Epidemiological Approach

The term "epidemiological approach" refers to a method for identifying and studying health-related statuses or events in order to control health issues. It is the use of epidemiology's components to address any issues. These components include comparison, frequency, and distribution. Nursing professionals can use the epidemiological approach to address community-level health issues by.

• Asking question
• Making comparisons

Asking Question

"A means of learning or asking questions and gaining responses that lead to more question" is how epidemiology is described. For illustration, the questions below could be posed:

• Related to health events

  • What is the occasion? (The issue)
  • What is the size of it?
  • What location was it?
  • What time did it occur?
  • Who is impacted?
  • Why did it take place?

• Related to health action

  • What steps may be taken to lessen the issue and its effects?
  • How can it be avoided going forward?
  • What steps should the community, the medical community, and other sectors take?
  • Where will these activities be conducted, and for whom?
  • What materials are needed?
  • How will the activities be set up?
  • What potential obstacles might there be, and how might they be overcome?

The answers to the aforementioned questions may offer hints about the cause of the disease and assist the epidemiologist in directing planning and evaluation.

Making Comparisons

Making comparisons and inferring conclusions is the fundamental strategy in epidemiology. This could involve comparing two or more groups, with one group being affected by the disease (or exposed to risk factors) while the other groups are unaffected, or it could involve comparing individual people. The epidemiologist uses comparisons to try and identify the key variations in the host and environmental factors between those affected and those who are not. In short, epidemiologists compare, balance, and weigh the results before drawing conclusions. Both groups should be comparable when making comparisons so that "like can be compared with like." Facts must be accurate and obtained in a consistent manner in order to be comparative. For instance, the age and sex mix of the research and control groups, as well as other pertinent factors, should be comparable.

As a result, community health nurses can use epidemiological approach to determine the distribution and causes of disease. Describe the epidemiological approach and how it can be used by nurses to address community health issues. A community health nurse uses an epidemiological approach to determine the prevalence and causes of disease. Using epidemiology to solve problems:

• Gather and analyze data
• Determine the target audience
• Initiative evaluation of action with regard to impact on community health
• Oversee and instruct other health professionals.
• Analyze the information's quality.

For example,

Imagine that "typhoid" had a negative impact on a community. By asking these questions, we can find a solution for the disease's control.

1) What is the Problem?                 
    The event is typhoid.

2) What is its magnitude?               
    About 60-120 houses are affected by typhoid. So the magnitude is large or the event has big effect.

3) Where did it happen?              
    It occured in Ramkot VDC Ward No. 5.

4) When did it happen?             
    It occured on the month of Mangsir.