Course contents

Measures of effect

Parallel concepts:
Concepts of disease
Causation
Study designs:
Concepts of disease
Descriptive Studies
screening
Analytic studies (case Public Health
control)
Analytic studies (cohort) Surveillance
Experimental studies Outbreak investigation
and Management
Validity, Bias and
Prevention and control
confounding
in public health

AL NAHDA COLLEGE-MEDICINE PROGRAM

ADVANCED EPIDEMIOLOGY COURSE

Introduction to Epidemiology
Fadwa M.S.Mohammed

Contents

Definition of epidemiology
Historical evolution of Epidemiology
key uses of epidemiology
Applications of epidemiology in public health
practice

Epidemiology is the basic

science of
public health

What is
Epidemiology ???

Epi = upon
Demos= meaning people
Logos= meaning the study of.

What is
Epidemiology ???

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution

and determinants of health-related states
or events in specified populations, and the
application of this study to the control of
health problems.

Study

a scientific discipline with sound methods

use of valid comparison groups

Distribution

Frequency
Pattern

Determinants

Any factor, whether event, characteristic, or

other definable entity, that brings about a
change in a health condition or other
defined characteristic.

Health related events

Epidemics of communicable diseases

Specified populations
Clinicians

Epidemiologist
s

Historical
evolution of
Epidemiology

400

Uses of
Epidemiology

 Assessing

the communitys health

Making individual decisions
Completing the clinical picture
(eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome)
Searching for causes

16
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Measures of Disease
Frequency

17

Tools of Measurement:
Ratio:

relation in size between two

random quantities (x : y )

Proportion:

Numerator is always part

of denominator.
Rates: comprises the numerator,
denominator, time specification and
multiplier.
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Outcome of interest:

18

Morbidity
Mortality
Disability

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Morbidity Frequency
Measures

Describe the presence of disease in a

population, or the probability (risk) of its
occurrence.

References:

Principles of epidemiology, 3rd edition.

Dr.Khalides PPT