Nursing and Epidemiology docx

Running Head: Epidemiology
Nursing and Epidemiology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
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1Nursing and Epidemiology
Introduction
Epidemiology covers incidence, progression, distribution and potential measures and the
controls of diseases to prevent the progression of the disease. Therefore, public health initiatives
and measures are always benefitted by the science of epidemiology. This essay will discuss a
historical event of the epidemiology and the significance of that intervention in the field of
epidemiology. The British doctors’ study or the Doll and Hill study will be discussed as
significant and revolutionary study which contributed to the improvement of public health. The
essay will also describe the scope of epidemiology for one of the most prevalent communicable
disease – “measles” for understanding the preventive measures and possible interventions or
management to protect the population.
Significant historical event
During 1951 to 2001 two British physicians, cum epidemiologists, conducted a study
which is known as The British doctor’s study to understand the mortality rates and the
relationship of tobacco smoking with incidence of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. In the
late 1940s, they released a paper - “Smoking and Carcinoma of the Lung: Preliminary Report,”
which indicated the relationship between lung cancer and smoking among the patients admitted
in the hospital (with lung cancer). The physicians studied the distribution of the disease among
the population and tried to find direct correlation between potential in developing lung cancer in
an individual and smoking habits. The objective of the study was differed from beliefs of the
physicians and popular diagnostic interventions (Lococo et al., 2018). As most of the doctors of
that time depended on the improvement of diagnostic medications and believed that the
increasing rate of air pollution is one of the most valid environmental factors in the prevalence of

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lung cancer. In 1950 and 1951, both the physicians decided to evaluate the doctors in the
research, However, two thirds (41024 physicians) of the invited population responded to the
study. The primary study group was based on only male physicians. The study group was
categorised on the basis of age, amount of tobacco consumption, and smoking methods. In 1954,
they released a preliminary report, where they established a strong connection between tobacco
smoking and different respiratory diseases. The Report released in 1956 established that the non-
smokers and light smokers are more likely to enter in the aged or older person bracket than
regular smoker (Di Cicco et al., 2016). Response rate of the British Doctors’ Study was quite
high and showed that lung cancer and prevalence of Coronary Thrombosis (Myocardial
Infarction) are more prominent inn smokers. The study showed that smoking can decrease the
life span for 8-10 years. More than 50% of all smokers are died due to smoking related physical
health issues. Amount of tobacco consumption (smoking) is also interlinked with the mortality
rate in this study. This report reinforces the concept “Tobacco use is a cause for lung cancer”. In
another study, they showed that the tobacco smoking also impacted on respiratory system of the
female participants and development of ovarian cancer among female smokers.
This research is one of the most reliable cohort studies as it has focused on a large sample group.
Breathing in tobacco smoke severely into the lungs rises the absorption of nicotine. As nicotine
is an addictive and stimulatory chemical, this harm lung cells of the human and deteriorate the
condition of the respiratory system (Hedman, 2019). The practice was more frequently establish
in women who had developed or would later develop lung cancer. The report of Doll, hill and
Peto has been cited in more 70000 until 2017. Anti- tobacco smoking policies and increase of
tax in tobacco products are the result of the study. Before 1950s, smoking was not considered as
the cause of the Lung cancer and respiratory diseases. In 1957 MRC represented the report on

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correlation between smoking and lung cancer which was supported by MH in parliament. As the
effect, Imperial Tobacco Company’s dominance over the tobacco policies of UK faltered. The
report was able to change political perception of electoral losses due to approval of an
intervention related to changing a mass habit.
Scope of epidemiology
Epidemiology helps to prevent and control the disease among the people of a country or
community. During 2019 and 2020, measles has been found as one of the most prevalent
diseases in New Zealand. This disease is highly contagious and causes fever, malaise, rash,
corzya, cough and conjunctivitis. The measles is caused by the infection of the rubella virus. The
only reservoir of this virus is humans therefore importance of the vaccination and medications
are high for the disease. The virus usually affects the children of 5-8 years mainly. Person to
person contact and air borne spreading are main causes for measles in the population. Infectious
droplets of a measles affected patient can be air borne up to two hours and thus the infection can
be caused without person to person contamination. Incubation period of the disease is 6 to 21
days. The period of contamination is assumed to be 5 days before the rashes are appeared to four
days after the outbreak of rashes in the body of the affected person. This disease can lead to
lifelong disability such as brain damage, deafness and blind ness also. Infected people are
typically asymptomatic in the course of the incubation period. The spreading of the virus is due
to viremia. The next phase of incubation is prodrome phase which lasts for two to four days and
can be extends up to 8 days. The appearance of symptoms can be observed in this phase only.
The respiratory symptoms and inflammations are occurred in this phase. Fever can be observed
up to 40 C (Hayman et al., 2017). After the prodrome phase, enanthem phase will occur. In this
phase Koplik’s Spots are appeared in the body of the patients. Koplik’s Spots are gray or white