NURS 6700 Week 1 Epidemiology Essay

Epidemiology is the study of the factors that affect health and disease in human populations and it’s the scientific basis for virtually all public health and clinical research (Laureate Education (Producer), (2012). It addresses many chronic health problems such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.  The study of epidemiology has allowed professionals to understand the whole picture with each individual population related to the causes of chronic health problem and thus to provide appropriate treatment.  Although epidemiology has researched in depth into many chronic illnesses, it has only been able to eradicate some, as it did so with the eradication of smallpox.  NURS 6700 Week 1 Epidemiology Essay

Selected Population Health Problem

The public health problem that I would like to see eradicated would be childhood obesity.  Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem that is affecting many children on a global level.  Globally, in 2016 the number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated to be over 41 million (World Health Organization [WHO], 2018).  Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age (World Health Organization [WHO], 2018).  Since childhood obesity places an individual for high risk of other chronic health problems, the role of epidemiology is important in its eradication.

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Learned Lesson

The eradication of smallpox was a slow process that was eventually successful due to commitment, accountability, and knowledge of all parties working together.  The Center for Global Development Observers (2012), reported that the program success for the eradication of smallpox-related to political commitment and leadership from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specific funds, military-like approach by motorized teams, and healthcare staff.  The overall success of the program depended on individual accountability and responsibility for the program by everyone involved.NURS 6700 Week 1 Epidemiology Essay

To reverse the trend of childhood obesity it will take combined efforts of the local and state government, consumers, parents, schools, parents, and healthcare staff.  Government initiatives such as more walking campaigns, legislation to require gym activity increase to three days a week or more in schools and availability of more healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, non-fried foods) for meals supplied to children.  The local supermarkets may help by making more healthy foods available and affordable for purchase.  Restaurants must become proficient in labeling healthy foods with low calories on the menus.  Parents should be encouraged and supported in providing education to children in making healthy food choices.  Pediatricians should become more aggressive in diagnosing obesity and treating properly.  From experience, I may add that my own child has been increasingly gaining weight without an appetite.  The physician simply reported that it was due to inactivity and poor food choices.  As a concerned parent, I encouraged a blood test which confirmed Hashimoto’s Disease.  Since properly diagnosed my child has lost weight and more energy which increased her physical activity.  Parents must be proactive and aggressively involved in the child’s health care to prevent the problem of obesity from becoming worse.

Cost Effectiveness

Childhood obesity comes with an estimated price tag of $19,000 per child when comparing lifetime medical costs to those of a normal weight child, according to an analysis led by researchers at the Duke Global Health Institute and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore (Duke Global Health Institute, 2018).  The eradication of childhood obesity is a mammoth task and will require the collaboration of government officials, community advocates, and health care professionals in the development of cost-effective preventative programs that are useful in educating and treating children and all disciples early on.  It will require the collaboration of the education system by providing more gym and health education classes to children starting in elementary schools.  The health system could work together to reduce the cost by waiving insurance co-pays and cutting back on charges related to blood testing and medications for treatment of chronic illnesses that may be an underlying cause.  NURS 6700 Week 1 Epidemiology Essay

Summary

If not treated properly, then childhood obesity may cause future chronic health problems that may incur an increasing medical cost.  By catching the problem early on, everyone can work together in preventing further problems.  It will require collaboration among individuals both at the local community level and state to devise a plan on what initiatives and actions are necessary and reducing the cost involved to have a successful program.

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.

    • 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. NURS 6700 Week 1 Epidemiology Essay

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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. NURS 6700 Week 1 Epidemiology Essay