MAPAS Pop111 Tutorials Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on Lectures 10 & 11.

Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

Multiple RCTs are often combined in a meta-analysis because single studies are small with high random error

Individual Participant RCTs (Randomised controlled trials)

To investigate the effects of different interventions on disease incidence in different groups of individuals.

Individual Participant Cohort Studies (CSs)

To investigate associations between risk or prognostic factors (exposures) & disease incidence in different groups of individuals.

Individual Participant Cross-sectional studies (C-SSs)

To measure disease prevalence in different groups/populations of individuals. To investigate associations between risk factors & disease prevalence.

Ecological studies (RCTs, CSs and C-SSs)

To investigate associations between interventions or risk factors (exposures) & disease prevalence or incidence in different groups of populations.

Incidence

The occurrence of new cases of a disease or condition in a population over a specified period of time.

Prevalence

The proportion of a population found to have a condition (typically a disease or a risk factor) at a specific time.

Reverse Causality

Uncertainty about the time sequence, where it's unclear whether the exposure or outcome came first.

Association

A statistical relationship between two or more events, characteristics, or other variables.

Causation

A cause will cause the disease. One variable directly influences another.

Bradford Hill Criteria

A set of criteria used to evaluate causality, including temporality, strength of association, consistency, biological plausibility, biological gradient, specificity, and reversibility.

Temporality

The disease has come before the disease onset.

Strength of Association

The stronger the association (statistically), the more likely it is to be causal in the absence of unknown bias.

Reversibility

Under controlled conditions, a change in exposure results in a change in the outcome.

Biological Gradient

Incremental change in disease rates in conjunction with corresponding changes in exposure.

Biological Plausibility

Does the association make sense biologically?

Consistency of Association

Replication of findings across different investigators, methods, times, and places.

Specificity of Association

A cause leads to a single effect; an effect has a single cause.

Epidemiological Triad

Model shows determining causality is complex and exposure-outcome is not usually 1:1 - therefore specificity of association is the weakest.

Sufficient Cause

The whole pie. A minimum set of conditions - without any one, the disease would not occur. A disease can have many sufficient causes.

Component Cause

Each slice. A factor that contributes towards disease causation but not sufficient to cause disease on it's own. They 'interact' to cause disease.

Necessary Cause

A slice. A factor that must be present for a specific disease to occur. Can be a component cause.

Dahlgren & Whitehead Model

A framework for understanding the determinants of health at different levels, including individual, social/community, living and working conditions, and general socioeconomic/cultural/environmental conditions.

Upstream Determinants

Macro, distal factors at the national, legal, political, and cultural levels (how to prevent).

Downstream Determinants

Micro, proximal factors directly related, e.g., lifestyle and behavior.

Social Gradient

Increase from quintile 1 to 5

Financial/Physical Capital

This includes things like houses, roads, buildings, hospitals, factories, equipment and vehicles. These are the things which make up the country's physical and financial assets which have a direct role in supporting incomes and material living conditions.

Human Capital

This encompasses people's skills, knowledge and physical and mental health. These are the things which enable people to participate fully in work, study, recreation and in society more broadly.

Social Capital

This describes the norms and values that underpin society. It includes things like trust, the rule of law, the Crown-Māori relationship, cultural identity, and the connections between people and communities.

Natural Capital

This refers to all aspects of the natural environment needed to support life and human activity. It includes land, soil, water, plants and animals, as well as minerals and energy resources.

Structure

Social determinants (living, working, and socioeconomic conditions)

Agency

Empowers populations (to make healthy choices)