Epidemiology Assignment Example
To complete this week, after reading chapter two in Melnyk and reviewing the lectures you submit a 2-3 page paper that explores the background of your issue. For this paper #1 you will be defining this issue or disease using the literature. It will end with the PICOT question. The parts of your paper should include:Epidemiology Assignment Example
Introduction
Definition
Epidemiology
Clinical Presentation
Complications
Diagnosis
Conclusion with PICOT Question
If you are not on a clinical tract (NP) you will explore the issue extensively to define the problem or issue you are interested in.
You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.Epidemiology Assignment Example
Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.Epidemiology Assignment Example
Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.
The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.
Epidemiology and Population Health
Chances are if you are reading about epidemiology and population health, you already have a good idea of what this industry entails. To be thorough, epidemiology is a sector of medicine in which the causes, sources, and effects of disease are studied. Now, what is this to do with population health? Epidemiology allows scientists and researchers with tangible evidence to understand disease spread, and therefore institute proper healthcare plans.
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- What is Epidemiology?
As we said, epidemiology is the study of patterns, origins, causes and effects that are in relation to ailments or disease. Epidemiology is a branch of public health, and the study provides statistical proof to find preventative measures for disease. Some of the factors that are studied as a part of epidemiology are time of occurrence, the location of disease, and the demographic affected.
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- Who Studies Epidemiology?
Epidemiologists have at least a master degree in public health, usually with a focus on epidemiology. This degree includes classes and information about behavior, research, immunology, bio statistics and much more. Positions in a lab usually require medical school or completing your dissertation. When working in the field of epidemiology; you can work in many varying sectors of healthcare. Some specialties include genetic, psychological, and environmental studies. Also, some places of employee include disease control centers, hospitals, universities and more.Epidemiology Assignment Example
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- How Does Epidemiology Effect Population Health?
Epidemiology provides a means for understanding disease. Researchers, scientists, and doctors alike study the origin, effects, and spread of a disease. With this information they find preventative measure that can be taken to improve the public’s health. In turn, the public benefits from epidemiology by having a field of experts working toward the improvement of public health and the battle of disease.
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- Who has Benefited from Epidemiology?
By improving the health of the public, epidemiology benefits all. Even if you are not directly affected by disease, epidemiologists find preventative measures, and one of their preventatives measures could be the sole reason you are disease free. Some examples of successful epidemiology are the control of a two-year outbreak of Klebsiella in the early 90’s, the constant battle of alcoholism, and even most recently, the study of Ebola. Epidemiology is working around you always, in an effort to keep you healthful and protected.
Now that we have reviewed what exactly epidemiology is, who studies it, how it effects population’s health, and finally who benefits from it you can see the true importance of this realm of the medical field.Epidemiology Assignment Example
Millions of people worldwide suffer from illness, despite the existence of advanced medical technology. Non-communicable conditions constitute 6 of the 10 most common causes of death, according to the World Health Organization. The most common fatal condition, ischemic heart disease, took more than 15 million lives in 2015 alone. In many cases, these issues disproportionately affect the poor who have limited access to health care services. This state of affairs necessitates innovative, data-backed public health solutions. Those in the field of epidemiology are responsible for developing and deploying such strategies through intensive field research.
This area of study is an ideal fit for individuals already in health care who wish to ascend the professional ranks and move into impactful leadership roles. A significant number of the graduates of the online Master of Public Health degree program at Regis College do just that, leveraging their multifaceted skill sets to enter the field of epidemiology and cultivate fulfilling careers. What can health care professionals looking to follow this pathway expect? Here are some insights into the ever-growing field:
Understanding the history
Epidemiology dates to 400 B.C., when Greek physician Hippocrates attempted to pinpoint and dissect the sources of common ailments in his seminal essay “On Waters, Airs and Places,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The field continued to progress over the next 2,000 years. Then, in 1662, London Councilman John Graunt commissioned and published an analysis of metropolitan mortality data — the first known piece of epidemiological research.Epidemiology Assignment Example
William Farr, a renowned British epidemiologist and bio statistical innovator, built off of Graunt’s work throughout the mid- to late 1800s, developing many of the data collection and review processes that would eventually form the basis for modern public health research. However, a contemporary of Farr’s, anesthesiologist John Snow, is credited with founding the profession due to his work during the cholera outbreaks in London’s Golden Square in 1854. Snow managed to track the epidemic and identify the source, a water pump, without the use of modern tools and techniques.
This work continued throughout the 20th century, during which time researchers accomplished several large-scale epidemiological achievements, including the eradication of smallpox. Over this span, a number of sub-fields developed, including those centered on biological terrorism and violence. Today, about 6,100 epidemiologists are working in the U.S., according to researchers for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The profession is expanding at an annual rate of 9 percent.
Grappling with the role
Epidemiologists address disease on a large scale. However, day-to-day work unfolds in smaller increments. When the Ebola virus struck Africa in 2015, WHO epidemiologists descended on the continent and began seeking out infected individuals, reviewing every case in an effort to pinpoint commonalities. These professionals also spoke with patients’ family and friends, both raising awareness and searching for other potentially infected parties. Following these daily investigations, WHO epidemiologists entered their findings into shared databases to reconstruct lines of transmission and identify important disease details. Such field work is common in the profession, as these health care workers must go to the source of outbreaks to effectively address them.
Many epidemiologists also hold higher-level roles that involve fighting disease via decisive leadership and organizational oversight, according to the BLS. These professionals often manage entire public health programs, leveraging medical know-how and finely tuned executive instincts to effect change on a wide scale. Some of these epidemiologists oversee research apparatuses, while others manage overarching planning activities and work with external stakeholders to secure funding or form partnerships. These leaders in the field earn as much as $100,000 per year, according to Pascale.Epidemiology Assignment Example
Charting the future
Employment in epidemiology is growing. Why? There is an ever-present need for public health initiatives designed to eradicate noncommunicable diseases. A number of serious conditions continue to impact communities across the globe, most notably ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. On top of this, a number of near-eradicated illnesses are materializing again, according to the CDC. For example, doctors diagnosed 350,000 cases of measles in 2011, a condition that can be easily prevented via vaccination.
The medical organizations, health care nonprofits, government agencies, and academic institutions tasked with addressing such public health issues need the help of trained professionals. Epidemiologists are capable of answering this call and leveraging their clinical abilities, organizational skills, and leadership experience to help patients suffering from noncommunicable diseases.Epidemiology Assignment Example
Gaining the right skills
Health care professionals interested in entering the field of epidemiology must pursue graduate education, as holding a master’s degree in a related arena, such as public health, is a prerequisite, according to the BLS. There are numerous MPH programs available. However, a large number of these tracks hinge upon campus-based courses. For individuals with ongoing careers and other obligations, returning to college full-time is nearly impossible.
There is another option: an online MPH degree program. These instructional tracks allow aspiring epidemiologists to gain the skills and experience they need to make an impact in the field, all without sacrificing their careers, personal lives, and financial security.Epidemiology Assignment Example