POPM 3240 Lecture 1: Introduction to Epidemiology and Historical Approaches
24 Feb 2019
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Document Summary
Epidemiology: the study of the frequency, distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations and the applications of this study to control health problems. Frequency: measure of disease occurrence involves rates, ratios or proportions. Distribution: frequency and pattern (time, place and person) Determinants: causes, risk factors and modes of transmission (why and how). Any factor that when altered produces a change in the frequency or characteristics of the disease. Suspected of producing the outcome of interest (response or dependent variable disease, health/productivity) Citrus fruits cured scurvy because high in vit. Black box epidemiology (did not understand scurvy was vit. Earliest accounts for cause and effect linkage for an occupational carcinogen. Lodgement of soot in the rugae of the scrotum. Miasma theory that bad air caused cholera. Health promotion, disease prevention, and prolongation of high-quality life. Health: a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
