Visit the and explore some topics of interest to you. Discuss how epidemiologic methods are used to evaluate Healthy People 2020 objectives. Give an example. The example can be one you created or one from an actual study. Include the primary goal/purpose of the descriptive or analytical study, design type in the category chosen, uses of analytic or descriptive type, at least one advantage and disadvantage of the design type. https://health.gov/healthypeople
Epidemiology is a branch of public health that focuses on the study of patterns, causes, and effects of health-related events in populations. Epidemiologic methods play a crucial role in evaluating the progress made towards achieving the objectives outlined in Healthy People 2020. By using various study designs and analytic techniques, epidemiologists can assess the effectiveness of interventions and identify areas for improvement.
One objective of Healthy People 2020 is to reduce the number of new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. To evaluate this objective, an epidemiologic study could be conducted to assess the impact of a HIV prevention intervention program. Let’s consider an example of a study that evaluates the effectiveness of an educational intervention aimed at reducing risky sexual behavior among college students.
The primary goal of this descriptive study would be to assess the prevalence of risky sexual behavior among college students before and after the educational intervention. The design type chosen for this study could be a pre-post intervention study. In this design, data would be collected on risky sexual behavior both before and after the intervention, allowing for comparison and assessment of any changes in behavior.
The study would utilize a descriptive type of analysis, which involves summarizing data and describing the characteristics of the study population. This may include calculating the proportion of students engaged in risky sexual behavior before and after the intervention, as well as demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and sexual orientation.
One advantage of the pre-post intervention study design is its simplicity and feasibility. It can be easily implemented within a specific time frame, and the data collected can provide valuable insights into changes in behavior. Additionally, this design allows for a direct comparison between the before and after intervention periods, providing evidence of the effectiveness of the intervention.
However, there are also disadvantages associated with the pre-post intervention study design. One limitation is the lack of a control group. Without a comparison group, it is difficult to determine whether the observed changes in behavior are solely attributable to the intervention or other factors. Additionally, this design relies on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias or social desirability bias.
In this hypothetical study, the intervention could involve a series of educational workshops focused on promoting safe sexual practices and the use of protective measures. Following the intervention, data would be collected using surveys to assess changes in sexual behavior.
The data collected could include information on the number of sexual partners, condom use, and other risk behaviors. These data would be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, such as chi-square tests or logistic regression, to determine if there are significant changes in behavior after the intervention.
The results of this study could provide valuable insights into the impact of the educational intervention on reducing risky sexual behavior among college students. If the intervention is effective, it could help inform future interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of HIV infection in this population.
In conclusion, epidemiologic methods play a vital role in evaluating the objectives outlined in Healthy People 2020. Through various study designs and analytic techniques, epidemiologists can assess the effectiveness of interventions and identify areas for improvement. The example discussed in this essay demonstrates how a pre-post intervention study design can be used to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on reducing risky sexual behavior among college students. While this design has advantages such as simplicity and feasibility, it also has limitations, such as the lack of a control group. Overall, epidemiologic methods provide valuable insights into the progress made towards achieving the Healthy People 2020 objectives and contribute to improving population health.