Epidemiology is defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states in populations. It differs from clinical medicine in that it focuses on groups rather than individuals and uses quantitative tools to study communities. Epidemiology has many uses including healthcare management by making community diagnoses, understanding disease processes, guiding public health practice through disease investigation and surveillance, and informing clinical practice and research through evaluating treatments and assessing effectiveness of diagnostic procedures. Overall, epidemiology provides essential population-level insights that aid in healthcare planning, policy development, and clinical decision-making.

1. USES OF
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Dr Deodatt M Suryawanshi .(Asst Prof CM)

2. Learning objectives
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Define epidemiology
Differences between clinical medicine vs
Epidemiology
Uses of epidemiology
Apply in daily use

3. Derivation of word
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Greek term
Epi – upon ,
Demos – population
logos – scientific study

4. Definition
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The study of frequency ,distribution and
determinants of disease and health related
states and events and application of
knowledge in prevention ,control and
mitigation of these problem

5. Epidemiology was born before
clinical medicine
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400 B C –Hippocrates occurrence of human disease to
environment.
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1747 -James lind treatment of scurvy by oranges.
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1768 -Edward Jenner - Small pox vaccine.
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1850 - Semmel weis puerperal sepsis – hand washing.
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1853 – John snow control of cholera epidemic.
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1950s -Doll and hill smoking causes lung cancer.

6. Major Break through of
epidemilogy today
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Where only preventive methods have work in
controlling the disease
HIV/AIDS
Preventive recommendations promiscuity
,needle sharing and other

7. Uses of Epidemiology
Classify
1.
In Health care Management
2.
Understanding disease process
3.
In public health practice
4.
In clinical and preventive practice

8. In Health care Management
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Making Community diagnosis
 Take
in account socio demographic data
 Quantifying
and summarizing

9. Epidemiology Vs Clinical
Medicine
Clinical medicine
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Focus is on an
individual
Physician Uses Lab
tools for diagnosis
Epidemiology
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Does not take other
factors in account
Does not form
assumptions
Does not help in policy
formulation
Not a quantitative
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Focus is on Group
Epidemiologist uses
quantitative tool for
community diagnosis
Takes into account all
factors which cause
disease
Form assumptions or
hypothesis
Helps in Public health
policy formulation
Quantitative and
qualitative science

10. Example of Community
diagnosis

13. Planning and evaluation of health
service
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Accurate information socio demo profile,the
diseases,health facilities .
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Evaluation of a programme for its impact

14. Developing health policies

15. Understanding the disease
process
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Study of natural history of diseases. Ex HIV
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Search for causes and risk factors of disease.
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Historic study of rise and fall of diseases. Ex
plague, influenza, Lung cancer
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To identify syndromes.
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Association of two or more symptoms more frequently

16. Uses in Public Health practice
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Investigation of epidemic.
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Surveillance for diseases.
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Making projections.
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Assessing the programme for mass screening for
diseases.
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Assisting in formulating medical teaching
curriculum

17. Uses in clinical research
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Indispensable science for clinical research
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Assessment of effectiveness of various treatment
modalities.
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One drug is better for treatment than other
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Assessing prognosis.
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Assessing the effectiveness of Diagnostic procedures.
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One diagnostic procedure is more effective

18. Guiding clinical decision.

19. Take home message….
Epidemiology is
indispensible to
clinical medicine.

20. Thanks