The purpose of this module is to review the role of epidemiology in public health practice. Despite the fact that epidemiology is a broad field, this module is intended to introduce the basic concepts of epidemiology.
The module incorporates a definition of epidemiology by the CDC. Since the definition by the CDC is complex, a reader can explore individual terms by clicking on each word to see the CDC definition.
Epidemiologist in Public Health performs numerous roles including collection and analysis of vital records and morbidity; investigations and monitoring of disease outbreaks; design and implementation of surveillance system and health screening, and etc.
Epidemiology studies distribution and determinants of health and disease. The
Other: Epidemiologists work in health departments, offices, universities, and laboratories. Some do fieldwork to conduct interviews and collect samples for analyses.
They strive to answer the questions that many can’t. They breakdown where diseases have come from as well as why people get infected which will hopefully lead up to a cure for outbreaks. Extinction of fear is unrealistic in the world that we live in because at any given time a new outbreak can occur however, epidemiologist from my perception can help our levels of preparedness for future outbreaks and help the public decrease there overall levels of fear as we coexist together. After reading The Ghost Map, which took place during the outbreak of cholera in 1854 it, took epidemiologist John Snow to go door to door in order to retrace how the outbreak could have occurred. Due to his endurance to figure out what was the cause of the outbreak he was able to conclude that there was a direct connection between the pump and the cesspool at 40 Broad.
Public health nursing allows nurses to encounter various vulnerable populations on a daily basis. In particular, the elderly make up a large portion of the population, and their vulnerability to the environment and other physical factors is a very important aspect of public health nursing. Epidemiology allows the public health nurse to study and assess vulnerable populations, including the elderly, and create interventions that maximize the health potential of all members of the public.
When looking into the meaning of epidemiology often it is found that definitions may vary and are frequently identifiable specifically to the context. According to the World Health Organization, the definition of epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events (including disease), and the application of this study to the control of diseases and other health problems. Various methods can be used to carry out epidemiological investigations: surveillance and descriptive studies can be used to study distribution; analytical studies are used to study determinants (Epidemiology Definition,
Epidemiology is the study of diseases and informs the public about the health epidemics and new standards put in place. They usually work in laboratories, businesses, and offices where they work on discovering many diseases and conducting research while also finding cures to new diseases. In order to become an epidemiologist, I will have undergo through 4 year as an undergraduate and obtain a Masters in Biology or Public Health. In high school, it is recommended for me take Biology, Chemistry or to have some type of science background in order to help me get best prepared. In this paper I will discuss the history of epidemiology, the pathway to get to this career, and why this job/career will be the best fit for me.
An epidemiologist job is to collect information on the disease that has been spread among a community. They will figure out how many people have fallen ill. Next step would be to find out the age, gender, and status. They want to find out when they became sick.
The job of epidemiologist is to analyze trends in health, and implement control measures. This causes them to fill in several roles within a team. Their expertise in control measures allows them to take on the role of specialist in health behavior and promotion. Meanwhile, their analysis of trends allows them to understand exposure science and biostatistics, which will help them to work well with the other team members. Very often epidemiologist also play a role in forming public health policy as subject matter experts. In this case, they will help the expert in exposure science with health education and promotion. Next, they will help determine if there is a reason the causative agent is or is not showing statistical significance. For example, if the causative agent was not significant, the epidemiologist might suggest a co-factor that is skewing the numbers to help the biostatistician to create the most precise numbers, and ensure the correct questions are being
Of the seven uses of epidemiology, the following are applicable to the public health topic presented in the needle exchange story: diagnosing the health of the community, studying the working of health services, and estimating the individual risks of disease. By diagnosing the health of the community, the needle exchange program is able to measure the incidence and prevalence of disease, as well as identify the groups that they will be working with (Friis & Sellers, 2014). Harper (2015) reported that the needle exchange program is part of an
The epidemiology triangle has three sides. The sides consist of the host, the agent and the environment. The host is the person who is affected by the disease. The agent is the organism causing the disease. “In the case of type II diabetes, the agent could be the absence of a substance.” (McMurray, 2006). The agent interacts with the host and the environment to cause the disease. The environment is all the outside conditions that make the host susceptible to the agent. One condition of the environment could be the health of the host.
Epidemiologists, Lab Technicians, registered nurses, physicians, managerial staff and support staff are all involved in public health. Public health registered nurses help to assess patients, conduct surveys and evaluate possible reasons or sources for an illness. Physicians not only treat the patient, but also provide vital components such as symptoms, timing and continually update public health officials on new related cases. Epidemiologists analyzes, collect, and forms hypotheses based on lab data, then relays reports and discoveries to nurses, physicians and public health officials. Laboratory employees are in charge of handling sample and running several test to determine types of infections, concentration of bacteria, and other lab related
Epidemiology, the branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of a disease. Epidemiology is used through out the world, whether that be to protect a country from a lethal disease or educating the people about the common cold, epidemiologist protect the world from disease as a whole. This is highlighted in the most recent outbreak of the Zika Virus in Brazil and the Ebola Sudan outbreak illustrated in the Hot Zone. Even though these disease have there similarities and differences epidemiologists have done that is possible to protect the populous of the world. Though both disease have common ground, both are extremely different from one another based on the symptoms and over effect on the human body.
Review health educational program used across the population to stop or prevent Epidemics and Pandemics.
An Epidemiologist examines patterns and causes of a disease, specifically infectious disease. An infectious disease is caused by the presence of a pathogenic microorganism growing in or on the infected host. The disease can be spread directly or indirectly, from one person to another, which is considered transmissible. Indirect transfer spread is when an
Disease surveillance systems and health data sources provide the raw information necessary to monitor trends in health and disease. Descriptive epidemiology provides a way of organizing and analyzing these data in order to understand variations in disease frequency in an area over time, and how varies among people based on a host of personal characteristics (person, place, and time). This makes it possible to identify trends in health and disease and also provides a means of planning resources for populations. It is also important for generating possible explanations about the determinants of health and disease.
There are many specialties in this job such as infectious disease, injury, and oral health. Epidemiologist’s collect data, analyze it, commute their findings, and seek ways to improve and prevent such diseases. This job is not available in an area I would want to live in which is a disadvantage as well as some of the tasks I would not enjoy doing. They have similar knowledge as a pharmacist but also needs public safety and security, as well as sociology and anthropology. The skills necessary are speaking to convey information, writing, social perceptiveness, time management, active listening, and learning strategies. The personality that fits best with this career is independence, recognition, organization, detail oriented, thorough, patience, and having a logical mind. The salary range in the U.S. is $67,420 for an epidemiologist. The outlook for this job is 8-14% growth and this career requires a master’s degree in public health as well as a master’s degree in