Epidemiology

Introduction: In this course, you are introduced to health promotion fundamentals in advanced practice nursing. This Epidemiology paper helps you to expand your views of taking care of patients from individuals to populations of people. You will write a paper on the incidence, distribution, and control of disease within a population of people, preferably a population that relates to your current practice or one that you hope to connect with in the future. This may not be an acute care issue.

Outcomes and Criteria for this Epidemiology paper are:

1. Applies epidemiological concepts accurately to a chosen community health problem or issue.
2. Explains the problem or issue in some detail within the context of documented patterns and trends.
3. Identifies ethical, political, and legal perspectives about the issue and infers their implications.
4. Explains current involvement of APRNs with, or imagines how APRNs could be involved in addressing the community health problem or issue.
5. Meets graduate level writing criteria.

Directions

1. Select a community health problem or issue that interests you and could potentially relate to your desired future role. This paper may not focus primarily on medical conditions or hospital conditions. Instead, think broadly. For example, cyberbullying, gun access, violence, depression, alcoholism, vaping, homelessness, food safety, etc. When you have chosen your topic, identify it on the Google form on Moodle. Wait for approval from your instructor before beginning your research. Keep in mind that you will be exploring the multiple determinants of health affecting the issue.
2. Write an 8-10 page paper (plus references). Include:
   ● Title Page (no abstract needed)
   ● Introduction to your topic
   ● Body of paper
   o Include current research and data about your issue (ex. Survnet to show current pertussis cases in Milwaukee County, general current research to give the reader a broad background about the disease and epidemiological factors, Healthy People 2030, Epidemiological Profiles). Discuss risk factors related to the topic, outcomes following implementation changes, etc.
   o Address all of the following in the paper in some fashion: screening, prevention, role of the APN, ethical and legal issues, if genetics plays a role, socioeconomics, and treatment.
   ● Conclusion and summary:
   o Answer the question “Why is this occurring?”
   o Draw conclusions by comparing local to national benchmarks and situate local patterns within national norms.

● References: A minimum of 5-7 primary research articles addressing the epidemiology of the chosen topic are required. The research should discuss risk factors related to the topic, outcomes following implementation changes, etc. Texts may be used to provide some data but may not be your primary sources. Be sure that you document your sources appropriately with in-text citations.

3. Write the paper using current APA format, double-spaced, with references. No abstract is needed. Use headings for major portions of the paper.
   ● Must meet graduate level writing criteria.
4. Upload completed paper and self-assessment according to the due dates assigned.

Self-Assessment:
Complete the separate self-assessment form (next page) that addresses these questions and upload to Moodle in the same file that you upload your paper.

1. Accurately applies epidemiologic concepts to describe a chosen community health problem or issue.
2. Uses data and other resources effectively to explain patterns and trends to explain the scope of the problem or issue.
3. Discusses in some detail ethical, political, legal and genetic perspectives and implications of the problem or issue.
4. Explains or imagines the role of the APRN in addressing the community health problem or issue, using credible resources.
5. Meets graduate level writing criteria.

Answer the following two questions:

1. What part was difficult or interesting/surprising thing that you came across?
2. What was your paper deficient in and how do you plan to improve in the future?