Approach In Understanding Disease Notions †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Approach In Understanding Disease Causation Notions? Answer: Introducation The first strength of the epidemiologic approach in understanding causation notions is that it helps develop and implement effective preventive actions against particular diseases before their complete causative agents are established (Gallagher, 2012). The approach provides practical problem solving skills that are viable in any given setting even before the particular causative mechanism of a disease is established. For instance, the approach can be used to inform the community to reduce intake of highlipid foods and as a result prevent cardiovascular diseases. Secondly, epidemiological studies are cheaper as compared to lab-based studies while at the same time offers generalizable results within a short time than the later (Kim, 2013). It involves low-cost observational studies which have no ethical controversies in preventing disease causation mechanisms. Unlike in lab-based treatment approaches used in establishing disease causative organisms, humans are not at all exposed to se rious physical risk. Through the approach community public health interventions can be evaluated even when health conditions have resulted from natural causes (Platt, 2011). The causal knowledge acquired in this approach helps plan and act on breaking links between disease causing factors and the diseases themselves. Further, the approach helps predict intervention outcomes in communities. Weaknesses of the Epidemiologic Approach One of the weaknesses of the epidemiological approach in regard to understanding notions of disease causation is that its studies do not control both confounding and extraneous factors (Gallagher, 2012). This makes interpretation of results obtained in the epidemiological study difficult. In terms of observational studies used in this approach, there are major disadvantages. First, direct study on etiology is impossible since investigators do not manipulate any given exposures. Secondly, etiology is only indirectly studied through comparison of the experience between exposed and unexposed groups of people to a putative risk factor (Kim, 2013). Also unlike in experimental studies, observational studies do not collect any systematic information on extraneous and/or confounding factors in a study and thus renders interpretation of study results difficult. In regard to community interventions in epidemiologic approach, individuals within the control community can access interventions on their own since there are no tight control rules as in laboratory experimental studies (Platt, 2011). As a result of these disadvantages, epidemiological studies are not conclusive in understanding notions of disease causation. Importance of Epidemiology in the 21st Century I agree with Rothman (2007) that epidemiology developed slowly and briefly flourished but is now nearly gone and has left behind disease prevention awareness, some controversial alarms, and a number of techniques to be used in assessing health consequences of human actions. The approach is nearly gone due to the conventional ethical restrictions enacted to limit epidemiological studies, including tedious procedures needed before institutions can accept one to carry out a study on its staff and/or clients. These are the controversial alarms mentioned in Rothman (2007). Even so, its principles are important in informing health promotion programs, preventive measures, mapping at-risk populations among others today. In the 21st Century epidemiology is enabling the world to study disease causing agents, different host and environmental factors including their interaction (Kim, 2013). As a result, it has contributed to scientific basis upon which disease and/or injuries can be prevented an d how health promotions should be carried out to increase societal awareness on cause, effect and prevention measures. Secondly, epidemiology lately helps institutions in establishing the causes of not only specific diseases but also disability and mortality in order to inform decisions towards prioritizing necessary public health interventions (Gallagher, 2012). The epidemiological approach today helps in the determination of most at risk populations for appropriate health attention to be offered. Further, contemporary epidemiology evaluates the effectiveness of given health intervention programs and/or services in regard to monitoring causation and effect of diseases. The causal knowledge in epidemiology informs rational planning and acting to break the link between diseases and disease-causing factors (Platt, 2011). It can also enable in predicting interventional outcomes and thus help in treating diseases Reference Gallagher, L. (2012). Session Title: Ethics and Epidemiologic Decision-Making for Population Benefits.Annals of Epidemiology,22(9), 680. Kim, J. (2013). Epidemiology and Causation.Kosin Medical Journal,28(2), 87. Li, H. (2013). Systems biology approaches to epidemiological studies of complex diseases.Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Systems Biology And Medicine,5(6), 677-686. Platt, M. (2011). Teaching epidemiology: A guide for teachers in epidemiology, public health and clinical medicine.Public Health,125(4), 241-242. Rothman, K.J (2007). The rise and fall of epidemiology, 1950-2000 A.D. International Journal of Epidemiology 2007; 36(4): 708-710.