Epidemiology

Module Objectives
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Define the scientific discipline of epidemiology and identify the relationship to community assessment. (*co 4)
2. Explain the relationship between human health, disease, and environment. (*co 1 and 2)
3. Interpret epidemiological data with regards to determinants of health and health outcomes in community and population health assessment. (*co 1, 2 and 4)
4. Integrate epidemiological data in assessment of health needs, health disparities, and relationship to health indicator benchmarks. (*co 1, 2 and 4)
   *tied to course objective (co)
   Instructor Commentary
   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2021) defines epidemiology as “the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems” (Section 1). Data from epidemiologic research is collected and analyzed to provide information that affects individual lifestyle choices, clinician decision-making, and public health policy. Epidemiologic data is essential for community health assessment, and it provides a benchmark for measuring program outcomes and improvements in clinical practice.
   Causal relationships (cause and effect) between human health and disease are often complex, but epidemiologists and other researchers conduct research to determine where significant associations exist. Environmental factors are often implicated in disease occurrence, and recommendations to prevent disease and protect the public arise from these studies. Consider, for example, the changes in public health policy on cigarette smoking and recommendations to individuals for smoking cessation. Vaccination schedules, dietary changes, lead (Pb) avoidance and remediation, and the Clean Air Act are all examples of public health recommendations or policies based on epidemiological data.
   In concert with other sciences, epidemiology provides a framework for evidence-based practice (EBP) in population focused nursing and extends to all forms of nursing practice. The discussion activity in this module calls for your interpretation of epidemiologic data, based on available evidence. To interpret the epidemiological evidence more easily, please familiarize yourself with the terminology and concepts commonly used in this science (Rector & Stanley, 2022, Chapter 7).

References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Principles of epidemiology in public health practice: Definition of epidemiology(opens in a new window).
Rector, C., & Stanley, M. J. (2022). Community and public health nursing: Promoting the public’s health(10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
The purpose of this discussion is to analyze epidemiological data for the county of your practicum, relate your findings to a leading health indicator, and support your interpretation with evidence from the health literature.
Directions:
• Analyze data and information on the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps website for the county of your community health practicum Explore Health Rankings | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (Queens County)
o In the Find County Rankings field, enter your county of interest.
o Review the overall data on health measures.
o Click on one of the measures to review the health factors of interest to you.
• Review the Leading Health Indicators for Healthy People 2030, and select one that closely relates to your chosen health measure. If you do not find a closely related leading health indicator then please expand your consideration to the full range of Healthy People 2030 objectives at Browse Objectives – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov to select an objective.
• Using a simple web-search or via institutional websites: locate the most recent triennial local Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) (conducted by non-profit hospitals) or Community Needs Assessment (CHA) (conducted by local department of health). These documents may at times be a shared document between a county department of health and a hospital(s) and are of great value in gaining understanding of health factors within a community.
• Select one scholarly article from the health literature to support your content.
• In your initial post:
o Describe your county in a short paragraph identifying two health strengths of the county and two areas for improvement.
o Identify your chosen health measure from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.
o Relate the health measure to one Leading Health Indicator or Objective from Healthy People 2030.
o Note if the chosen health measure/objective is addressed in the local CHNA/CHN (these are often lengthy documents – use the table of contents wisely). If the measure/objective is covered, how does the CHNA/CNA report this information (sources and findings)? Please cite and include the reference with URL for the CHNA/CNA in your post.
o Support your post with one scholarly article.
o Please conclude your post with describing an observed determinant of health that stood out to you from your Windshield Assessment and that you would like to share with your peers. Does this determinant relate to the epidemiological information you found in your work in Module 3? How so?
• In response to peers; compare the findings from your county with those of classmates.
o Reflect on the differences and similarities of your findings and discuss some possible reasons.
Please submit your initial post by the first half of the module and then use the second half of the module to interact with your classmates.
This activity will be graded using the discussion rubric located below.
References
The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. (2022).County health rankings & roadmaps. Explore Health Rankings | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
United States Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Healthy people 2030.Leading Health Indicators for Healthy People 2030
United States Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Healthy people 2030.Browse Objectives – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov
• Course Objective 1: Recognize the interrelationships and outcomes of determinants of health across population, community, and public health.
• Course Objective 4:Engage the nursing process to promote population, community, and public health.