describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices

Equal rates of change in time (e.g., a 10% decrease/year) will yield misleading, divergent lines on an arithmetic plot; a logarithmic scale will yield parallel lines. By the middle of the 20th Century, additional epidemiologic methods had been developed and applied to chronic diseases, injuries, birth defects, maternal-child health, occupational health, and environmental health. Is the objective to identify factors in the environment that might be causing disease (e.g., elevated lead levels in drinking water)? The difference is that epidemiologists tend to use synonyms for the 5 Ws: diagnosis or health event (what), person (who), place (where), time (when), and causes, risk factors, and modes of transmission (why/how). The Internet survey took more up-front time and resources to prepare but less staff time for data collection and data entry. Have a plan for quality checks during questionnaire administration (if the survey is not computer-based). Rates are normally displayed on area maps (e.g., patch or choropleth). What Is Epidemiology? | NIDCD A title that includes the what, where, and when that identifies the data it introduces. Probability sampling is a better choice for statistical tests and statistical inferences. Strictly speaking, in computing rates, the disease or health event you have counted should have been derived from the specific population used as the denominator. Information about who participants should contact with questions. However, epidemiology also draws on methods from other scientific fields, including biostatistics and informatics, with biologic, economic, social, and behavioral sciences. This puts each stratum on a flat baseline, enabling undistorted comparisons. NRS-440V Week 5 Assignment Combining Nurse Leader With Advocacy. With the advent of personal computers in most households and smartphones in many pockets (23), epidemiologists are evaluating the utility of the Internet and social media as data sources for identifying outbreaks or case finding during outbreak investigations. : Adapted from Ajloun Non-Communicable Disease Project, Jordan, unpublished data, 2017. Epidemiology is a scientific discipline with sound methods of scientific inquiry at its foundation. Epidemiology is data-driven and relies on a systematic and unbiased approach to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Whether the tables or graphs help the investigator understand the data or explain the data in a report or to an audience, their organization should quickly reveal the principal patterns and the exceptions to those patterns. Among 9,422 blood lead tests conducted during April 2013March 2016, 284 (3.0%) BLLs were 5 g/dL or higher; the probability of having BLLs of 5 g/dL or greater was 46% higher during the period after the switch from Detroit Water Authority to FWS than before the switch to FWS. But in the 1960's a possible role for epidemiology in the study of clinical practice emerged. Describe how epidemiological data influences changes Numbers are more easily compared down a column than across a row. HLT-362V DQ 5 12 .docx - Describe how epidemiological data However, epidemiology is not just a research activity but an integral component of public health, providing the foundation for directing practical and appropriate public health action based on this science and causal reasoning.(2). Information specialists can answer your questions in English or Spanish. You might also use spot maps to represent affected villages, towns, or other smaller population units. Local, national, and global health threats are monitored by agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Information about determining whom to select is covered in study design discussions in Chapter 7, but sample size is worth briefly mentioning here. On an arithmetic scale, represent equal numerical units with equal distances on an axis. Since this outbreak was recognized, the epidemic has spread through the mosquito vector as well as through sexual and perinatal transmission to multiple countries and continents around the world. After the initial case, 15 days elapsed until the peak of the first generation of new cases. The counts of incident or prevalent cases can be compared with their historical norm or another expected or target value. The example spot map of a dengue outbreak uses larger dots to represent cases clustered in time and space and numbers these clusters to reference to a table (not shown). In the United States, the legal framework for reporting infectious diseases to public health authorities for investigation and control dates to 1878, when Congress authorized the Public Health Service to collect reports of cholera, smallpox, plague, and yellow fever from consuls overseas to implement quarantine measures to prevent introduction into the United States (6). The last two factors listed in the box will lead to irregular peaks during the progression of the outbreak and precipitous decreases. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. Epidemiology is not just the study of health in a population; it also involves applying the knowledge gained by the studies to community-based practice. For certain conditions, a description by season, month, day of the week, or even time of day can be revealing. See Answer. Solved Describe how epidemiological data influences changes Use spot maps to reveal spatial associations between cases and between cases and geographic features. Use redundant beginning and end points (see Figures 6.9 through 6.14) to visualize the trend between the last and first months of the cycle. The rapid increase, plateau, and precipitous downslope all appeared with a salmonellosis outbreak from cheese distributed to multiple restaurants and then recalled (Figure 6.5). By September, an increased number of infants with microcephaly was reported from Zika virusaffected areas. When using transformed data (e.g., logarithmic, normalized, or ranked), represent equal units of the transformed data with equal distances on the axis. Analysis by other personal attributes in descriptive epidemiology involves comparing rates or other numeric data by different classes of the attribute. Also, the analysis of epidemiological The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. This area also had been affected by an outbreak of dengue fever. WebDescribe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. WebWK-5 DQs DQ-1 Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. The probability of having an elevated BLL when the FWS was the source of water remained after controlling for covariates (e.g., age, race, season). CDC twenty four seven. Avoid using area