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What is the study of epidemiology?

What is the study of epidemiology?

By definition, epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global).

What is the study of disease in humans called?

The study of disease is called pathology, which includes the study of etiology, or cause.

What is the strongest study design?

A well-designed randomized controlled trial, where feasible, is generally the strongest study design for evaluating an intervention’s effectiveness.

What are the two main goals of epidemiology?

Aims of Epidemiology There are two groups of aims: first, to describe the distribution, the pattern, and the natural history of disease in the general population, and second, to identify factors that may be causal in a disease process, and to evaluate strategies for the control, management, and prevention of a disease.

What are the 3 major types of epidemiological studies?

Three major types of epidemiologic studies are cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies (study designs are discussed in more detail in IOM, 2000). A cohort, or longitudinal, study follows a defined group over time.

What is the weakest study design?

As the exposure status/outcome of interest information is collected in a single moment in time, often by surveys, cross-sectional study design cannot provide a cause-effect relationship and is the weakest of the observational designs.

What is the aim of epidemiology?

The principal aim of epidemiology is to identify factors related to the occurrence of disease. Identification of these factors both causal ( causation) and risk factors, enable developing a rational basis for prevention ( epidemiology, prevention).

What is the best study design?

Hierarchy of Evidence

Clinical question Suggested best study design
Clinical Exam prospective, blind comparison to gold standard
Diagnosis prospective, blind comparison to a gold standard
Therapy RCT > cohort > case control > case series
Prevention RCT > cohort study > case control > case series