Lecture Series for M.

Sc Nursing Students
Epidemiology-Scope and
Approaches

Dr.Jamal Masood
Professor
Community Medicine & Public Health
King George’s Medical University Lucknow
 Overview of Epidemiology
• Epidemiology is the science and practice which describes and explains disease
patterns in populations, and puts this knowledge to use to improve health

• The central paradigm of epidemiology is that patterns of disease in populations

may be analysed systematically to provide understanding of the causes and
control of disease

• Epidemiology seeks out the differences and similarities ('compare and contrast')
in the disease patterns of populations to gain new knowledge

• Valid measurement of the frequency of disease and factors which may influence
disease, and are therefore potential explanations for the observed patterns, is
crucial to the epidemiological goal
 Uses of Epidemiology
• Understanding of what causes or
sustains disease in populations

• Preventing and controlling disease in

populations

• Guiding health and health care policy

and planning

• Assisting in the management and care

of health and disease in individuals
 The scope of Epidemiology as a science
• Epidemiology is particularly relevant to medicine rather than laboratory science,
but the increasing collaboration between geneticists and epidemiologists is
changing the balance

• Epidemiology is concerned with disease in populations. Humans live in

societies, where behaviour and attitudes are shaped by interaction among
people, which in turn are governed by the conventions and laws. Epidemiology
is, therefore not only a bio-science but also a social science.

• Populations exist in a physical environment which is a dominant force in

determining health. The study of life in relation to the environment is ecology,
so epidemiology is, in addition, the science of the ecology of disease.

• The science of epidemiology, therefore, combines elements of biology, social

sciences and ecology - a bio-social-environmental science focusing on
disease in populations.
Epidemiological Approaches
• Descriptive epidemiology:
– What is the problem?
– Who is involved
– Where
– When
• Analytical epidemiology:
– Attempts to analyze the causes or
determinants of disease
• Intervention or experimental epidemiology:
– Clinical or community trials are used to answer
questions about effectiveness of control
measures
Epidemiological Approaches
• Based on 2 major foundations
----- Questions
----- Comparisons
1. Asking Questions
A . Related to Health Events
a. What is the event ? (the problem)
b. What is its magnitude ?
c. Where did it happen ? (place)
d. When did it happen ? (time)
e. Who are affected ? (person)
f. Why did it happen ?
Epidemiological Approaches
B . Related to Health Action
a. What can be done to reduce this problem ?
b. How can it be prevented in the future ?
c. What action should be taken ?
d. What resources are required ?
e. What difficulties may arise and how might they
be overcome ?
Epidemiological Approaches
2. Making Comparisons

• Comparison of two or more groups/individuals –

one group having the disease(or exposed to risk
factor) and the other group not having the
disease (not exposed to risk factor)

• Ensure comparability between study and control

groups (Matching)
THANK YOU