Difference between revisions of "Epidemiology"
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"the study of what is upon the people", is derived from the Greek terms epi = upon, among; demos = people, district; logos = study, word, discourse; suggesting that it applies only to human populations. But the term is widely used in studies of zoological populations (veterinary epidemiology), although the term 'epizoology' is available, and it has also been applied to studies of plant populations (botanical epidemiology). | "the study of what is upon the people", is derived from the Greek terms epi = upon, among; demos = people, district; logos = study, word, discourse; suggesting that it applies only to human populations. But the term is widely used in studies of zoological populations (veterinary epidemiology), although the term 'epizoology' is available, and it has also been applied to studies of plant populations (botanical epidemiology). | ||
| − | *Date: circa [ | + | *Date: circa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1860] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1 : a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population | *1 : a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population | ||
*2 : the sum of the factors controlling the presence or absence of a disease or pathogen | *2 : the sum of the factors controlling the presence or absence of a disease or pathogen | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | '''Epidemiology''' is the [[study]] of factors affecting the [[health]] and illness of [[populations]], and serves as the [[foundation]] and [[logic]] of interventions made in the interest of [ | + | '''Epidemiology''' is the [[study]] of factors affecting the [[health]] and illness of [[populations]], and serves as the [[foundation]] and [[logic]] of interventions made in the interest of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Health public health] and preventive [[medicine]]. It is considered a cornerstone [[methodology]] of public health [[research]], and is highly regarded in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medicine evidence-based medicine] for identifying risk factors for [[disease]] and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical [[practice]]. In the study of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the [[work]] of epidemiologists ranges from outbreak investigation to study [[design]], [[data]] collection and [[analysis]] including the [[development]] of [[Mathematical model|statistical models]] to test hypotheses and the documentation of results for submission to [[peer]]-reviewed journals. Epidemiologists also study the interaction of diseases in a [[population]], a condition known as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndemic syndemic]. Epidemiologists rely on a [[number]] of other [[scientific]] [[disciplines]], such as [[biology]] (to better understand disease processes), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_Information_Science Geographic Information Science] (to store [[data]] and map disease [[patterns]]) and [[social science]] disciplines (to better understand proximate and distal risk factors).[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiology] |
[[Category: Health]] | [[Category: Health]] | ||
[[Category: Biology]] | [[Category: Biology]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:15, 13 December 2020
Etymology
Late Latin epidemia + International Scientific Vocabulary -logy
"the study of what is upon the people", is derived from the Greek terms epi = upon, among; demos = people, district; logos = study, word, discourse; suggesting that it applies only to human populations. But the term is widely used in studies of zoological populations (veterinary epidemiology), although the term 'epizoology' is available, and it has also been applied to studies of plant populations (botanical epidemiology).
- Date: circa 1860
Definitions
- 1 : a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population
- 2 : the sum of the factors controlling the presence or absence of a disease or pathogen
Description
Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. It is considered a cornerstone methodology of public health research, and is highly regarded in evidence-based medicine for identifying risk factors for disease and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice. In the study of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the work of epidemiologists ranges from outbreak investigation to study design, data collection and analysis including the development of statistical models to test hypotheses and the documentation of results for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Epidemiologists also study the interaction of diseases in a population, a condition known as a syndemic. Epidemiologists rely on a number of other scientific disciplines, such as biology (to better understand disease processes), Geographic Information Science (to store data and map disease patterns) and social science disciplines (to better understand proximate and distal risk factors).[1]
