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Epidemiological Studies (Lecture 2) - Coggle Diagram
Epidemiological Studies (Lecture 2)
1. Introduction
Goal:
Measure the relationship between exposure and disease/outcome
Steps:
Define hypothesis → Choose appropriate study design
2. Types of Epidemiological Studies (by Objective)
A. Observational Studies
No intervention; simply observe and analyze
I. Descriptive Epidemiology
Purpose:
Describe the situation (how many? where? to whom?)
Uses:
Analyze data from disease surveillance systems
Understand disease distribution by:
Person:
age, sex, race, education, income
Place:
geography, climate, environment, healthcare services
Time:
temporal trends in disease occurrence
Importance:
Generate hypotheses
Plan health resources
Study Designs:
Case report
Case-series
Cross-sectional (prevalence)
Ecological studies
II. Analytic Epidemiology
Purpose:
Test hypotheses and establish causal relationships (why? how to prevent?)
Requires:
A comparison group (control group)
Causation Models:
Epidemiologic Triad:
agent – Host – Environmenta
Web of Causation:
Interconnected network of contributing factors
B. Experimental Studies
Purpose:
Intervene on exposure and measure impact on health outcomes
Types:
Clinical trials
Field trials
Community trials
3. Determinants of Health
Personal Characteristics:
Self-awareness, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, communication skills, problem-solving
Social Determinants of Health:
Income, education, employment, physical environment, social support, culture
Healthcare System:
Primary care, secondary care, tertiary care
Community Factors:
Access to healthcare services, cultural beliefs, environmental quality
4. Place Characteristics (Geographic Variation)
Geographic location:
Climate, industry
Environmental sustainability:
Resources, environmental standards
Economic environment:
Income, employment opportunities
Cultural factors:
Traditions, values
Availability of health services
5. Examples of Study Designs
Case report
Description of a rare case
Case-series
A group of similar cases
Cross-sectional
Prevalence of smoking in a region
Ecological
Association between pollution and disease