Epidemiology:

 Study
Study of
of the
the occurrence
occurrence and
and distribution
distribution of
of
health
health conditions
conditions such
such asas disease,
disease, death,
death,
deformities,
deformities, or
or disabilities
disabilities of
of human
human
populations
populations
 Nurse
Nurse measures
measures frequency
frequency andand
distribution
distribution of
of health
health conditions
conditions using
using
VITAL
VITAL STATISTICAL
STATISTICAL INDICES
INDICES
 Used
Used toto analyze
analyze different
different factors
factors that
that
contribute
contribute to
to disease
disease development
development
 Epidemiology rests on two important
concepts:

1. Multiple Causation Theory

2. Levels of prevention of health problems
 Multiple Causation Theory
“ Disease development does not rest on a
single cause.”

 There are 3 models to explain the theory:

1. The Wheel
2. The Web
3. The Ecologic Triad (most helpful to the
nurse)
 The Ecologic Triad

AGENT
ENVIRONMENT -Any element, substance or
-sum total of all external force, animate or inanimate,
conditions and influences: presence or absence of
Physical, Biological, which may serve as stimulus
Socio-economic to initiate/ perpetuate a disease
process.

HOST
-any organism that harbors and
nourishes another organism
-characteristics of host will affect
its susceptibility or resistance
 The three elements of the triad interact
with one another in an attempt to
maintain an equilibrium.
 Any major change in any one of the
factors may bring about a disturbance in
the equilibrium provoking the appearance
of a health problem.
 Levels of Prevention of Health
Problems
“Promoting health and preventing health
problems make up most of the nurse’s
activity in the community. Prevention
refers to identification of potential
problems and further eradication or
minimization of disability in a population-
at-risk to a NEGATIVE EXPOSURE
FACTOR.
 1. Primary Prevention
 Directed to the healthy population
 Prevention of emergence of risk factors
 Interventions before agent enters host
 Aims to strengthen host resistance,
inactivate the agent, interrupt the chain
 Health promotion activities: provision of
proper nutrition, safe water supply and
waste disposal system, vector control,
healthy lifestyle and good personal habits
 2. Secondary Prevention
 Aims to identify and treat existing health
problems at the earliest possible time
 Interventions: screening, case-finding,
disease surveillance, prompt and
appropriate treatment
 Disease prevention: health teaching on
risk factors and health risk behaviors that
contribute to development of disease
 3. Tertiary Prevention
 Limits disability progression
 Nurse attempts to reduce magnitude or
severity of the residual effects
“in explaining the interrelationship of factors
that bring about community health
problems, epidemiological approach is
being used, specifically DESCRIPTIVE
EPIDEMIOLOGY.”
 Descriptive Epidemiology
 Aims to describe the occurrence of health
conditions in the community in terms of person,
place and time characteristics.
 Various aspects involved in descriptive
epidemiology include:
1. Observation and recording of existing patterns
of occurrence of health conditions
2. Description of the condition as to person,
place and time characteristics
3. Analysis of the general pattern of occurrence