Lesson - Revision of Epidemiology

Revision of Epidemiology

Year 12 PDHPE

What is the role of epidemiology?

• We measure health status through data and information collection. The study of this is called epidemiology.

• To identify health priority issues, it is necessary to understand the health status (or the pattern of health over a period of time) of the population and its subgroups.

  
  

  
  

Epidemiology LOOKS 👀 at 4 indicators in population groups...

• Prevalence – number of cases at a specific time

• Incidence – number of NEW cases

• Distribution – the extent

• Apparent Causes – determinants and indicators

The ROLE of epidemiology is to...

• Compare patterns

• Identify needs

• Allocate resources evenly

• Evaluate strategies for control and prevention

• Promote positive health behaviours

What doesn't epidemiology tell us?

Variations between subgroups 

Doesn’t accurately indicate the level of distress / impairment / disability / handicap

May not provide the whole health picture (eg. Data on mental health is often incomplete)

Doesn’t account for the health determinants ( social, economic, environmental, cultural)

Recording of data could be inconsistent

Open Ended

What is the role of epidemiology?

Open Ended

What 4 indicators does epidemiology look at?

Multiple Choice

Prevalence is.......

• the way we measure epidemiology

• the number of new cases in a period of time

• epidemiological data that shows current trends

• existing cases in a defined population at a given time

Measures of Epidemiology

What are they?

Mortality

• Refers to death rates

• How many people died, how they died, and over what period.

• Expressed as ‘deaths per 100,000

Morbidity

• Refers to rates of illness and disease. 

• Prevalence - describes the number of existing cases of a condition. 

• Incidence - describes the number of new cases of a condition. 

Life Expectancy

• Refers to the average number of years of predicted life.  (2019 data - Women 84.6, Men 80.5)

Infant Mortality

• Refers to the number of deaths that occur during the first year of life. (per 1000 live births)

• Infant mortality is considered to be an important indicator to the health status of a population. 

Multiple Choice

infant mortality can be defined as 

• the incidence or level of illness or sickness in a given population
• refers to the number of infant deaths in the number of deaths in the first year of life, per 1000 live births
• refers to the number of deaths in a given population from a particular cause and/or over a period of time
• refers to the average number of years of a life remaining to a person at a particular age, based on the current death rates

Multiple Choice

life expectancy can be defined as 

• the incidence or level of illness or sickness in a given population
• refers to the number of infant deaths in the number of deaths in the first year of life, per 1000 live births
• refers to the number of deaths in a given population from a particular cause and/or over a period of time
• refers to the average number of years of a life remaining to a person at a particular age, based on the current death rates

Multiple Choice

Mortality can be defined as 

• the incidence or level of illness or sickness in a given population
• refers to the number of infant deaths in the number of deaths in the first year of life, per 1000 live births
• refers to the number of deaths in a given population from a particular cause and/or over a period of time
• refers to the average number of years of a life remaining to a person at a particular age, based on the current death rates

Multiple Choice

morbidity can be defined as 

• the incidence or level of illness or sickness in a given population
• refers to the number of infant deaths in the number of deaths in the first year of life, per 1000 live births
• refers to the number of deaths in a given population from a particular cause and/or over a period of time
• refers to the average number of years of a life remaining to a person at a particular age, based on the current death rates

Multiple Choice

Measures of epidemiology include....

• morality, trends, extent, incidence

• infant mortality, mortality, morbidity, life expectancy

• prevalence and incidence

• trends, life expectancy, mortality, morbidity

Leading Causes of Death

5 Leading Cause of Death (LCD) for all Australians

5 Leading Causes of Death for Australian Females

• Dementia

• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

• Cerebrovascular disease (stroke)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (lung disease. Main cause is smoking)

• Lung Cancer

5 Leading Causes of Death for Australian Males

• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

• Lung Cancer

• Dementia

• Cerebrovascular disease (stroke)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (lung disease. Main cause is smoking)

Open Ended

Why would coronary heart disease be declining?

Measures of Epidemiology – Who uses them?

• Epidemiological data and information about population health can be used by a variety of people and agencies as evidence to improve their decision-making, planning and implementation of health programs and strategies. 

  
  

  
  

Complete...

• Current trends on life expectancy, infant mortality

• Complete activity 1-3 on epidemiological trends in Australia

• Copy differences in health status by gender

Practice Exam Question

Compulsory. Hand written.

What is the role of epidemiology and outline some of it's shortcomings (4 marks)