Public health & evidence

Use population evidence to improve individual and community care.

8 detailed notes·Clinical examples + recall

Topics

8 notes

Prevalence, incidence and disease distribution describe burden. Understand how measurement and sampling affect interpretation.

Oral disease follows social patterns. Access, environment, income and discrimination can shape exposure and outcomes.

Compare universal and targeted approaches, considering reach, benefit, acceptability and unintended effects.

Understand pathways, service roles, referral criteria and local commissioning arrangements; verify current regional rules before acting.

Read the question, study design, effect size, uncertainty and bias before applying evidence to a patient.

Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values answer different questions; disease prevalence changes predictive value.

Good research requires a valuable question, sound design, consent, protection of participants and transparent reporting.

Use a clear aim, measures and small cycles of change. Watch balancing measures so improvement in one area does not harm another.