Epidemiology Concepts and Study Designs

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to public health epidemiology and research methodologies.

Big Data

Massive amounts of data characterized by Volume, Variety, and Velocity.

Volume

Refers to the massive amount of data generated.

Variety

Different data formats including text, images, and videos.

Velocity

The speed at which data is generated and processed.

Data Linkage

Joining data elements in databases using a common identifier.

Data Mining

Exploring large datasets to find patterns and associations.

Online Retrieval

Name 4 online retrieval sourcces

Acquiring information from publicly available and proprietary websites.

• Public websites: Google, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Medical databases MEDLINE National Library of Medicine (NLM), \

• ●Professional organizations (American Public Health Association)

• ●Academic journals (American Journal of Epidemiology)

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states in specified populations.

Vital Statistics

Statistical data concerning the births, deaths, marriages, and diseases of populations.

Public Health Surveillance

Systematic and continuous gathering of information about disease occurrence.

Case Registry

A centralized database for collecting information about a specific disease.

Cross-Sectional Study

Examines the relationship between health outcomes and variables at a single point in time.

Person Variables

Factors related to individual characteristics affecting health outcomes.

Place Variables

Factors related to the geographic and environmental context of health outcomes.

Time Variables

Factors related to temporal patterns of disease occurrence.

Descriptive Epidemiology

Characterizes health and disease distributions in populations.

Clustering

A grouped series of events or cases with specific distribution patterns.

Deterministic Causality

The notion that a specific cause invariably leads to an effect.

Sufficient Cause

A cause that can produce an effect by itself.

Necessary Cause

A factor that must be present for an effect to occur.

Probabilistic Causality

Describes the likelihood of an effect given a certain exposure level.

Null Hypothesis

The hypothesis that there is no difference or association among groups.

Method of Difference

Compares two or more situations differing by a single factor.

Odds Ratio

A measure of association between exposure and an outcome in case-control studies.

Cohort Study

Tracks the incidence of a health outcome over time in a defined population.

Intervention Study

Investigates intentional changes in subjects' status.

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

A study design where subjects are randomly assigned to different treatments.

Bias

Systematic error affecting the validity of study outcomes.

Selection Bias

Bias arising from how individuals are selected for a study.

Hawthorne Effect

Behavioral change in study participants due to their awareness of being observed.

Confounding

A distortion of association between an exposure and outcome due to extraneous factors.

Statistical Significance

Determines whether observed associations are likely due to chance.

P-value

The probability of observing an association if the null hypothesis is true.

Confidence Interval

A range of values within which the population parameter is expected to lie.

Power of a Study

The probability of finding an effect if one truly exists.

Validity in Research

The degree to which a study accurately reflects the true state of affairs.

Strength of Association

How strongly a factor is associated with a health outcome.

Specificity of Association

How uniquely an association relates to a particular disease-exposure relationship.

Biologic Gradient

The dose-response relationship between exposure and health outcome.

Coherence

Consistency of findings with known biological principles.

Analytic Epidemiology

Focuses on the causes and effects of health conditions.

Experimental Studies

Research involving interventions designed to assess effects on health outcomes.

Community Interventions

Programs aimed at educational and behavioral changes in populations.

Case-Control Study

Compares individuals with an outcome to those without to identify risk factors.

Statistical Procedures

Methods used to analyze data and assess relationships.

Ecologic Fallacy

Misinterpretation that may occur when inferring relationships at the individual level from group-level data.

Quality of Epidemiologic Data

Evaluates how well data reflects the reality of a population.

Epidemiologic Research

Investigation focused on understanding health patterns and disease etiology.

Multivariate Causality

Causality involving multiple factors leading to an outcome.

Disease Causality

The relationship between risk factors and health outcomes.

Statistical Association

A relationship between two variables, may be positive or negative.

Positive Association

When one variable increases, the other variable increases.

Negative Association

When one variable increases, the other variable decreases.

Experimental Designs

Study models that involve intervention and controlled conditions.

Ecologic Studies

Studies that examine population-level data to find health associations.

Clinical Trials

Controlled studies to evaluate the effectiveness of medical treatments or interventions.

Retrospective Cohort Study

Looks back at historical data to assess exposures and outcomes.

Prospective Cohort Study

Follows a group forward in time to study the development of outcomes.

Relative Risk

The ratio of the probability of an event occurring in exposed vs non-exposed.

Attributable Risk

The difference in the rate of a condition between exposed and non-exposed groups.

Causal Pie Model

Illustrates that multiple component causes can lead to a sufficient cause.

Population Attributable Risk

The proportion of incidence in the entire population that is attributable to a risk factor.

Age Cohort Study

Looks at a specific age group over time to study health outcomes.

Sufficient-Component Cause Model Theory

Causal model acknowledging multiple contributing factors to a health outcome.

Method of Concomitant Variation

Relationship where frequency of an outcome increases with frequency of exposure.

Operationalization

Defining measurement procedures for variables in a study.

Research Question

A carefully considered inquiry that directs a research study.

Efficacy

The performance of an intervention under ideal conditions.

Effectiveness

The performance of an intervention in real-world conditions.

Experimental Validity

The extent to which the results of a study can be applied outside the experimental context.

Impact Evaluation

Documenting the results of interventions on health outcomes.

Health Services Evaluation

Assesses the performance of health interventions and impact on health.

Health Outcome

A measurable change in health status resulting from an intervention.

Community Health Assessments

Evaluative efforts aimed at understanding community health needs.

Surveillance Programs

Systems that monitor health events and outcomes over time.

Cancer Registries

Databases that collect and maintain information about cancer cases.

Social Determinants of Health

Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

Target Group

A specific population that an intervention aims to address.

Health Equity

The fair opportunity for everyone to attain their full health potential.

Epidemiologic Transition

The shifts in the patterns of morbidity and mortality in populations.

Health Indicators

Quantitative measures used to gauge health status of populations.

Demographic Data

Statistical data related to the population and particular groups within it.

Disparities in Health

Differences in health outcomes between different population groups.

Qualitative Research

Research that seeks to understand social phenomena through non-numerical data.

Quantitative Research

Research that involves numerical data analysis to derive conclusions.

Longitudinal Study

A study that follows subjects over time to observe outcomes.

Cross-Sectional Survey

Assessing a population at a single point in time to gather data.

Health Behavior

Actions individuals take that affect their health.

Preventive Measures

Actions taken to reduce the risk of disease.

Epidemiologic Surveillance

Continuous monitoring of disease prevalence in populations.

Chronic Disease

A long-lasting condition that can be controlled but not cured.

Communicable Disease

An infectious disease transmissible by direct contact, air, etc.

Outbreak Investigation

The process during which the existence and causes of disease outbreaks are evaluated.

Pathogen

An organism responsible for causing disease.

Incidence Rate

The rate of new cases of disease in a defined population during a specific period.

Prevalence Rate

The proportion of individuals with a disease in a population at a given time.

Healthy Worker Effect

The observation that employed populations tend to have lower mortality rates than the general population.

Outcome Assessment

Evaluation of the outcomes from interventions or exposures.

Health Promotion

Efforts to improve health and prevent disease through education and community programs.

Community Health Interventions

Programs designed to improve health outcomes in specific communities.