maps to display case counts. To determine the most efficient means of collecting data, epidemiologists administered a questionnaire using Internet-and telephone-based interview methods to directly compare data regarding response rates, attack rates, and risk factors for illness. Now, with the recent explosion in molecular methods, epidemiologists can make important strides in examining genetic markers of disease risk. Defined as a symptom that improved while away from the facility, either on days off or on vacation. Upright bars in each interval represent the case counts during that interval. Ensure that overlapping spots are distinguishable. Write questions that are clear and use vocabulary understandable to the study population and that contain only one concept. Organize data by magnitude (sort) across rows and down columns. of clinical epidemiology in medical practice Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health Tabulate the frequency of clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings among children with chickenpox in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nonetheless, many epidemiologists still use the term disease as shorthand for the wide range of health-related states and events that are studied. Include a legend or key to clarify map features (e.g., disease cases, rates, and exposures). As a field epidemiologist, you will collect and assess data from field investigations, surveillance systems, vital statistics, or other sources. cDefined as current use of asthma medicine or one or more of the following symptoms during the previous 12 months: wheezing or whistling in the chest, awakening with a feeling of chest tightness, or attack of asthma. Align columns of numbers on the decimal point (or ones column). This arrangement facilitates sorting to reorganize cases by relevant characteristics. Minimize frames, gridlines, and tick marks (610/axis is sufficient) to avoid interference with the data. Compute and plot rates for the smallest area possible. In the healthcare field we use epidemiological data when doing a Epidemiologists working in applied public health have myriad potential data sources available to them. For these larger areas, stratifying the epidemic curves by smaller subunits can reveal the underlying periodicity. Provide an example and explain what data would be necessary to make a change in Thus, incidence divided by an appropriate estimation of the population yields several versions of incidence rates. A data space where the data are organized and displayed to indicate patterns. After the data are organized and displayed, descriptive epidemiology then involves interpreting these patterns, often through comparison with expected (e.g., historical counts, increased surveillance, or output from prevention and control programs) patterns or norms. Second, age is a strong independent determinant for many causes of morbidity and mortality. The downslope can be precipitous if the common source is removed or gradual if it exhausts itself. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Recommend that close contacts of a child recently reported with meningococcal meningitis receive Rifampin, ____ 6. This propagated pattern has four principal characteristics (Box 6.6). The importance of developing a protocol, identifying roles and responsibilities of team members, and documenting all activities and processes should not be underestimated. WebEpidemiological data influences changes in health practices because it estimates the individual chances and risks of disease, and if an individual has a high risk of contracting a certain disease he or she may be forced to change some health practices. Legal considerations, including statutes, rules, and regulations. Vectorborne diseases propagate between an arthropod vector and a vertebrate host. Determine Decisions Regarding Control Measure Implementation, Define The Investigations Objectives And Determine Data Needed, Multistate Outbreak Of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated With Peanut Butter Containing Products, 2008 2009, Zika Virus Infection: An Emerging Vectorborne Disease, Environmental: Childhood Lead Poisoning And Drinking Water, Comparison Of Survey Methods In Norovirus Outbreak Investigation, Develop the Questionnaire or Survey Instrument, Calculate the Sample Size and Select the Sample, Review Legal Authority, Rules, and Policies Governing Data Collection, Issues and Challenges with Data Collection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A description of the purpose of the investigation for participants. Students of journalism are taught that a good news story, whether it be about a bank robbery, dramatic rescue, or presidential candidates speech, must include the 5 Ws: what, who, where, when and why (sometimes cited as why/how). Examples of clinical data sources include medical record abstraction, hospital discharge data (e.g., for cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome) (15), syndromic surveillance systems (16) (e.g., for bloody diarrhea during an Shiga toxinproducing Escherichia coli outbreak) (17), poison control center calls (e.g., exposure to white powder during anthrax-related events) (18), and school and work absenteeism records (e.g., New York City school absenteeism in students traveling to Mexico at the beginning of the influenza A[H1N1] pandemic) (19). If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. An important and potentially time-saving step is to review prior epidemiologic investigations of similar illnesses and, whenever possible, use or adapt existing protocols, including standard data collection approaches and case definitions. New health policies in 1970 and 1995 that broadened coverage of Papanicolaou smear screenings for women were initially followed by steeper decreases and subsequent leveling off of the downward trend. Cases of leptospirosis by week of hospitalization and rainfall in Salvador, Brazil, March 10November 2, 1996. Epidemiologic data are paramount to targeting and implementing evidence-based control measures to protect the publics health and safety. bDays from vaccine dose to illness onset Because age is a pervasive determinant of disease and because population groups often differ in their age structures, age adjustment (standardization) is a useful tool for comparing rates between population groups (17). Pattern refers to the occurrence of health-related events by time, place, and person. Data security, privacy, confidentiality, information technology controls. Cases are customarily organized in a table called a line-listing (Table 6.1) (2). Dots, onset times, case identification numbers for indexing with a line listing, or other symbols might represent disease cases (Box 6.10). WebEpidemiology is concerned with the frequency and pattern of health events in a population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Use six or fewer tick mark labels on the axes. Many an epidemiologist has bemoaned a misinterpreted question, confusing survey formatting, or a missing confounding variable resulting in study questions without meaningful results. