1. Epidemiology
Carl Backman
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

2. Epidemiology The study of the distribution of disease 2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

3. Uses of Epidemiology Monitoring public health
Understanding aspects of specific diseases
Developing public policy
Monitoring corporate health and safety
Developing corporate health and safety policy
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

4. Monitoring public health
Establishing baselines for “normal” patterns of illness and death in a community
Identifying public health “hot spots”
Unexpectedly high rates of disease
Requires baselines
Tracking the effectiveness of the health care system
Historically and contemporaneously
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

5. Understanding aspects of specific diseases: Etiology
Understanding disease etiology [the causes of a disease]
Who does and does not get the disease
How the disease is spread
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

6. Understanding aspects of specific diseases: Developing and evaluating interventions
Therapy
Medication
Surgery
Diet
Physical therapy
Vaccines
Other preventative measures
Life style change, including diet
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

7. Developing public policy
Determining the “profile” of disease in a state or country
Helping determine social and financial costs of disease in a state or country
Helping determine how most effectively to distribute resources for care
Helping determine how most effectively to distribute resources for research
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

8. Corporate applications
Many of the public health applications of epidemiology can also be used in corporate settings
Monitoring health and, especially, safety
Safety is a HUGE corporate issue these days
Determining corporate causes of “disease” (mostly injuries)
Developing corporate policies to minimize risks and costs of injuries and disease
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

9. Public Health Examples
Monitoring public health
SARS epidemic
Infant mortality
Understanding specific diseases
Occupational diseases like asbestosis
Development and evaluation of flu vaccines
Helping determine public policy
NIH funding priorities
OSHA regulations
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman

10. Corporate Examples
Staff injuries at a residential facility for violent children with developmental disabilities
Establishing injury profile
Establishing injury costs
Discovering injury causes
Recommending interventions
Laboratory safety issues at Auburn U.
Any hospital
2/26/2004
SOCY C. Backman