Explain the meaning of epidemiology and epidemiological trends
• The meaning of epidemiology
• The meaning of epidemiological trends
• The purposes of epidemiology
• The stages of an epidemiological investigation
• Research methods in epidemiology
• Recent research in epidemiology
• Implications for healthcare professionals
The meaning of epidemiological trends
Epidemiological trends refers to the anticipated number of new people (incidence) who will be diagnosed with a given health problem or disease, and the number of people with an existing diagnosis of the given health problem or disease (prevalence).
The purposes of epidemiology
This section will provide a vocabulary and central concepts to describe the pattern of health and disease in a population and its changes over time. You will need to explain how the causes, risk factors and any contributing or predisposing conditions influence disease, and how these provide the
basis for interventions directed at safeguarding and promoting health, and preventing or overcoming disease and its consequences.
The stages of epidemiological investigation
The stages of epidemiological investigation requires an explanation of diagnosis, investigation, experiment, analysis, intervention, decision making and monitoring. A specific example of a given disease would allow you to show how these stages occurred and their outcomes.
Research methods in epidemiology
This section is best tackled by creating a series of tables.
The first table could compare THREE different types of epidemiological study e.g prospective studies, retrospective case studies, cross sectional studies.
Type of study Prospective studies Retrospective studies Cross sectional studies Key features/best used for?
Strengths
Weaknesses
Then compare TWO different types of data collection methods e.g interviews, questionnaires, measurement, reporting, and link them to the types of studies.
Data collection
Strengths
Weaknesses
Best used in which type of study?
You will need to explain THREE different sampling techniques e.g random sampling, multi-stage sampling, systematic sampling, purposive sampling, stratification, paired sampling, sampling with and without replacement.
Sampling techniques Technique 1 Technique 2 Technique 3
Procedure
Best used in which type of study
Recent research in epidemiology
Identify one recent epidemiological study (last 5 years) and evaluate it (strengths and weaknesses).
You could investigate how data was collected, how large the sample was, and the appropriateness of the type of study for the issue.
Implications for healthcare professionals
Finally, you will refer to your chosen recent study above, and summarise the implications for healthcare professionals e.g should they expect a rise or reduction in cases, how should they prepare.
1. Understand the meaning and purpose of epidemiology
Explain the meaning of epidemiology and epidemiological trends
Summarise the different purposes of epidemiology
2. Understand the epidemiological approach to understanding disease problems. Explain the stages followed in epidemiological investigations.
Compare THREE different types of epidemiological study and TWO methods of obtaining data
Distinguish between THREE different sampling techniques in epidemiological studies
3. Know about epidemiological trends, news and research. Evaluate ONE recent epidemiological study and summarise the implications for healthcare professionals
