BASIC EPIDEMIOLOGY (Introduction to Public Health)

BASIC EPIDEMIOLOGY

1. Basic Epidemiology: Understanding the Science of Public Health Anjum Yaqoob MPhil Public Health

2. What is Epidemiology? The study of how diseases spread and affect populations Core science of public health Investigates patterns, causes, and effects of health conditions Combines medical knowledge with statistical analysis Can you think of any recent global health events where epidemiology played a crucial role?

3. Key Concepts in Epidemiology Incidence: Number of new cases in a population over time Prevalence: Total number of cases in a population at a given time Morbidity: Rate of disease in a population Mortality: Death rate in a population How might these concepts be used to track the progress of a disease outbreak?

4. Types of Epidemiological Studies Observational studies: Researchers observe without intervention 1. Cohort studies 2. Case-control studies 3. Cross-sectional studies Experimental studies: Researchers intervene and study effects 1. Randomized controlled trials Which type of study do you think would be most appropriate for studying long-term effects of a new medication?

5. The Epidemiological Triangle A model for understanding disease transmission Three components: 1. Agent: The cause of the disease (e.g., virus, bacteria) 2. Host: The organism harboring the disease 3. Environment: External factors influencing disease spread How might changes in one component affect the others?

6. Measures of Association Relative Risk (RR): Compares risk between exposed and unexposed groups Odds Ratio (OR): Compares odds of exposure in cases vs. controls Attributable Risk (AR): Excess risk due to exposure Population Attributable Risk (PAR): Proportion of disease in the population due to exposure Can you think of a real-world example where these measures might be used?

7. Bias and Confounding Bias: Systematic error in study design or execution Selection bias Information bias Recall bias Confounding: When an extraneous variable affects the relationship between exposure and outcome How might researchers attempt to minimize these issues in their studies?

8. Screening and Surveillance Screening: Identifying unrecognized disease in asymptomatic individuals Surveillance: Ongoing, systematic collection and analysis of health data Important for early detection and prevention of disease spread What are some ethical considerations in implementing widespread screening programs?

9. Epidemiological Transition Shift in population health patterns over time Three stages: 1. Age of Pestilence and Famine 2. Age of Receding Pandemics 3. Age of Degenerative and Man-Made Diseases How might a country's development status affect its position in this transition?

10. Outbreak Investigation Systematic approach to identifying and controlling disease outbreaks Steps include: 1. Confirming the outbreak 2. Defining and identifying cases 3. Describing cases by time, place, and person 4. Developing and testing hypotheses 5. Implementing control measures Can you think of a recent disease outbreak and how these steps might have been applied?

11. Epidemiology and Public Policy Epidemiological findings inform public health policies Examples: Smoking bans Vaccination programs Food safety regulations How might epidemiological evidence be used to address current public health challenges?

12. The Role of Technology in Epidemiology Big data analytics for disease pattern recognition Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial analysis Mobile health apps for data collection and disease tracking Artificial Intelligence for predictive modeling How do you think these technologies might shape the future of epidemiology?

13. Ethical Considerations in Epidemiology Balancing individual privacy with public health needs Ensuring informed consent in studies Addressing health disparities and equity issues Communicating findings responsibly to avoid panic or stigmatization What ethical dilemmas might an epidemiologist face during a pandemic?

14. Global Health and Epidemiology International collaboration in disease surveillance and control Role of organizations like WHO in coordinating global health efforts Challenges of conducting epidemiological studies across diverse populations How might epidemiology contribute to achieving global health equity?

15. Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases Focus on chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes Risk factor identification and intervention Long-term cohort studies for understanding disease progression How does the epidemiology of these diseases differ from infectious diseases?

16. Environmental Epidemiology Studies the impact of environmental factors on human health Investigates effects of pollution, climate change, and occupational hazards Challenges in measuring long-term, low-level exposures Can you think of an environmental health issue in your community that might benefit from epidemiological study?

17. Epidemiology in the Era of Precision Medicine Integration of genetic and molecular data into epidemiological studies Personalized risk assessment and intervention strategies Challenges in data privacy and interpretation How might precision medicine change our approach to disease prevention and control?

18. The Future of Epidemiology Emerging challenges: climate change, antibiotic resistance, emerging zoonotic diseases Opportunities: advanced data analytics, real-time surveillance systems, interdisciplinary collaboration Potential for predictive epidemiology and proactive health interventions What skills do you think future epidemiologists will need to address these challenges and opportunities?

19. Careers in Epidemiology Academic research Government agencies (CDC, WHO) Pharmaceutical industry Non-profit organizations Healthcare systems Which of these career paths interests you most, and why?

20. Conclusion: The Impact of Epidemiology Key role in improving population health Informs evidence-based public health policies and interventions Continues to evolve with new technologies and global challenges How do you see epidemiology shaping our response to future health crises?