What is Epidemiology?
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Dictionary definition of epidemiology
A term derived from the Greek:
epi : on, upon
demos : the people
logos : the study of
(Webster's Unabridged Dictionary)
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Professions in the study of
diseases and health
Pathologist
Doctor
Epidemiologist
Reasons to Learn Epidemiology
1. Learn new ways to understand important, real world
questions about your health and the health of others
2. Gain knowledge to make more informed choices
about your personal health
3. Improve science literacy
o Research skills
o Reasoning skills
o Understanding of media reports
4. Be more empowered as a citizen in a democracy to
make public health decisions
5. Find out more about other public health career paths
besides being a doctor or a nurse
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An epidemiologist is a scientist who specializes
in tracking the occurrence and cause of disease
Epidemiologists help answer how and why
diseases occur among a population in order to
control and prevent diseases.
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Detectives
Investigate
crimes
Look for clues at
a crime scene
Judge quality of
evidence
Form hypotheses
Identify suspects
Present evidence
in court
Help control
crime
Epidemiologists
Investigate diseases
Look for clues in the
community
Judge quality of
evidence
Form hypotheses
Identify suspected causes
Present evidence in scientific
journals and at scientific
meetings
Help control disease
What do epidemiologists look like?
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The Community is the
epidemiologists’ laboratory
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Natural
Experiment
An observational study that
takes advantage of a
naturally occurring event or
situation that can be used
by a researcher to answer a
particular question.
Natural experiments are
often used to study
situations in which a true
experiment is not possible,
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Observational
Study
An epidemiological study
of a natural experiment
in which the investigator
is not involved
in the study other than to
record, classify, count,
and analyze results.
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An Adult Definition
of Epidemiology
... the study of the
distribution and
determinants of healthrelated states or events
in specified populations
and the application of this
study to the control of
health problems. (Gordis, 2004)
A Middle-School
Definition of Epidemiology
. . . the study of
populations in order to
determine the patterns
and causes of health and
illness, and to be able to
apply the learned
information to the control
of health problems.
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A working definition of the science of epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of populations
in order to determine the patterns and
causes of health and illness, and to be
able to apply the learned information to
the control of health problems.
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A working definition of the science of epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of populations
in order to determine the patterns and
causes of health and illness, and to be
able to apply the learned information to
the control of health problems.
13
A working definition of the science of epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of populations
in order to determine the patterns and
causes of health and illness, and to be
able to apply the learned information to
the control of health problems.
14
A working definition of the science of epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of populations
in order to determine the patterns and
causes of health and illness, and to be
able to apply the learned information to
the control of health problems.
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Three main areas
that epidemiology tries to address
Patterns
Causes
Control of
Health Problems
Population patterns in
health-related behaviors
and in health and illness
Causes of health and
illness in populations
Possible strategies and
actions that can change
the patterns of health and
illness in populations
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Thinking like an epidemiologist . . .
Health and disease are not distributed haphazardly
in a population. There are patterns to their
occurrence.
We are affected by many things around us – things
we can control and things we can’t control.
Epidemiology studies how peoples’ lives and health
are affected by things that impinge upon us.
It finds clues and answers by looking at large
numbers of people.
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Skills for epidemiology
•
Interest in investigations and solving mysteries
•
Critical thinking
•
Analytical/mathematical skills
•
Enjoyment in working with people
•
Team player
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