Epidemiology is defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states in populations. It differs from clinical medicine in that it focuses on groups rather than individuals and uses quantitative tools to study communities. Epidemiology has many uses including healthcare management by making community diagnoses, understanding disease processes, guiding public health practice through disease investigation and surveillance, and informing clinical practice and research through evaluating treatments and assessing effectiveness of diagnostic procedures. Overall, epidemiology provides essential population-level insights that aid in healthcare planning, policy development, and clinical decision-making.
4. Definition
The study of frequency ,distribution and
determinants of disease and health related
states and events and application of
knowledge in prevention ,control and
mitigation of these problem
5. Epidemiology was born before
clinical medicine
400 B C –Hippocrates occurrence of human disease to
environment.
1747 -James lind treatment of scurvy by oranges.
1768 -Edward Jenner - Small pox vaccine.
1850 - Semmel weis puerperal sepsis – hand washing.
1853 – John snow control of cholera epidemic.
1950s -Doll and hill smoking causes lung cancer.
6. Major Break through of
epidemilogy today
Where only preventive methods have work in
controlling the disease
HIV/AIDS
Preventive recommendations promiscuity
,needle sharing and other
7. Uses of Epidemiology
Classify
1.
In Health care Management
2.
Understanding disease process
3.
In public health practice
4.
In clinical and preventive practice
8. In Health care Management
Making Community diagnosis
Take
in account socio demographic data
Quantifying
and summarizing
9. Epidemiology Vs Clinical
Medicine
Clinical medicine
Focus is on an
individual
Physician Uses Lab
tools for diagnosis
Epidemiology
Does not take other
factors in account
Does not form
assumptions
Does not help in policy
formulation
Not a quantitative
Focus is on Group
Epidemiologist uses
quantitative tool for
community diagnosis
Takes into account all
factors which cause
disease
Form assumptions or
hypothesis
Helps in Public health
policy formulation
Quantitative and
qualitative science
13. Planning and evaluation of health
service
Accurate information socio demo profile,the
diseases,health facilities .
Evaluation of a programme for its impact
15. Understanding the disease
process
Study of natural history of diseases. Ex HIV
Search for causes and risk factors of disease.
Historic study of rise and fall of diseases. Ex
plague, influenza, Lung cancer
To identify syndromes.
Association of two or more symptoms more frequently
16. Uses in Public Health practice
Investigation of epidemic.
Surveillance for diseases.
Making projections.
Assessing the programme for mass screening for
diseases.
Assisting in formulating medical teaching
curriculum
17. Uses in clinical research
Indispensable science for clinical research
Assessment of effectiveness of various treatment
modalities.
One drug is better for treatment than other
Assessing prognosis.
Assessing the effectiveness of Diagnostic procedures.
One diagnostic procedure is more effective