Epidemiologic Approach In Understanding Notions Of Causation

Question: Discuss About The Epidemiologic Understanding Of Causation? Answer: Introducation Epidemiological approach which entails studying the causes, patterns and effects of diseases on a given population has proved to be of much importance in the health sector, this has improved healthcare delivery. It has been key when it comes to the making of major health decisions and has thus helped in the provision of more quality services. It has also promoted preventive healthcare through the evidence based research and identification of various risks posed by the various diseases. It has also lead to development of a methodology that is being used in biological sciences, public health and clinical research. . For instance, methods such as screening of the patients and medicines have been devised to help these people. Epidemiological methodology has also been fundamental in disease surveillance and evaluation of the interventions to see their effectiveness and this has therefore led to tremendous progress in the public health sector globally (Vandenbroucke, Broadbent Pearce, 201 6). Causation is a very important aspect during epidemiological practice. Causation tends to believe that certain occurrences or causes lead to certain events. For instance, it believes in the traditional theory that germs cause diseases for example that tuberculosis is caused by an agent called tubercle bacillus. This is helpful when developing an epidemiological research methodology because already causation gives a clue that can be researched upon and necessary preventive measures taken to avoid contracting the disease. This can be analyzed through five categories that include, production, probabilistic, necessary and sufficient and sufficient-component and counterfactual. These categories are important in their definitions and bringing out their correlations. Therefore, through epidemiology, it is possible to study the patterns, effects, and causes of diseases, which is much significant in the healthCare sector. Limitations of Epidemiologic Approach There are different scientific definition and approaches in the various fields of health. For instance, there is still the scientific and logic approaches that have posed a challenge due to their different definitions of causations as logic tries to give a more practical and flexible definition. They also have a difference in public health and aims of science. For example, the aims of public health are to reduce levels of morbidity and mortality from diseases whereas the basic aim of science is to explain the various phenomena in the world which may not have a be useful in achieving strategies of public health. Thus, it can be of more practical value if the epidemiologists left behind the traditional concepts on causes and conditions. The assumptions also made by the epidemiologists have also over time led to various varying results, which affects on the way different diseases can be approached and handled (Ventriglio, Bellomo Bhugra, 2016). Importance of Epidemiology Epidemiological approach which entails studying the causes, patterns and effects of diseases on a given population has proved to be of much importance in the health sector. It has been key when it comes to the making of major health decisions and has thus helped in the provision of more quality services. Epidemiology has also reduced the time spent by healthcare providers in the diagnosis of diseases which has improved on healthcare delivery. It has also promoted preventive healthcare through the evidence based research and identification of various risks posed by the various diseases (Schwartz, Gatto Campbell, 2016). For instance, a medical doctor is normally aware of the components available in the cigarettes that lead to lung cancer when a person indulges in smoking tendencies. The doctor therefore, using his clinical knowledge advises the smoker to reduce on his or her smoking to minimize on chances of contracting the disease. In addition, as epidemiology is concerned with the cause and effect of diseases, it has led to a better understanding of disease causing agents and appropriate strategies on how to handle such diseases. It has also lead to development of a methodology that is being used in biological sciences, public health and clinical research. Epidemiologists have further led to changes in the public secLimitations of Epidemiologic Approachtor by bringing conceptual and methodological advancements that have improved cost-effectiveness and efficacy in ethical and social implications. Overall, the discipline of epidemiology has proved to be key in the transition of the public health sector over the years. It has greatly helped to identify the risk factors that are posed by various lifestyles and environments with the goal of helping prevent such risks and health problems associated with them. For instance, due to urbanization, new diseases have emerged over time such as cardiovascular diseases which has been causing numerous deaths especially in the third world countries and thus a challenge to public health. Therefore, with epidemiology, the cause and effect of such illness is better understand and appropriate preventive measures taken to reduce mortality and disease burden (Broadbent, 2015) References Broadbent, A. (2015). Causation and prediction in epidemiology: A guide to the Methodological Revolution.Studies in History and psychology of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences,54, 72-80. Schwartz, S., Gatto, N. M., Campbell, U. B. (2016). Causal identification: a charge of epidemiology in danger of marginalization.Annals of epidemiology,26(10), 669-673.Management. Ventriglio, A., Bellomo, A., Bhugra, D. (2016). Web of causation and its implications for epidemiological research. Vandenbroucke, J. P., Broadbent, A., Pearce, N. (2016). Causality and causal inference in epidemiology: the need for a pluralistic approach.International journal of epidemiology,45(6), 1776-178