Epidemiology Terms Worksheet

The study of the distribution and determinants of disease (or health) in specified populations, and application of this study to control health problems
The number of cases of a disease in each town (frequency), or the occurrence of a health event in terms of person, place, or time (pattern)
A factor (event or characteristic) that influences whether or not disease occurs
Type of epidemiology that examines the distribution of rates by person, place and time (age, sex, geography)
Type of epidemiology that examines causal hypotheses regarding the association between exposures and health conditions (Answers why and how)
Type of study where researchers have no control over the variables (Cross-sectional, case-control, cohort)
Type of study where researches have control over the variables and there is a control/placebo group and treatment group (Intervention/ Clinical Trials)
The measure/rate of new diseases or deaths within a certain time period within a specified population
The number/proportion of existing cases of disease or deaths within a population at a certain point in time
This observational study includes a defined population classified by exposure status and is followed over time to see who develops the disease of interest
This observational study starts with people who are already ill with a certain disease and looks back to determine their exposure
This study is the gold standard study design for establishing cause and effect. Scientist can manipulate conditions (exposure) and observe effect on outcome
Systematic (non-random) error in study measurements
Factors associated with the exposure and may independently affect the risk of developing a disease. This term is known as the “Blurring” or obscuring the true association between the exposure and outcome by other factors
A type of validity that can be generalized to other situations and other people over time
A type of validity where the effects observed in a study are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not some other factor