Question

Research public article evaluating a public health intervention. choose one article and discuss the framework, methodology, procedure and finding. Discuss the importance of evaluation framework in the context

Answer 1

Epidemiology

Introduction

It is the branch of medical science which deals with the cause and spread of infectious diseases such as epidemic diseases and various non-disease health-related conditions such as high blood pressure, depression, and obesity. Epidemiologists, healthcare workers, and other professionals participate in the research and surveillance work to find the cause of various epidemic and nonepidemic diseases. This research of various healthcare individuals can impact environmental issues, child and maternal health, substance abuse, and other wide variety of public health issues.

Framework

Epidemiological researches are conducted in a certain community or in a limited geographical region that has reported the spread of a certain disease. Researches are based on various health-related issues reported by individuals within a particular community. Epidemiologists visit such communities and ask questions and make observations based on location, time, incident patterns. The purpose of such interrogations is to estimate the spread and prevalence of the disease and whether the disease is affected by time, location, or gender.

The framework is designed keeping these few factors in mind. Note that every working model might not be the same because conditions can vary and the cause and spread of disease can also vary due to various reasons. The factors on which framework depends on:

• To predict the invasion of a new pathogen or race.
• To predict the consequences of control strategies on (invasion and persistence)
• To predict the risk of disease.

Methodology

The basic approach is to make comparisons by dividing the population into two sections based on areas in which the spread is more and others in which the spread is less. These groups should be divided on such grounds that they can be compared to one another. The groups should be based on a certain common factor such as an age group or a particular gender. By doing this, The cause and spread of disease could be understood well enough to design a working model on how to eradicate the disease and stop its spread to new locations.

Procedure

• Investigation of the problem: Epidemiologists collect samples on ill patients and conduct tests to try and figure out what the disease is. Is it some new disease or an old one. Samples are collected based on location and gender and tests of healthy/noninfected people are also conducted to draw comparisons.
• Investigation of Population: Suppose the population in which the research is being conducted, The affected population has more men than women. So analysis can be made based on this.
• Review of literature: Incase the community had previously reported a spread of disease. The epidemiologists could take notes on how the disease was controlled and eradicated. This study could help the workers to assess the population and how to work towards the goal.
• Design of study: This is done to determine whether the research is going to be conducted based on previously recorded data or new research has to be conducted which could happen because not all diseases have the same causation and the severity of spread might be also different.
• Collection of data: Questions are asked to the people in the community related to health, incidents reported, and previous medical history. Laboratory tests and examinations also help in determining the nature of the disease.

The analysis is done based on the data collected from questioning and lab reports, after which the working model is designed and an action plan is introduced to contain the spread of the disease and how to provide care to the people.

Findings

Findings are based on the tests conducted and interrogation done. The findings are dependent on

1. Personal characteristics such as age, sex, race, marital status, occupation
2. The geographical area of high concentration.
3. Time of spread such as year, season, month, week, day, and hour.

An evaluation framework is a tool used to organize and link data sources, questions, and outcomes and outputs of these evaluation questions.

The evaluation is important as it helps in improving the application of epidemiological researches to better assess the situations. The evaluation study should be precise and should focus on the spread of the disease, origin, and what's causing the disease. Expert review groups that evaluate the findings and research should maintain a healthy communication system with the citizens, stakeholders, and other healthcare professionals. This is often neglected which leads to potiential conclusions to be misunderstood and mistruted by people.