Assignment: Descriptive Studies

Despite what people think, disease does not occur randomly in a society. Traditionally, diseases have appeared in different race/ethnic groups, age groups, and geographic locations. It is important to understand that disease does not occur randomly throughout a population. Disease occurs at different rates according to geographic locations, aspects of the person (race, age, or religion), and time of year (flu season etc.).

Respond to the following:

• What is a descriptive epidemiologic study?

• How are descriptive epidemiologic studies used today? Illustrate your answer using the example of the World Trade Center Attack of September 11, 2001.

• Give reasons to support your statements.

Write your initial response in approximately 200 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.