Epidemiological data and demographic data Introduction What is epidemiology: Epidemiology is the study and investigation of the distribution and causes of disease. Evaluatio

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Epidemiological data and demographic data

Introduction

What is epidemiology:

               Epidemiology is the study and investigation of the distribution and causes of disease. Evaluations of distributions of a disease may include the investigation of geographical distributions, and in toxic tort personal injury claims, where epidemiological studies are important and necessary, the studies are used to evaluate whether exposures to specific chemicals or products are risk factors for the development of the disease. Epidemiology does not establish causation per se between an individuals exposure and their disease, but the discipline helps in identifying and understanding risk factors that may have an inference of association with the disease.


Study designs

             There are a variety of different epidemiological study designs. Some studies follow people though time, evaluating those exposed to a risk factor and comparing them for disease outcome with similarly matched people who are not exposed. Other study designs look at populations of people at a point in time, and evaluating the disease outcome. Retrospective study designs go back in time and follow persons exposed in a particular activity to evaluate patterns and disease outcome. Regardless of the particular study design, epidemiological studies are important for identifying, evaluating and understanding risk factors that may be associated with a disease.

Definition of Epidemiology

 

              Epidemiology consists of a complex set of concepts, definitions, and analytic procedures. Many persons cannot grasp the field because they encounter it with inadequate preparation. Vander plank has called epidemiology the science of disease in populations. The important point is that epidemiology puts its emphasis on population phenomena. (1) 

 (The branch of medicine that deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations.)(2)

(…branch of medical science that studies the distribution of disease in human populations and the factors determining that distribution, chiefly by the use of statistics. Unlike other medical disciplines, epidemiology concerns itself with groups of people rather than individual patients and is frequently retrospective, or historical, in nature. It developed…)(3)

Epidemiology and demographic Data

        Data is the systematic collection of  information from which conclusions may be drawn . Main purpose of collecting data is to conduct a program evaluation. Evaluation is a process of systematically measuring success

based on program goals and objectives.• Purpose of evaluation is to inform and   improve program activities and provide better services .

Importance of the study

            The study of epidemiology serves at least two purposes. It has a scientific, or intellectual, role and a very practical role . Epidemiology as a science under girds the technology of disease management.

  1. epidemiology &plant disease management,by Jan C.Zadoks &Richard D. Schein from Oxford university press 1979 p. 4 .
  2. .

       (3)

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           Both kinds of study are useful, the first yielding understanding of the behavior of disease in time and space and the second using that understanding to regulate disease. This book is constructed with scientific building blocks. But, from the beginning, the uses of concepts to understand and control disease are emphasized, often through examples. As we progress, more attention is paid to practical matters.

Fields of the study

                This science can tackle man, plant or animal epidemic phenomenon through a limited course of time.

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