Epidemiology - the backbone of public health

The video introduces epidemiology, highlighting its complexity and importance in public health. It explains the two main focuses: distribution and causation. Distribution involves understanding how diseases and health states are spread across demographics, geography, and time. Causation examines the relationship between exposures and health outcomes, emphasizing the need to distinguish correlation from causation. The video also discusses the role of confounding variables and other factors that can affect epidemiological studies.

What is a common feeling among students when they first start studying epidemiology?

• Boredom

• Excitement

• Clarity

• Confusion

Why is it crucial to have a basic understanding of epidemiology in public health?

• To design better hospitals

• To measure distribution and causation

• To improve patient care

• To reduce healthcare costs

Which of the following is NOT a factor in the distribution of diseases?

• Geographic

• Temporal

• Astrological

• Demographic

What does the term 'exposures' refer to in epidemiology?

• Only social determinants of health

• Only environmental hazards

• Factors that may cause or prevent disease

• Only infectious diseases

What is a common mistake when observing a correlation between two variables?

• Assuming a causative relationship

• Ignoring the data

• Overanalyzing the data

• Underestimating the sample size

Which of the following is an example of a confounding variable?

• Beach location

• Shark species

• Hot weather

• Ice cream flavor

What should be considered before assuming a causative relationship between two variables?

• Factors like bias, error, and chance

• The historical data

• The opinions of experts

• The popularity of the variables