1. Epidemiological Terms
Health Status – the pattern of health of the population over a period of time
Epidemiology – the study of illness and disease in groups or populations through
the collection of data and information, to identify patterns and causes.

2. Epidemiological Terms
Prevalence - the number of cases of illness or disease that exist in a population
Incidence - the number of new cases of illness or disease occurring in a
defined population over a given period of time.

3. Role of Epidemiology
Epidemiology considers patterns of disease in terms of:
Prevalence – the number of cases of a disease in a population at a specific time
Incidence – the number of new cases of a disease occurring in a population

4. Role of Epidemiology
Epidemiology considers patterns of disease in terms of:
Distribution – the extent
Apparent causes – determinants and indicators ie risk factors

5. Role of Epidemiology Epidemiology commonly uses statistics on: Births
Deaths
Disease incidence
Disease prevalence
Contact with health-care providers

6. Role of Epidemiology Epidemiology commonly uses statistics on:
Hospital use – treatment received in hospitals for medical problems
Injury incidence
Work days lost
Money spent on health care

7. What Can Epidemiology Tell Us?
Epidemiological data helps researchers and health authorities to:
Monitor major causes of sickness and death to identify emerging issues
Describe and compare the patterns of health of groups, communities and populations and identify inequalities between these groups

8. What Can Epidemiology Tell Us?
Epidemiological data helps researchers and health authorities to:
Identify health needs so that specific prevention and treatment interventions can be specifically targeted
Allocate health-care resources accordingly

9. What Can Epidemiology Tell Us?
Epidemiological data helps researchers and health authorities to:
Monitor the use of health care services and facilities
Evaluate the effectiveness of health behaviours and strategies to control and prevent disease

10. What Can Epidemiology Tell Us?
Epidemiological data helps researchers and health authorities to:
Identify and promote behaviours that can improve the health status of the overall population, such as eating less fat and more fibre

11. Who uses Epidemiology? Policy developers at all levels of government
Non government organisations eg Cancer Council & Heart Foundation
The manufacturers of health products
The providers of health services
Individual consumers

12. Measures of Epidemiology?
Mortality Rate – a measure of the number of deaths from a specific cause in a given
period of time (usually a year)
Infant Mortality Rate – a measure of the annual number of deaths of children under 1
year of age per 1,000 live births

13. Measures of Epidemiology?
Morbidity Rate – the level of disease in a given population. The main indicators used
are incidence and prevalence
Life Expectancy – The average number of years a person of a given age and gender
can expect to live.

14. Health Status Trends? Mortality Decreased
Whilst more people die on average due to the large increase in the size of the population, the crude death rate has fallen. More males than females die each year.

15. Health Status Trends? Infant Mortality Decreased
Has halved in the last 20 years. Rates are higher for males than for females. The largest decline in the rate is due to reduction in deaths from SIDS.

16. Health Status Trends? Morbidity
Morbidity rates are decreasing for most major health conditions (or at least occurring later in peoples lives). When major health conditions do occur, the survival rates are improving (eg cancers, CVD). There is evidence of an increase in diabetes and mental health problems

17. Health Status Trends? Life Expectancy Increasing
Australians can expect to live on average for around 80 years.
(82.6 years for females and 77.4 years for males)