Epidemiology and Primary Diabetes Prevention
Epidemiology Paper
Mazurah Smith
University of Phoenix
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, "[By 1993] death certificates listed diabetes as the fifth leading cause of death for Blacks aged 45 to 64, and the third leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older in 1990.” (Bailey, 2007). These statistics show how serious the problem of diabetes has become in the black community. Epidemiological studies can focus the efforts of the healthcare community to effective interventions aimed at lowering the prevalence and incidence of diabetes among African Americans.
This paper will explore the role of epidemiology in the surveillance of the incidence of diabetes in the morbidity and mortality of Americans of African descent. This paper will also discuss the definition and purpose of epidemiology, epidemiological methods, the epidemiological triangle and levels of prevention as they relate to diabetes in the African American community.
Definition and purpose of epidemiology
The definition of epidemiology is very important if one is to use the definition to describe its purpose. “A common definition of epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations.” (Savitz, et al, 1999). Scott and Marshall (2008) do a better job when they describe epidemiology as “the analysis of the incidence and spread of disease within populations, with the aim of establishing causality.” The purpose of epidemiology is to find the causes of diseases that affect a population. The discipline of epidemiology influences the practices of both clinical medicine and public health. Epidemiology can be used as a major determinant of evidence based practice because the outcome of surveillance is often used to guide changes in how these disciplines practice. Epidemiological studies can also influence the types of services offered by community agencies
Mazurah Smith
University of Phoenix
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, "[By 1993] death certificates listed diabetes as the fifth leading cause of death for Blacks aged 45 to 64, and the third leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older in 1990.” (Bailey, 2007). These statistics show how serious the problem of diabetes has become in the black community. Epidemiological studies can focus the efforts of the healthcare community to effective interventions aimed at lowering the prevalence and incidence of diabetes among African Americans.
This paper will explore the role of epidemiology in the surveillance of the incidence of diabetes in the morbidity and mortality of Americans of African descent. This paper will also discuss the definition and purpose of epidemiology, epidemiological methods, the epidemiological triangle and levels of prevention as they relate to diabetes in the African American community.
Definition and purpose of epidemiology
The definition of epidemiology is very important if one is to use the definition to describe its purpose. “A common definition of epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations.” (Savitz, et al, 1999). Scott and Marshall (2008) do a better job when they describe epidemiology as “the analysis of the incidence and spread of disease within populations, with the aim of establishing causality.” The purpose of epidemiology is to find the causes of diseases that affect a population. The discipline of epidemiology influences the practices of both clinical medicine and public health. Epidemiology can be used as a major determinant of evidence based practice because the outcome of surveillance is often used to guide changes in how these disciplines practice. Epidemiological studies can also influence the types of services offered by community agencies
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