What Is Epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the science that studies the distribution of disease and health conditions in a specific population and its determinants, and studies strategies and measures to prevent and promote disease. It is an important part of preventive medicine and the basis of preventive medicine.
Epidemiology
(Medical Science)
- Chinese name
- Epidemiology
- Foreign name
- epidemiology
- Time of origin
- 1854
- Start
- John Snow's work in cholera in London
- Epidemiology is the science that studies the distribution of disease and health conditions in a specific population and its determinants, and studies strategies and measures to prevent and promote disease. It is an important part of preventive medicine and the basis of preventive medicine.
- Epidemiology is developed in the continuous struggle against diseases that endanger human health. In the early years, infectious diseases were widespread in the population and brought great disasters to human beings. People conducted in-depth epidemiological investigations on infectious diseases and adopted preventive measures. As major infectious diseases are gradually controlled, epidemiology is also applied to the study of non-infectious diseases, especially chronic diseases, such as heart, cerebrovascular disease, malignant tumors, diabetes, and injuries and disabilities; in addition, epidemiology is also applied to promote the population's Study of health status.
- In 1854, London broke out
- The scope of epidemiological research is not only on the specific measures for disease prevention, but also on the countermeasures for disease prevention, so as to achieve effective control or prevention of disease, injury, promotion and protection of human health. The research object is the population, including various types of patients and healthy people; the main research method is to investigate and study in the population; its task is to explore the cause of the disease, clarify the distribution law, formulate preventive countermeasures, and evaluate the effects to achieve prevention, control and The purpose of eradicating disease; at the same time, the task of epidemiology is to prevent disease and promote health. On the basis of studying the disease and health status in the population and its influencing factors, it is also necessary to prevent the disease from occurring in the population, promote people's health, and make humans prolong their lives.
- First, the distribution of disease and the reasons that affect the distribution
- Study the morbidity, prevalence, or mortality of a disease in different regions, at different times, and in different populations. Due to the difference in the number of certain diseases at different times, regions, and populations, it is suggested that the distribution of disease factors is different, and further find the cause of the distribution.
- 2. Study the epidemic factors and causes of diseases
- There are many kinds of diseases whose etiology or epidemic factors are still unknown. Epidemiology should explore the contributing factors and epidemic factors.
- 3. Natural history of disease
- The entire process from the occurrence, development to the outcome of the disease can be divided into the pre-symptom stage, the clinical symptoms and signs, and the disease outcome (such as cure, improvement, deterioration, death, etc.). The natural history of different diseases is different, and some diseases have a short natural history, such as acute bacteria
- "Research" methods include monitoring, observation, hypothesis testing, analytical research, and experiments. "Distribution" involves analysis of the time, region, and different populations of the population under study. "Determinants" means all physical, biological, social, cultural, and behavioral factors that affect health. "Health conditions" include diseases, causes of death, behaviors such as smoking, responses to preventive measures, and the availability and use of health services. "Specific population" refers to those who have certain characteristics, that is, the population concerned by the study. "Preventing disease and promoting health" specifies the purpose of epidemiological research-to promote, protect, and restore health. There have been many definitions of epidemiology. Over the past 50 years, the scope of epidemiological research has expanded from the early study of infectious diseases to all phenomena related to the health of the population. Epidemiological methods
- The main uses of epidemiology can be summarized as follows:
- One,
- Epidemiological books
Introduction to Epidemiology
- A brief history of epidemiology, applications, and relationships with other disciplines. Development of etiology concepts, etiology models, and multi-causes of disease occurrence. Analysis steps and methods of current research data; Design and calculation of serial and parallel screening methods. Calculation of case-control study samples; precautions during implementation. Specific calculation of sample size; precautions during implementation. Classification of experimental research methods; specific calculation of sample size; specific random grouping of research objects. Relationship between natural history of disease and tertiary prevention. In the study of monographs, the three distribution characteristics of the corresponding diseases and their influencing factors are briefly described.
Epidemiological content
- Definition and characteristics of epidemiology. Describe the meaning, use, and calculation method of the commonly used measurement indicators of distribution (morbidity, attack rate, morbidity, mortality, mortality rate, mortality). Common terms used to describe the intensity of the disease: outbreak, spread, epidemic, and pandemic; the concept and main content of the three distributions of the disease. The definition of etiology and principles of etiology inference. The role, characteristics, and uses of descriptive research in epidemiological research; the concepts and uses of current research; the types and characteristics of commonly used sampling methods. The advantages and disadvantages of censuses and sampling surveys; the main factors that determine the sample size of sampling surveys; the definition and use of screening; and the control of bias. Definitions, characteristics, types, and uses of case-control studies, cohort studies, and experimental epidemiological methods; methods and characteristics of research object selection; matching purposes, implementation methods, and issues that should be noted; main factors affecting sample size; main bias And its control; advantages and disadvantages. Concepts and principles of disease prevention strategies and measures. The concept of tertiary disease prevention and disease surveillance. The epidemic process of infectious diseases constitutes three links and two factors of the epidemic process; the concept, scope, and conditions of elimination of the epidemic source; prevention and control measures of infectious diseases; the number and classification of legal infectious diseases in China; . In the study of monographs, you must be familiar with the application of epidemiological methods in controlling corresponding diseases.
Epidemiological focus
- A comprehensive description of the population, region, and time of the disease. Epidemiology explores the basic process of etiology. The main indicators, calculation methods, and significance of the authenticity and reliability evaluation of screening methods; the impact of changes in the diagnostic level of screening methods on sensitivity and specificity; the concepts, calculation methods, and influencing factors of positive and negative predictive values. The main content and implementation steps of epidemiological research design. Statistical analysis methods for case-control studies, cohort studies, and experimental research data, bias, and control.