When a disease occurs in a population, epidemiologists help us to understand where the disease is coming from , and who it is most likely to impact. The information gathered can then be used to control the spread of the disease and prevent future outbreaks.
How is epidemiology important to public health?
Epidemiology identifies the distribution of diseases, factors underlying their source and cause, and methods for their control ; this requires an understanding of how political, social and scientific factors intersect to exacerbate disease risk, which makes epidemiology a unique science.
What are the 5 main objectives of epidemiology?
In the mid-1980s, five major tasks of epidemiology in public health practice were identified: public health surveillance, field investigation, analytic studies, evaluation, and linkages .
Why is epidemiology important during Covid 19?
It helps us assess community health by finding out whether certain populations are at higher risk and whether health services are prepared to deal with health issues. It helps us identify risk factors that we can use to help individuals make good decisions about behavior (like hand washing or social distancing).
What are the functions of epidemiology?
Definition. Core functions of epidemiology include: public health surveillance — the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of public health data . field investigation — may be as simple as a phone call or as complex as a multi-agency response to an event.
What are the four uses of epidemiology?
For community diagnosis of the presence, nature and distribution of health and disease among the population , and the dimensions of these in incidence, prevalence, and mortality; taking into account that society is changing and health problems are changing. To study the workings of health services.
What is the best definition for epidemiology?
Section 1: Definition of Epidemiology. ... Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations , and the application of this study to the control of health problems (1).
What are the main objectives of epidemiology?
What are the main objectives of epidemiology? The principal aim of epidemiology is to identify factors related to the occurrence of disease . Identification of these factors both causal ( causation) and risk factors, enable developing a rational basis for prevention ( epidemiology, prevention).
What are the two main goals of epidemiology?
Aims of Epidemiology
There are two groups of aims: first, to describe the distribution, the pattern, and the natural history of disease in the general population , and second, to identify factors that may be causal in a disease process, and to evaluate strategies for the control, management, and prevention of a disease.
What are the two goals of epidemiology?
The principal aim of epidemiology is to identify factors related to the occurrence of disease . Identification of these factors both causal ( causation) and risk factors, enable developing a rational basis for prevention ( epidemiology, prevention).
How does epidemiology help in controlling diseases?
When a disease occurs in a population, epidemiologists help us to understand where the disease is coming from , and who it is most likely to impact. The information gathered can then be used to control the spread of the disease and prevent future outbreaks.
What are epidemiological determinants of COVID-19?
Apart from the baseline demographic features of patients, socioeconomic factors, such as income groups, population density, access to health care, and quality of health system resources , may account for the observed variations in mortality rates.
What is the risk factors of COVID-19?
These are commonly called “risk factors.” Examples include older age or having certain underlying medical conditions . CDC is conducting disease surveillance and field investigations to better understand why some people are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 illness.
What is epidemiology own words?
By definition, epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global).
What are the three components of epidemiology?
The epidemiologic triangle is made up of three parts: agent, host and environment .
What are the six major tasks of epidemiology?
Two essential concepts of epidemiology are population and comparison. Core epidemiologic tasks of a public health epidemiologist include public health surveillance, field investigation, research, evaluation, and policy development .
