CPH (Other exams) key terms

The study of how health-related states and events are distributed in populations and the factors that influence that distribution, used to control health problems.

The number of new cases of a disease or condition arising in a defined population during a specified time period, usually expressed as a rate per population at risk.

The proportion of a population that has a disease or condition at a given point in time or during a period, counting both new and existing cases.

The proportion of people exposed to an infectious agent who become ill during a defined outbreak period, often used in foodborne or point-source investigations.

The ratio of the risk of an outcome in an exposed group to the risk in an unexposed group, used in cohort studies to express the strength of association.

The ratio of the odds of exposure among people with a disease to the odds of exposure among people without it, commonly used in case-control studies.

An observational design that follows a group of people over time, comparing those exposed and unexposed to a factor to see who develops the outcome.

An observational design that starts with people who have a disease and comparable people who do not, then looks back to compare past exposures.

An experimental study in which participants are assigned by chance to an intervention or comparison group so that groups are comparable and bias is reduced.

A distortion of an exposure-outcome relationship caused by a third variable that is associated with both the exposure and the outcome but is not on the causal pathway.

A distortion that arises when the people included in a study or the groups being compared differ systematically from the population the study intends to describe.

The ability of a screening or diagnostic test to correctly identify people who truly have the condition, calculated as true positives divided by all true cases.

The ability of a screening or diagnostic test to correctly identify people who truly do not have the condition, calculated as true negatives divided by all non-cases.

The probability that a person with a positive test result actually has the condition, which depends on test accuracy and the prevalence of the condition in the population tested.

Indirect protection against an infectious disease that occurs when a sufficiently large share of a population is immune, reducing transmission to those who are not immune.

The average number of secondary infections produced by one infectious case in a fully susceptible population, often written as R0, indicating transmission potential.

The ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data used to plan, implement, and evaluate public health practice.

A disease that health care providers or laboratories are legally required to report to public health authorities so that trends can be tracked and action taken.

A structured process of confirming excess cases, defining cases, generating hypotheses, and identifying the source and mode of transmission so control measures can be applied.

Interventions that act before disease or injury occurs, such as immunization, safe water, or health education, to reduce the risk of onset in susceptible people.

Early detection and prompt treatment of disease at an asymptomatic or early stage, such as screening programs, aiming to halt or slow progression.

Measures that reduce disability, complications, or recurrence after a disease is established, such as rehabilitation or chronic disease management.

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, including income, education, housing, and neighborhood factors, that shape health outcomes.

The principle of ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health, requiring removal of avoidable barriers.

A preventable difference in health outcomes or access to care that is closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage among population groups.

The ability of providers and organizations to understand and respond respectfully to the cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients and communities.

The degree to which individuals can find, understand, and use health information and services to make informed health decisions for themselves and others.

A systematic process of comparing alternative policies by examining their likely costs, benefits, and consequences to inform decisions about which option to adopt.

An economic evaluation that compares the monetary value of a program's benefits with its costs, often expressed as a ratio, to judge whether the investment is worthwhile.

An economic evaluation that compares the cost of interventions with their health outcomes, such as cost per life-year gained or per case prevented, to guide resource allocation.

A method of identifying the people and groups affected by or able to influence a policy, along with their interests, power, and likely positions.

The body of statutes, regulations, and cases that define the authority of government to protect population health and set limits on that authority.

The constitutional authority of states to enact laws and take actions to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.

The branch of public health that addresses physical, chemical, and biological factors in the environment and how they affect human health.

A systematic process of identifying hazards and estimating the likelihood and severity of harm to people exposed to them, used to set protective standards.

The idea that when evidence suggests a serious or irreversible threat, protective action may be justified before scientific certainty is fully established.

The reduction in disease risk among vaccinated people compared with unvaccinated people in a controlled trial, usually expressed as a percentage.

A systematic process of collecting data to identify a community's health problems, assets, and priorities so that programs can be planned and targeted.

The systematic use of data to judge how well a public health program was implemented and whether it achieved its intended outcomes.