Intro to Epidemiology

Unit 1 – Intro to Epidemiology & Public Health

Unit 2 – Measures of Disease Frequency

Unit 3 – Disease Surveillance Principles

Unit 4 – Descriptive Epidemiology

Unit 5 – Association and Causation

Unit 6 – Observational Study Designs in Epidemiology

Unit 7 – Experimental Study Designs in Epidemiology

Unit 8 – Bias, Confounding, and Effect in Epidemiology

Unit 9 – Screening and Diagnostic Tests

Unit 10 – Outbreak Investigation

Unit 11 – Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Unit 12 – Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Unit 13 – Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology

Unit 14 – Genetic & Molecular Epidemiology

Unit 15 – Social & Behavioral Epidemiology

Unit 16 – Global Health & Epidemiologic Transitions

## What do you learn in Introduction to Epidemiology

Epidemiology is all about studying how diseases spread and affect populations. You'll learn about disease patterns, risk factors, and ways to control health problems. The course covers research methods, study designs, and data analysis techniques used in public health. You'll also dive into outbreak investigations, screening programs, and how to measure the impact of diseases on communities.

## Is Introduction to Epidemiology hard?

It can be challenging, especially if you're not used to dealing with statistics and scientific studies. The concepts aren't too complex, but there's a lot of new terminology to learn. The math isn't super advanced, but you'll need to be comfortable with basic stats. Most students find it manageable with some effort, and it gets easier as you get familiar with the epidemiological thinking process.

## Tips for taking Introduction to Epidemiology in college

1. Use [Fiveable Study Guides](https://fiveable.me/cram-mode) to help you cram 🌶️
2. Practice calculating rates and ratios regularly - they're the bread and butter of epi
3. Create visual aids like charts or diagrams to understand disease transmission
4. Stay updated on current health news to see epidemiology in action
5. Form study groups to discuss case studies and practice problem-solving
6. Watch "Contagion" or "Outbreak" to see epidemiological concepts applied (but don't take them too seriously)
7. Use online resources like the CDC website to explore real-world data and reports

## Common pre-requisites for Introduction to Epidemiology

1. Introduction to Public Health: Covers the basics of population health, healthcare systems, and major public health challenges. It's a great foundation for understanding the context of epidemiology.

2. Statistics: Focuses on data analysis, probability, and statistical inference. This class is crucial for understanding the quantitative aspects of epidemiological studies.

## Classes similar to Introduction to Epidemiology

1. Biostatistics: Dives deeper into statistical methods used in health sciences. You'll learn more advanced techniques for analyzing health data.

2. Environmental Health: Explores how environmental factors impact human health. It often includes epidemiological approaches to studying environmental exposures.

3. Infectious Disease Epidemiology: Focuses specifically on the spread and control of infectious diseases. You'll learn about transmission dynamics and outbreak management.

4. Social Epidemiology: Examines how social factors influence health outcomes. It combines epidemiological methods with social science theories.

## Majors related to Introduction to Epidemiology

1. Public Health: Focuses on protecting and improving the health of communities through education, policy, and research. Students learn about various aspects of population health, including epidemiology, health policy, and environmental health.

2. Biology: Covers the study of living organisms and their interactions. While broader than epidemiology, it provides a strong foundation in understanding disease processes and human physiology.

3. Biostatistics: Combines statistics, mathematics, and biology to analyze health-related data. Students learn advanced statistical methods and their applications in medical and public health research.

4. Health Sciences: Provides a broad understanding of health and healthcare systems. It often includes epidemiology as a key component, along with anatomy, physiology, and health policy.

## What can you do with a degree in Introduction to Epidemiology?

1. Epidemiologist: Investigates patterns and causes of diseases in populations. They design and conduct studies to identify risk factors and develop strategies for disease prevention and control.

2. Public Health Analyst: Collects and analyzes health data to inform policy decisions. They work with government agencies or non-profits to evaluate health programs and recommend improvements.

3. Clinical Research Coordinator: Manages clinical trials and research studies in healthcare settings. They ensure studies are conducted ethically and efficiently, often applying epidemiological principles to study design.

4. Health Data Scientist: Applies data analysis and machine learning techniques to large health datasets. They uncover patterns and trends in health data to inform medical research and public health strategies.

## Introduction to Epidemiology FAQs

1. Do I need to be good at math to succeed in epidemiology? Basic math skills are helpful, but you don't need to be a math whiz. The focus is more on understanding concepts and interpreting data.

2. Can I use epidemiology skills outside of public health? Absolutely! Epidemiological thinking is useful in many fields, from marketing (understanding consumer behavior) to environmental science (studying pollution impacts).

3. Is epidemiology only about infectious diseases? Nope, it covers all kinds of health issues. You'll study chronic diseases, injuries, and even social factors that affect health.

Public Health

1.1 Definition and scope of epidemiology

1.2 Historical development of epidemiology

1.3 Core functions of public health

1.4 Epidemiologic approach to problem solving

2.1 Prevalence and incidence

2.2 Mortality and morbidity rates

2.3 Standardization of rates

3.1 Types of surveillance systems

3.2 Data collection and reporting

3.3 Evaluation of surveillance systems

4.1 Person, place, and time variables

4.2 Descriptive study designs

4.3 Data visualization and interpretation

5.1 Measures of association

5.2 Causal inference and Hill's criteria

5.3 Strength and limitations of epidemiologic evidence

6.1 Cross-sectional studies

6.2 Case-control studies

6.4 Ecological studies

6.3 Cohort studies

7.3 Field trials

7.2 Community intervention trials

7.1 Randomized controlled trials

8.1 Types of bias in epidemiologic studies

8.2 Confounding and methods of control

8.3 Effect modification and interaction

9.1 Principles of screening programs

9.2 Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values

9.3 ROC curves and test evaluation

10.1 Steps in outbreak investigation

10.2 Data collection and analysis in outbreaks

10.3 Communication and reporting of findings

11.1 Transmission and control of infectious diseases

11.2 Vaccination and herd immunity

11.3 Emerging and re-emerging infections

12.1 Risk factors and prevention strategies

12.2 Major chronic diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes)

12.3 Epidemiologic transitions in chronic diseases

13.2 Occupational health and safety

13.1 Environmental health hazards and risk assessment

13.3 Climate change and health

14.1 Basic concepts in genetic epidemiology

14.2 Gene-environment interactions

14.3 Applications of molecular techniques in epidemiology

15.1 Social determinants of health

15.2 Health disparities and inequalities

15.3 Behavioral risk factors and interventions

16.1 Global burden of disease

16.2 Health systems and policies in global health

16.3 Sustainable Development Goals and epidemiology

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