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Information was drawn in part from the Surveys and Sampling chapter in the earlier edition of this book (27) and from Designing Clinical Research (28). Provides timely information for decision-makers, the media, the public, and others about ongoing investigations. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. Create multiple maps to indicate associations of cases to different background features to fully communicate the geographic association between disease and exposure. Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health Consider indicating the zero-level separately. Many emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin, so related data are needed. In addition, with the current calls for government transparency and accountability, field epidemiologists might be reluctant to release information too early, thereby risking additional exposures to the suspected source. On maps representing land areas, indicate longitude and latitude and orientation (i.e., by using a northward-pointing arrow). Personal characteristics include demographic factors which may be related to risk of illness, injury, or disability such as age, sex, marital status, and socioeconomic status, as well as behaviors and environmental exposures. We take your privacy seriously. JULY.docx - Describe how epidemiological data influences If using color, use increasing intensities of the same hue. Generally, government public health agencies have the authority to access healthcare system data (with justification). The field epidemiologist must understand the characteristics of the study population and their ability and willingness to respond to various survey methods (e.g., access computers and Internet-based surveys). Often, a periodicity equivalent to the generation period for the agent might be obvious during the initial stages of the outbreak. or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Take-Home Point: This outbreak involved many jurisdictions and evolved over a several months. Also, many epidemiological estimates try to determine how the number of people affected by a disorder changes over time. The averages and dispersions can be displayed in a table or visualized in a box-and-whisker plot that indicates the median, mean, interquartile range, and outliers (Figure 6.1) (5). Use graphic designs that reveal the data from the broad overview to the fine detail. Reported incidence rate of spotted fever rickettsiosis by county: United States, 20002013. Conversely, many new sources of data are opportunities made possible by the expanded use of computer technology by individuals, businesses, and health systems. Small sample size, resulting in inadequate power to detect differences between groups. Collecting data during a field investigation requires the epidemiologist to conduct several activities. Compare the association of cases during these pre-and post-epidemic periods with the main outbreak. Online order forms or electronic grocery receipts may be useful in identifying names of customers to contact to determine illness status. The choice between tables and charts depends on the purpose, the audience, and the complexity of the data. Instructions related to protection of participants (e.g., maintaining confidentiality, data security). These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Study design (e.g., cohort study, casecontrol study). Lack of generalizability because of selection bias, variable participation rates. WebEpidemiological data influences changes in healthcare practices by allowing researchers to explore certain populations and determine distribution and determinants of health, to initiateinformed decisions about the control of health problems (Hannaford & Differentiate them with labels, legends, or keys. This protocol can include the following: Train staff collecting data on the protocol, reviewing instructions carefully and modifying as needed. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. The application period for EIS Class of 2024 is now open through June 5, 2023. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Tables are commonly used for characterizing disease cases or other health events and are ideal for displaying numeric values. For example, understanding the distribution of vectors for each infection and patterns of the diseases in animals is paramount. The urgency of most field investigations requires that the epidemiologist act quickly but thoughtfully. Provide an example and explain what data would be necessary to make a change in practice. Use other intervals (e.g., weeks or days) accordingly. Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. View the full answer Step 2/2 Final answer Previous question Next These are widely dispersed, indicating that they did not acquire their infection from their local environs. Many of these control measures, such as recalling contaminated food products, closing business establishments, recommending antibiotic prophylaxis or vaccination, and requiring isolation of an infectious person, considerably burden individuals, businesses, or the community. An official website of the United States government. Understanding how participants are interpreting and answering questions can enable corrections to the wording before it is too late. Greenwood M.Epidemics and crowd-diseases: an introduction to the study of epidemiology, Oxford University Press; 1935. Therefore, the clinician and the epidemiologist have different responsibilities when faced with a person with illness. Dot and box-and-whisker charts are plotted against a numeric scale and thus do not need a zero level. Scatter plots are versatile instruments for exploring and communicating data. Summarize with average rates, average counts, or totals for all the Januarys, Februarys, and so on for each of the 12 months. For diseases or behaviors spread through personal contact or association, contact diagrams reveal the pattern of spread plus such key details as index cases and outliers. Doing so facilitates data exchange with other systems if the outbreak extends to other jurisdictions. Instructions for recruiting and enrolling participants in the survey, including obtaining consent for participation. Two important qualifications apply to person data assessments. