can case definitions change? if so, why? what’s the process? if not, why? course hero

by Mr. Jamal Wilderman IV 9 min read

How do you develop a case definition?

Developing a case definition requires a suitable balance between identifying all possible cases (sensitivity) and correctly excluding non-outbreak-related illnesses (specificity).

What is a change case in Computer Science?

home / study / engineering / computer science / computer science definitions / change cases. A change case is used to define new requirements for a system or to modify the existing requirements of a system. Defining new requirements for a system indicate the likeliness of the change occurring and indicate the impact of that change.

Why does the definition of a case change over time?

As the investigation continues and more knowledge is gained about the nature of the cases, the definition may be narrowed, making it more specific. This is particularly important for a newly emerging disease where a standard case definition does not yet exist.

What is the purpose of case definitions?

The purpose of case definitions is to ensure that cases are counted in a systematic and consistent manner to enable comparison and analysis of trends. Case definitions are essential to an effective outbreak investigation.

Why is it important to establish a case definition?

Establishing a case definition is an imperative step in quantifying the magnitude of disease in a population. Case definitions are used in ongoing public health surveillance to track the occurrence and distribution of disease within a given area, as well as during outbreak investigations in field epidemiology.

What is a case definition in public health surveillance?

While the same criteria apply for developing a case definition in routine public health surveillance, in an outbreak investigation a case definition may also include information regarding person, place, and time, in addition to clinical and laboratory characteristics.

Is epidemiology retrospective or historical?

Unlike other medical disciplines, epidemiology concerns itself with groups of people rather than individual patients and is frequently retrospective, or historical, in nature. It…. human disease. Human disease, an impairment of the normal state of a human being that interrupts or modifies its vital functions.…. public health.

What is Giardia lamblia?

An illness caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia and characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, weight loss, or malabsorption. Infected persons may be asymptomatic. Laboratory criteria for diagnosis. Demonstration of G. lamblia cysts in stool, or.

What is a confirmed case?

Confirmed cases: These are usually laboratory confirmed cases, e.g., persons who attended a school's teacher appreciation luncheon on September 6, 2010 who had Salmonella isolated from a stool culture. Confirmed cases are best, because they are the most definitive. For most infectious diseases there will be a considerable number of infected people who have only mild symptoms (mildly symptomatic) or no symptoms at all (subclinical cases), and correctly identifying them as cases will rely on laboratory testing.

What are clinical criteria?

Clinical criteria for a Case Definition. These should be simple, objective, and discriminating (i.e. able to distinguish between people with disease and those without disease. For example, three or more loose bowel movements per day or muscle aches severe enough to limit the patient's activities.

Why are confirmed cases the best?

Confirmed cases are best, because they are the most definitive . For most infectious diseases there will be a considerable number of infected people who have only mild symptoms (mildly symptomatic) or no symptoms at all (subclinical cases), and correctly identifying them as cases will rely on laboratory testing.

Is a case definition the same as a clinical diagnosis?

A case definition is not the same as a clinical diagnosis. Case definitions are an aid to conducting an epidemiologic investigation, whereas a clinical diagnosis is used to make treatment decisions for individual patients.

Can a case definition change during an investigation?

As a result, the case definition may change during the investigation. In the earliest stages, it might be broader and less specific in order to make sure you identify all of the potential cases ("possible" cases), but later on, it might include more specific clinical or laboratory criteria that enable you to categorize individuals as "probable" ...

How does an epidemiologist determine the disease rate?

To calculate the disease rate, the epidemiologist divides the number of cases by the size of the population.

How does an epidemiologist perform descriptive epidemiology?

This is done by developing a case definition. Then, using this case definition, the epidemiologist finds and collects information about the case-patients. The epidemiologist then performs descriptive epidemiology by characterizing the cases collectively ...

What is an indigenous case?

An indigenous case is defined as a case of measles that is not imported. Cases that are linked to imported cases should be classified as indigenous if the exposure to the imported case occurred in the reporting state. Any case that cannot be proved to be imported should be classified as indigenous.

What is a probable case?

Probable: A case that meets the clinical case definition, has noncontributory or no serologic or virologic testing, and is not epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case. Confirmed: A case that is laboratory confirmed or that meets the clinical case definition and is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case.

What is the role of public health?

These counts, usually derived from case reports submitted by health-care workers and laboratories to the health department, allow public health officials to determine the extent and patterns of disease occurrence by time, place, and person. They may also indicate clusters or outbreaks of disease in the community.

What is a sensitive case?

A sensitive case definition is one that is broad or “loose,” in the hope of capturing most or all of the true cases. For example, the case definition for a suspected case of rubella (German measles) is “any generalized rash illness of acute onset.”.

How long is a febrile illness?

A febrile illness of greater than or equal to 5 days’ duration, with at least four of the five following physical findings and no other more reasonable explanation for the observed clinical findings:

Get the most out of Chegg Study

In engineering there are many key concepts and terms that are crucial for students to know and understand. Often it can be hard to determine what the most important engineering concepts and terms are, and even once you’ve identified them you still need to understand what they mean.

Get Definitions of Key Engineering Concepts from Chegg

In engineering there are many key concepts and terms that are crucial for students to know and understand. Often it can be hard to determine what the most important engineering concepts and terms are, and even once you’ve identified them you still need to understand what they mean.

1. Screening

Screening refers to the process of reviewing a client's records to gather information about their history. This might include a client's medical history, employment background and other information that can tell a case manager about what services they might benefit from receiving.

2. Assessing

Assessing is similar to screening because it also involves collecting information about a client to create a strategy for their case. However, during the assessment stage, case managers review more in-depth information that tells them more about what a client's background is and how they might respond to certain types of treatment or services.

3. Evaluating risk

In the case management process, evaluating risk refers to using three categories to classify clients based on their perceived level of risk. The three risk categories are low, moderate and high, and each indicates a different level of treatment that a client might need depending on how their case manager classifies them.

4. Planning

The planning stage is when case managers begin developing care and service plans for their clients. This can involve a few different steps, like setting objectives for clients to reach on their own, establishing goals related to care and determining which services a client can receive.

5. Implementing

Implementing, sometimes called care coordination, is the step that focuses on putting a client's treatment plan into action. During the implementing stage, case managers guide their clients through the treatment options they establish and schedule in the planning stage.

6. Following up

Following up in the case management process means reviewing the progress of a patient's condition after taking part in their personalized treatment plan and considering what next steps you might take.

7. Transitioning

Transitioning, or transitional care, refers to helping a client move on to different levels of care as their conditions change.

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Overview

Creating Case Definitions

Sensitivity and Specificity

Case Definition Categories

  • Case definition categories are often used to group cases during outbreak investigations to reflect the degree of certainty that the case is part of the outbreak. Confirmed, probable and suspect case categories are commonly used, although different terminology may be found (e.g., “persons under investigation”). Case categories can be used to help: 1...
See more on outbreaktools.ca

Tools

References

Defining A Case

Components of A Case Definition For Outbreak Investigations

Criteria in Case Definitions

Modifying Case Definitions

  • Case definitions can also change over time as more information is obtained. The first case definition for SARS, based on clinical symptoms and either contact with a case or travel to an area with SARS transmission, was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on March 21, 2003 (see box below).(27) Two weeks later it was modif...
See more on cdc.gov

Variation in Case Definitions

Using Counts and Rates