these ethical issues when designing and conducting their research. TYPES OF EPIDEMICS  Endemic: The constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographic area or population group; In other words, it is a disease that is always there. For example, malaria is endemic to many parts of Africa, and dengue fever is endemic to many parts of Southeast Asia.  Outbreak: A localized epidemic affecting large number of a group, in the community. It is often used to describe a disease that is not normally present in the population or area e.g. outbreak of food poisoning. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic is an outbreak.  Epidemic: The occurrence of more cases of a disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time. For example, the COVID-19 which is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that emerged in December 2019. It has spread rapidly around the world, causing a global pandemic.  Pandemic : An epidemic occurring over a very wide area (several countries or continents) at the same time and usually affecting a large proportion of the population. e.g. Influenza, cholera, and COVID-19 PREVENT AND CONTROL  Early detection and response: Early detection and response is essential for preventing the spread of epidemics. This includes surveillance for new or emerging diseases and rapid implementation of control measures.  Vaccination: Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent disease.  Public health education: Public health education can help to raise awareness of diseases and how to prevent them.  Improved sanitation: Improved sanitation can help to reduce the spread of diseases.  Quarantine: Quarantine can be used to isolate people who are infected with a disease and prevent them from spreading it to others. TYPES OF DISEASES: Acute diseases:  These diseases develop quickly and have a short course. They are often caused by infection and can be cured with medication or other treatment. Examples of acute diseases include:  Common cold  Flu Chronic diseases:  These diseases last for a long time and may not have a cure. They are often caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Examples of chronic diseases include:  Heart disease  Cancer  Diabetes Disabling diseases: These diseases cause significant impairment or loss of function.They can make it difficult to complete everyday tasks and may require long-term care. Examples of disabling diseases include:  Stroke  Spinal cord injury Fatal diseases: These diseases are always fatal. There is no cure and the disease eventually leads to death. Examples of fatal diseases include:  AIDS  Alzheimer's disease TERMS TO KNOW IN EPIDEMIOLOGY  Incidence:The number of new cases of a disease that occur in a population over a specified period of time.  Prevalence: The total number of cases of a disease that exist in a population at a given time.  Morbidity: The extent of illness or disease in a population.  Mortality: The number of deaths that occur in a population over a specified period of time.  Attack rate: The proportion of people in a population who are infected with a disease during an outbreak.  Case fatality rate: The proportion of people with a disease who die from it.  Risk factor: A characteristic or exposure that increases the likelihood of developing a disease.  Confounding factor: A factor that is associated with both the disease and the risk factor, but is not the actual cause of the disease.  Bias: A systematic error in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data that can lead to incorrect conclusions.  Study design: The method used to collect data on the occurrence of disease.  Analytical epidemiology: The use of statistical methods to study the relationship between risk factors and disease.  Interventional epidemiology: The use of public health interventions to prevent or control disease. Thank you