NURS 6700 Week 2 Discussion : Descriptive Epidemiology Essay

NURS 6700 Week 2 Discussion : Descriptive Epidemiology Essay

NURS 6700 Week 2 Discussion : Descriptive Epidemiology Essay

HIV/AIDS was first recognized as an epidemic in the United States in 1981. At the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, the life expectancy for infected persons was less than 7 years. Today, because of research and new treatment options, people who begin treatment soon after diagnosis can expect to live a nearly normal life span (Cairns, 2010). The HIV/AIDS epidemic was identified through descriptive epidemiology.

Descriptive epidemiologic studies are often conducted as precursors to analytic studies. Epidemiologic concepts are used to gather data to better understand and evaluate health trends in populations. Data such as characteristics of the persons affected, place where an incident occurred, and time of occurrence are collected and analyzed to look for patterns in an effort to identify emerging health problems. In this Discussion, you will apply the epidemiologic concepts of time, place, and person to a specific population health problem.

To prepare for Walden NURS 6700 Week 2 Discussion : Descriptive Epidemiology Essay:

Consider a variety of population health problems, and then select one on which to focus for this Discussion.

Identify a specific population affected by your selected health problem.

Research the patterns of the disease in your selected population using the epidemiologic characteristics of person, place, and time.

Explore three to five data sources presented in the Learning Resources that could aid you in describing the population and magnitude of the problem. Analyze the strengths and limitations of each data source.

Consider methods for obtaining raw data to determine the variables of person, place, and time for your health problem. Ask yourself: How would the methods I select influence the accuracy of case identification, definition, and diagnosis?

By Day 3 of Walden NURS 6700 Week 2 Discussion : Descriptive Epidemiology Essay

Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:

Evaluate your selected health problem in the population you identified by describing three to five characteristics related to person, place, and time.

Appraise the data sources you utilized by outlining the strengths and limitations of each.

Discuss two methods you could use to collect raw data to determine the descriptive epidemiology of your health problem, Determine how these methods would influence the completeness of case identification as well as the case definition/diagnostic criteria used.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.

Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.

Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.

Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or by contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

NURS 6700/ NURS 8310 Epidemiology & Population Health Assignments – Week 3 Assignment: Selecting a Population Health Problem

As you know, promoting positive social change is a part of the Walden mission. To be an effective agent for social change, nurses must be able to logically and critically analyze population health issues using epidemiologic concepts, and then communicate insights in a succinct and professional manner. This exercise will afford you such an experience.

This week, you will complete Assignment 1 in preparation for Major Assessment 7, in which you will apply epidemiologic principles and develop an intervention for a health problem.

For this Assignment, you will examine a health problem of interest to you, and you will develop a brief paper (1–2 pages) outlining the significance of the health problem and describing it in terms of person, place, and time. This outline will help your Instructor determine if the topic you selected is appropriate for the Major Assessment paper.

Prepare for Assignment 1 as follows:

Review the Major Assessment Overview.

Determine a population health problem that is viable for completing this paper. You may use the problem you identified in the Week 1, 2, or Week 3 Discussion, or you may select a new one.

Determine the characteristics of the health problem in terms of person, place, and time.

Using the Walden Library and credible websites, conduct additional research on your selected population health problem. Consider the significance of this health problem.

Examine how Healthy People 2020, listed in the Learning Resources, supports the importance of addressing your selected health problem.

Develop a preliminary research question or hypothesis appropriate for your topic.

To complete:

Write a 1- to 2-page paper that addresses the following:

Describe the population health problem in terms of person, place, and time.

From the primary research literature and Healthy People 2020, briefly explain the significance of this health problem.

Include your preliminary research question or hypothesis.

By Day 7

Submit your 1- to 2-page paper in order to receive feedback on your topic

Note: You will build on this initial definition of your selected health problem as you continue to examine the research literature and epidemiologic data sources.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK3Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.

Click the Week 3 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

Click the Week 3 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.

Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK3Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.

If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database

Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.