USES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

Dr Deodatt M Suryawanshi .(Asst Prof CM)

Learning objectives

Define epidemiology Differences between clinical medicine vs

Epidemiology Uses of epidemiology Apply in daily use

Derivation of word

Greek term Epi – upon , Demos – population logos – scientific study

Definition

The study of frequency ,distribution and determinants of disease and health related states and events and application of knowledge in prevention ,control and mitigation of these problem

Epidemiology was born before clinical medicine

400 B C –Hippocrates occurrence of human disease to environment.

1747 -James lind treatment of scurvy by oranges.

1768 -Edward Jenner - Small pox vaccine.

1850 - Semmel weis puerperal sepsis – hand washing.

1853 – John snow control of cholera epidemic.

1950s -Doll and hill smoking causes lung cancer.

Major Break through of epidemilogy today

Where only preventive methods have work in controlling the disease

HIV/AIDS

Preventive recommendations promiscuity ,needle sharing and other

Uses of Epidemiology

Classify

1. In Health care Management

2. Understanding disease process

3. In public health practice

4. In clinical and preventive practice

In Health care Management

Making Community diagnosis

Take in account socio demographic data

Quantifying and summarizing

Epidemiology Vs Clinical Medicine

Focus is on an individual Physician Uses Lab tools

for diagnosis

Does not take other factors in account

Does not form assumptions

Does not help in policy formulation

Not a quantitative science

Focus is on Group Epidemiologist uses

quantitative tool for community diagnosis

Takes into account all factors which cause disease

Form assumptions or hypothesis

Helps in Public health policy formulation

Quantitative and qualitative science

Clinical medicine Epidemiology

Example of Community diagnosis

Planning and evaluation of health service

Accurate information socio demo

profile,the diseases,health facilities .

Evaluation of a programme for its impact

Developing health policies

Community diagnosis

Policies

Understanding the disease process

Study of natural history of diseases. Ex HIV

Search for causes and risk factors of disease.

Historic study of rise and fall of diseases. Ex plague,

influenza, Lung cancer

To identify syndromes.

Association of two or more symptoms more frequently

Uses in Public Health practice Investigation of epidemic.

Surveillance for diseases.

Making projections.

Assessing the programme for mass screening for diseases.

Assisting in formulating medical teaching curriculum

Uses in clinical research

Indispensable science for clinical research

Assessment of effectiveness of various treatment

modalities.

One drug is better for treatment than other

Assessing prognosis.

Assessing the effectiveness of Diagnostic procedures.

One diagnostic procedure is more effective

Guiding clinical decision.

Take home message….

Epidemiology is indispensible to clinical medicine.

Thanks