HSC 170 exam 1

9/13

analytic epidemiology

  • host, agent, environment
  • agents
      * John Snow’s
        * agent was cholera microbes
      * also include nutrients, poisons, allergens, radiation, etc
  • host
      * genetic endowment, immunologic state, age, sex gender, personal behavior
  • environment
      * crowding atmosphere, communication
        * comm. includes vector, vehicle, and reservoir
          * vector would be something like a mosquito passing malaria
          * vehicles would consist of something like food
          * reservoir is where the agent starts

surveillance cycle

  • reporting > health department > feedback > public and healthcare providers > back to the start

treatment vs prevention

  • ==prevention== is much more important and more cost-effective
  • ==treatment== is important for the health of the affected host
  • primary prevention
      * specific measures to reduce exposure/susceptibility
        * includes immunization, sanitation, water purification, seat belts, machine guards, respiratory protection
      * behavior modification
  • secondly prevention
      * what you do after you have been diagnosed to treat or reduce the impacts and consequences of disease
  • tertiary prevention
      * limit the disability, improve quality of life, rehab
        * ex: worker cuts finger off

Broad field: epidemiologists required to have some knowledge of all disciplines

  • public health, clinical medicine, pathophysiology, statistic, social sciences

^^Rate = number of cases or deaths in a given period / population in the same area^^

%%Incidence Rate = new cases during a given period / population risk during the same period%%

@@Prevalence = all new and preexisting cases during a period / population at risk during the same period@@

9/15

  • public health can include
      * clinical care
      * determinants
      * epidemic/outbreak
      * health outcome
  • PH help prevent the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, responds to disasters and assists communities in recovery
      * promotes healthy behaviors, prevent injuries, assures quality and accessibility of health services
  • sanitation is a large part of public health
      * 1970 EPA established
  • Used for disaster response
      * bio warfare, 9/11, hurricane Katrina
  • PH does prevention through policy
      * book of Leviticus, tobacco laws, obesity
  • Public health system
      * who?
        * public entities, private entities, voluntary entities
          * includes: city public health departments, private universities, professional organizations
      * what?
        * a network
  • public health approach
      * problem > cause > what works > how do you do it
        * surveillance > ris factor identification > intervention evaluation > implementation
          * problem > response
  • three core functions of public health
      * assessment, policy development, assurance
  • ten essential public health services
      * monitor health, diagnose & investigate, inform edu. empower, mobile community partnerships, policies, enforce laws, provide care, competent workforce, evaluate, research
  • What determines health of population?
      * social/societal health, genes and biology, health behavior, medical care
  • @@Public heath accomplishments@@
      * vaccination, motor-vehicle safety (speed limit, seatbelts), safer workplaces, control of infectious diseases, decline in deaths from coronary heart disease & stroke, safer & healthier foods, healthier mothers & babies, family planning
  • lifeexpectanceismostinfluencedby?life expectance is most influenced by?
      * publichealthmeasurespublic health measures
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