Question

1. Discuss four uses of epidemiology. For each use, give examples that were not mentioned in the textbook. Rank the uses according to their importance for public health.

Answer 1

Uses of Epidemiology:

Epidemiology is a branch of science that dealing with the spread and control of diseases, viruses , bacterias , conepts etc throughout the populations or systems. The term Epidemiology came from the Greek words; 'Epi' means upon and 'demos' means population and 'logos' means study. Literally Epidemiology means ' the study of what is upon the people ' . Epidemiology is different from clinical medicine and is born before clinical medicine.  

Uses of Epidemiology:

Epidemiology forms the  corner stone of the public health by assisting in identifying the risk factors and distribution of ( who, where, when ) diseases , also assists in preventive health care . The major uses of Epidemiology with specific examples are:

* Helps in making Community diagnosis :

When an endemic or epidemic occur, Epidemiology mainly focuses on groups rather than individual and it take into account all the factors which causes the disease. Through quantifying and summarizing the data, Epidemiology helps the Healthcare management to make the community diagnosis.

Example: On 1854 , Chloera attacked England. John Snow done an investigation about the distribution, causes of the disease and published a summary of investigation . The details like origin of place , number of deaths, the distance it covered all assisted the Healthcare sector to make a community diagnosis.  

* Helps in planning and evaluating the health services : After the community diagnosis, the Healthcare authority can well plan the management strategies and iniate preventive measures.  

After John Snow's publication on the investigation of cholera , also the recommendations for prevention , the Government of England initiated strategies to treat Cholera and initiated the preventive measures.

* Facilitate the understanding of disease process: Epidemiology studies about the disease process ; its causative factors , symptoms, mode of transmission , preventive measures.

Example: One can obtain the details of various diseases; Causes, risk factors, mode of transmission and historic concept of the diseases Plague, influenza , lung cancer etc.

* Largely helps in clinical research : Epidemiology greatly helps in clinical research by assisting in the assessment of effectiveness of various treatment modalities , prognosis ans also in assisting the effectiveness of Diagnostic procedures.  

example: Clinical Research to find out the relationship between matrnal smoking and infant's lung problems.

Relationship between Obesity and heart disease by analysing the prevalence and incidence rate of Heart diseases among population.  

Uses on Rank wise:

Helps in making Community diagnosis

Helps in Understanding the disease process

Helps in planning and evaluating health services

Assists in clinical research