Epidemiology is data-driven and relies on a systematic and unbiased approach to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. StudyĮpidemiology is a scientific discipline with sound methods of scientific inquiry at its foundation. Key terms in this definition reflect some of the important principles of epidemiology. Many definitions have been proposed, but the following definition captures the underlying principles and public health spirit of epidemiology:Įpidemiology is 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 ( 1). In other words, the word epidemiology has its roots in the study of what befalls a population. The word epidemiology comes from the Greek words epi, meaning on or upon, demos, meaning people, and logos, meaning the study of. The difference is that epidemiologists tend to use synonyms for the 5 W’s: diagnosis or health event (what), person (who), place (where), time (when), and causes, risk factors, and modes of transmission (why/how). The same is true in characterizing epidemiologic events, whether it be an outbreak of norovirus among cruise ship passengers or the use of mammograms to detect early breast cancer. The 5 W’s are the essential components of a news story because if any of the five are missing, the story is incomplete. Students of journalism are taught that a good news story, whether it be about a bank robbery, dramatic rescue, or presidential candidate’s speech, must include the 5 W’s: what, who, where, when and why (sometimes cited as why/how).
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