Bio-550 Epidemiology
Epidemiology is a science dealing with causes, patterns and the effects of diseases and health conditions as directed to a defined population. It has been noted that Epidemiology has a critical role in public health; in that Epidemiology informs decisions on policy in line with evidence based medical approach (Gordis, 2000). Epidemiology makes it possible through identifying the disease risk factors and building targets for the preventative medicine. Further surveys have shown that Epidemiology is influential in the collection and design of data, particularly in the statistical analysis, dissemination of results and in the interpretation of information (Kanchanaraksa, 2008). Epidemiology has worked excellently in the development of methodologies relating to public health studies, clinical research and in the fields of basic research particularly in the fields of the biological sciences.
The main objectives of Epidemiology is to work on projects relating to the epidemiological research in non-communicable and communicable diseases, conduct and organize training in the fields of research methodology in institutions and staffs dealing with public health, provide consultation and expert advice in research methodology particularly in areas dealing with statistical analysis, act as co-investigators and collaborators in research projects, providing current software in statistics and in providing services and support useful in the management of the disease outbreaks (Rothman, 2002).
It has been noted that the major epidemiological areas identify with the outbreak investigation, disease etiology, bio-monitoring, disease surveillance, screening and scientific comparisons in diverse treatment effects examples being clinical trials (Rothman & Greenland, 2007). Surveys have shown that epidemiology is directly proportional to other biological scientific disciplines that allow the medical practitioners to understand better on the statistics and disease processes in arriving at informed decisions (Gordis, 2000).
Epidemiologists are wholly concerned on establishing the causes of diseases, and in understanding the reasons behind people getting sick. It has been noted that some populations in the world are healthier that other populations; an indication that culture has a lot to do with Epidemiology. Epidemiology is out in controlling the agents that cause diseases (Kanchanaraksa, 2008).
Career pathways in Epidemiology identify with clinical route, public health route and alternative routes such as medical statisticians, general practice training, Epidemiology PHDs, consultant epidemiologist and specialists. Clinical route is characterized with dealing in sympathetic specialty in the clinical practice (Rothman, 2002). Examples being general practice, child health, psychiatry and geriatric medicine. Public health route focuses in health economics, health promotion, health management, environmental health and also in health protection.
An example on the relevance of Epidemiology shows that a research method in Epidemiology could be concerned on the how and the effects of the AIDS virus influence and affect people in different races and gender. The study offers occurrence variables which are shaped by the cultural and social factors at the specific group under investigations. The study could be used in explaining the reasons behind why some of the races and gender are prone to the disease than other people in race and gender in a different community. Epidemiologists are sensitive in proving the occurrence rates, the risk factors and the characteristics of different individuals in handling the medical problem; the information is influential to the public health in developing sound practices of handling the disease.
In conclusion, Epidemiology is part of the little known health science fields, choosing the right career is critical in shaping the desired life career. People should not choose careers depending on the income, but choose careers according to their talents and inner callings (Gordis, 2000). Epidemiology has contributed significantly in the global medical practices, particularly in addressing the research distribution and frequency of medical disorders in patients.
References
Gordis, L. (2000). Epidemiology. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Kanchanaraksa, S. (2008). Epidemiologic Investigation. Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg, School of Public Health , 4-49.
Rothman, K. J. (2002). Epidemiology: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rothman, K. & Greenland, S. (2007). Modern Epidemiology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