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 (31) has specific language allowing for the use of personal health information by government agencies to perform public health activities. Response rate. Use alternating light shading of rows to assist readers in following data across a table. However, a persons measurements can fluctuate above or below these cutoff values. Source: Adapted from Ajloun Non-Communicable Disease Project, Jordan, unpublished data, 2017. The ability to conduct an epidemiologic field investigation efficiently and effectively depends on understanding the interconnectedness of its parts. Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. TTY: (800) 241-1055nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov, Types of Research Training Funding Opportunities, Research Training in NIDCD Laboratories (Intramural), Congressional Testimony and the NIDCD Budget, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Discovery revives old theory of the origins of hearing loss, Low birth weight linked to communication problems in children, Research finds low hearing aid use by Hispanic/Latino older adults, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Provides a systematic approach for dissecting a health problem into its component parts. The 5 Ws are the essential components of a news story because if any of the five are missing, the story is incomplete. Topic 5 DQ 1 Similarly, prevalent case counts divided by the population from which they arose produce a proportion (termed prevalence). Bar charts usually need a zero level because viewers judge magnitude by the length of the bar. It reveals the location of the first case in the business district and the large initial cluster surrounding it (Figure 6.13) (14). For probability sampling procedures other than a simple random sample (e.g., stratified or cluster sampling), consult with a survey sampling expert. The dot chart is the most versatile and the easier to understand, particularly as categories increase in number. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. Provide an example and explain what data would be necessary to make a change in practice. The y-axis represents the rate of the health event. In addition, debrief interviewers about issues they might have encountered (e.g., if participants cannot understand certain questions, those questions might need rewording). Time patterns may be annual, seasonal, weekly, daily, hourly, weekday versus weekend, or any other breakdown of time that may influence disease or injury occurrence. Use the table layout to guide the eye. Responding to urgent public health issues expeditiously requires balancing the speed of response with the need for accurate data and information to support the implementation of control measures. Do participants have access to phones, mailing addresses, or computers? Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Many definitions have been proposed, but the following definition captures the underlying principles and public health spirit of epidemiology: Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems (1). Although it is logical to believe that a field investigation of an urgent public health problem should roll out sequentiallyfirst identification of study objectives, followed by questionnaire development; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and implementation of control measuresin reality many of these activities must be conducted in parallel, with information gathered from one part of the investigation informing the approach to another part. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Interviewer-administered surveys provide more control by the interviewer than self-administered ones. Epidemiological data plays a vital role in influencing changes in health practices. If the study comprises the entire study population, it is a census; a subset of the study population is a sample. Ensures that you are fully versed in the basic dimensions of a health problem. Variations in slopes (e.g., bimodal or a broader than expected peak) might indicate different ideas about the appearance, persistence, and disappearance of exposure to the source. If the survey is interviewer-administered, it should include fields for interviewer name and interview date. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. The best charts for quick and accurate understanding are dot plots, box-and-whisker plots, and simple bar charts. Take-Home Points: Internet-based surveys permit efficient data collection but should be designed to maximize complete responses. epidemiology Pay special attention to ensuring that survey instruments can be used across multiple sites in the event that the outbreak involves multiple jurisdictions. Public Health Problem: To support a rapid response, field epidemiologists need to determine the most efficient, timely, and cost-effective method for data collection during an outbreak. Describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. More precision is usually not needed for epidemiologic purposes. The goal of this symposium was to take These three points should bracket the exposure period. Match the term to the activity that best describes it. WebDescribe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices. Provide an example and explain what data would be necessary to make a change in practice. DQ2 Discuss ways your organization uses technology to gather patient and health care information, and how this information and data are used to direct patient care Epidemic Curves. This After evaluating whether existing data can address the study objectives, the field epidemiologist must determine whether additional data need to be collected and, if so, what and how (Box 4.4). Rates, Ratios, and Alternative Denominators. Sensitivity of questions. Because corrosion control was not used at the FWS water treatment plant, the levels of lead in Flint tap water increased over time. Collecting Data | Epidemic Intelligence Service | CDC The resulting rate allows epidemiologists to compare disease occurrence across different populations. Survey initiation, timeliness of response, and attack rates were comparable. For example, available resources will influence how complex data collection efforts can be; the timeline for an investigation of an infectious disease outbreak needing urgent control measures might require a quick-and-dirty data collection process, whereas an investigation of a cancer cluster that has unfolded over several years may permit more in-depth data collection and analysis.

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describe how epidemiological data influences changes in health practices