Question

Using the basics and applications of epidemiology from your weekly readings as a guideline, articulate in your own words the initial steps you would take in applying techniques in a field investigation of a childhood disease.

Answer 1

Epidemiology is the study which deals with how the disease occurs in groups of people and how it is resolved with the appropriate solution or the remedy.There are few steps involved in the field investigation and they are listed below:

1.Brief of the field work and this would relate to all the work to be done,the person going to be involved and the materials which will be used during the investigation if any equipments etc..along with the documents handy to be noted during the investigation along with the sign off from whomsoever required be.2.Confirming the diagnosis(causes and issues) this is done by examining the patient,checking the medical records and confirming with the laboratory.3.Confirm the existence of an outbreak:This is done based on the proofs available,time taken for the process,recurrence of the disease and the reports of before and after.4:Identify and realate to cases:identify the patient infected with the disease go through the complete list of test and relate it to any previous documents.5:Tabulate the date:This will be in terms of time place and person and realtes between persons also frame the time needed to complete it.6:control measures:There are two ways to this one is to direct it to the source and the other are those susceptible to the disease.7:Test hypothesis:information obtained such as open ended or close ended questions,Analysis and finidings from the diseases.8:communicate findings:Communicate or do the oral briefings and describe the issue with the analysis speak of the findings and provide solutions to the issues.