In this Unit, you have discussion and a large point assignment. Please be sure to listen to the seminar archive and also do the learning activities in both Unit 1 and Unit 2. These relate to the assignment directly.

I look forward to our discussion and your research one on the options for preventive screening in the assignment directions.

Melody

Course Outcome(s) practiced in this unit:

Interpret epidemiological data on morbidity and mortality related to acute and chronic disease states.

Unit 2 Introduction

Clinical Epidemiology: Risk

There are a number of statistics used in epidemiology to describe health status, quantify the extent of disease, and estimate the risk for developing disease or injury.

It is essential that nurses be able to locate and interpret these statistics because this information is used to plan and evaluate health services and guide health policy.

Characteristics that result in increased chances of disease or injury are known as risk factors. Some are not changeable, such as age or sex, or perhaps geographic location in certain instances.

However, many can be altered. Recognizing risk, and risk calculations is an important part of epidemiology. Concepts in risk include, exposure, time, causal and non-causal factors, and risk prediction or stratification.