Lecture Notes: Introduction to Epidemiology

Class Setup and Technical Issues

• Attendance: 12 students present (including the lecturer).
• Technical issues with screen sharing; resolved eventually.
• Reminder to take breaks; lecturer speaks quickly.

Course Materials

• Main textbook: Introduction to Epidemiology.
• Course is straightforward but aims to share practical experiences.
• Public Health Background: No public health nurses present in the class.

Topic: Foundations of Epidemiology

• Epidemiology Definitions: Epidemic, Endemic, Pandemic.
• Concept of Disease Transmission: Differentiate types of epidemics.
• Case Definitions and Standard Definitions: Important for quizzes.
• Three Levels of Prevention in population health:
  • Primary: Immunization, health education.
  • Secondary: Early detection, screening.
  • Tertiary: Management of established disease.

Health Concepts

• Six Dimensions of Health:
  • Physical
  • Social
  • Mental
  • Emotional
  • Spiritual
  • Environmental
• Public Health:
  • Science and art of promoting health at a population level.
  • Ensuring everyone has the means to thrive with optimal health.

Data Collection and Analysis in Public Health

• Statistics in Public Health: Socioeconomic data, health indicators, etc.
• Relationship between Public Health and Epidemiology:
  • Subfields of public health such as epidemiology are crucial.
  • Study distribution and determinants of health-related events.

Core Public Health Functions

• Assessment: Monitor health issues in communities/populations.
• Public Policy: Formulate solutions for identified health problems.
• Accessibility: Ensure cost-effective, appropriate care is available.

Epidemiology as a Science

• Uses scientific methods to ensure accuracy.
• Follows a methodical approach: hypothesis, experiments, results, and conclusions.
• Key Study Designs:
  • Descriptive: Who, what, when, where.
  • Analytical: Why, how.

Public Health Programs and Interventions

• Examples of local interventions (e.g., cancer screening, underage drinking, and dental care projects).
• Impact Pyramid: Larger impact at policy level (e.g., education, housing) than individual level (e.g., counseling).

Disease Distribution and Transmission Types

• Disease Transmission: Person-to-person, fomites, vehicle-borne, vector-borne.
• Epidemic Curves: Common source, propagated, mixed.
  • Anthrax, Botulism, Cholera: Examples of epidemiological cycles.

Case Definitions and Triangles of Epidemiology

• Case Definition: Criteria for diagnosing cases consistently.
• Triangle of Epidemiology: Host, environment, Infectious agent.
  • Breaking the chain of infection is crucial for disease control.

Study of Epidemics and Pandemics

• Differences between epidemic, endemic, and pandemic.
• Examples: Cholera outbreak in London (1848), smallpox vaccination development.

Pioneers in Epidemiology

• Hippocrates: Observed diseases in different locations; early epidemiology terms.
• James Lind: Found dietary solutions to scurvy.
• Edward Jenner: Pioneered smallpox vaccination.
• Florence Nightingale: Founder of modern nursing and infection control.
• John Snow: Father of epidemiology; studied cholera outbreak.
• Louis Pasteur: Developed germ theory and vaccinations for anthrax and rabies.

Modern Advances

• Percivall Pott: Identified link between chimneys and cancer.
• Ignaz Semmelweis: Introduced handwashing to reduce infection during childbirth.
• Farr: Extended and refined vital statistics.

Epidemiological Studies

• Cohort Studies: Long-term studies on diseases (e.g., cardiovascular study from 1948 to present).
• Impact of Smoking: Direct correlation with lung cancer.

Conclusion and Next Steps

• Break until next session; discussion questions assigned weekly.
  • Encouraged to share experiences and learn from each other.
• Next lectures: Focus on specific case studies and disease transmission methods.
• Reminder to contact the lecturer with questions and stay engaged.