Topic 1 Assignment Epidemiology

Epidemiology

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Epidemiology

Epidemiology is one of the health science field wichs is little known and ignored by many. It is the field of public health and especially in the research activities (Saran et al., 2017). It can also be defined as the science of predicting the state of an individual patient by gathering and analyzing data on clinical events from other similar patients by use of strong scientific methods to ensure accurate data. Epidemiology is simply defined as a study that is carried out to investigate how diseases occur in different geographical areas, different groups of people and aims to establish the reasons for the occurrence (Saran et al., 2017). The information obtained from epidemiology is used to evaluate and plan illness prevention strategies and more especially in guiding the management and patient attendance regarding the particular disease in question (Berkman et al., 2014). It is, in other words, a guide to the clinical officer on the nature of the disease before treating a patient. It is worth noting. Therefore, the epidemiology of a disease is a critical part of the description of the disease. The description gives the necessary technical assistance based on the data collected.

Epidemiology has some objectives that may include investigations to identify and establish the causes of etiology of a particular disease (Saran et al., 2017). This from the information/data gathered and guides the physician in pursuing a patient. Epidemiology also identifies the extent to which a disease has gone. This information acts as a guide to the clinician in determining the method of treatment of the criteria to use in treating the patient. The information provided by the epidemiological survey is important in exposing the progression of the disease (Kaufman, 2017). The clinician can, therefore, work on the information to determine on how to approach the patient. The epidemiological study also involves evaluation of preventive and therapeutic measures for a disease or any other condition of the patient. Finally, the rationale for epidemiology rest on the development of a public health policy based on the data collected and analyzed in regards to a specific condition or disease.

Ther are various subspecialists in epidemiology. They each have a unique area of specializations within epidemiology. They include:

Infection control epidemiologist. An epidemiologist who specializes in this field usually deals with issues related to health in medical care facilities and hospitals (Berkman et al., 2014). As a specialist for controlling infection, the epidemiologist can make either work for local medical facilities, university hospitals or even state health facilities where one would oversee general sanitation and cleanliness reduce and prevent disease infections. Another Task would also be to enforce hygiene and MRSA in the hospitals (Kaufman, 2017).

Disaster specialist epidemiologist. This specialist is majorly concerned in studying the various factors that usually cause illnesses either directly or even indirectly and develops a range of remedies or rather ways of reducing the adverse effect that they may be having on health (Kaufman, 2017). Some of these ways may include the system for surveillance aimed at identifying injuries and diseases that can be a result of a disaster. A major task that a disaster is involved in is ensuring that all relief workers receive the accurate and right situational awareness to help them in responding to emergencies effectively and efficiently.

Molecular epidemiologist. This type of epidemiology can be used in the study of specific illnesses such as polio, AIDS among others which are usually viral (Berkman et al., 2014). A molecular epidemiologist usually applies the knowledge of advanced molecular biology to research on various issues that can potentially affect the society.

Pharmaceutical epidemiologist. This specialist usually conducts a study on clinical studies on the effect of various pharmaceuticals on physiology and health of a certain population. He or she spends a lot of time in laboratories researching on how various samples of tissues and chemicals reach.

References

Berkman, L. F., Kawachi, I., & Glymour, M. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social epidemiology. Oxford University Press.

Kaufman, J. S. (2017). Methods in social epidemiology (Vol. 17). John Wiley & Sons.

Saran, R., Robinson, B., Abbott, K. C., Agodoa, L. Y., Albertus, P., Ayanian, J., … & Cope, E. (2017). US Renal Data System 2016 annual data report: epidemiology of kidney disease in the United States. American journal of kidney diseases, 69(3), A7-A8.