Uses of epidemiology – This book covers the entire syllabus of “Community Health Nursing” prescribed by the Universities of Bangladesh- for Basic and diploma nursing students. We tried to accommodate the latest information and topics.
This book is an examination-friendly setup according to the teachers’ lectures and examination questions. At the end of the book previous university questions are given. We hope in touch with the book students’ knowledge will be upgraded and flourish. The unique way of presentation may make your reading of the book a pleasurable experience.
Uses of epidemiology
Uses of epidemiology:
➤ To study historically the rise and fall of disease in the population.
➤ Community diagnosis
➤ Planning and evaluation.
➤ Evaluation of individual’s risks and chances
➤ Syndrome identification
➤ Completing the natural history of disease
➤ Searching for causes and risk factors
(Ref: K Park/26/99, 7611)
Epidemiological approach
Epidemiology approach:
Epidemiological approach is defined as the investigation of disease problems. We also implied that such investigations usually have the basic objectives of describing and quantifying disease problems and examining associated between determinants and disease.
[Ref: www.fao.org.com/]
Different kinds of approach in epidemiological study:
Epidemiological approach to the problems of health and disease is based on-
a) Asking questions
b) Making comparison
A) Asking questions:
Related to health events:
✔ What is the event? (the problem)
✔ What is its magnitude?
✔ Where did it happen?
✔ When did it happen?
✔ Who are affected?
✔ Why did it happen?
Related to health action:
✔ What can be done to reduce this problem and its consequences?
✔ How can it be prevented in the future?
✔ What action should be taken by the community? / By the health services? / By other sectors? Where and for whom these activities be carried out?
✔ What resources are required? How are the activities to be organized? ✓ What difficulties may arise, and how might they be overcome?
B) Making comparison:
The comparison may be between two groups-
One group having disease and another group no having the disease.
| Points | Group:1 Atherosclerosis(case) | Group:2 No Atherosclerosis(control) |
| HTN | Present | Absent |
| Smoking | Present | Absent |
| Lipid rich diet | Present | Absent |
| Sex | Mostly male | Mostly female |
| Age | More | Less |
| Personality | Type A | Type B |
Thus, epidemiological study can find out the etiology of disease form such comparison.
[Ref: K Park/26/761-62]
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