PPC

Salma Alsulaimi
 Common Medical Vocabulary for PPC1

1. Incidence

Incidence refers to the occurrence of new cases of disease or injury in a population over a specified
period of time. Although some epidemiologists use incidence to mean the number of new cases in a
community, others use incidence to mean the number of new cases per unit of population.

2. Prevalence

Prevalence, sometimes referred to as prevalence rate, is the proportion of persons in a population

3. Risk Factor

Something that increases the chance of developing a disease.

4. Cause / aetiology

Cause, also known as aetiology, is the reason or origin of something. Causation is when one factor
(or variable) causes another.

5. Correlation

Correlation is when two factors (or variables) are related, but one does not necessarily cause the
other.

6. Signs

Any objective evidence of a disease, such as a skin rash or a cough, is a sign. A doctor, family
members, and the individual experiencing the signs can identify these.

7. Symptoms

Symptoms are subjective, meaning that other people only know about them if informed by the
individual with the condition.

8. Chronic

Chronic is something (disease/ condition) that is continuing or occurring again and again for a long
time. Chronic conditions develop slowly and may worsen over an extended period of time—months
to years.

9. Acute

Acute illnesses generally develop suddenly and last a short time, often only a few days or weeks.

10. Preventive Health

Prevention, also called preventive health, is any action taken to keep people healthy and well, and
prevent or avoid risk of poor health, illness, injury and early death.

Go to the blackboard exercise Common Medical Vocabulary for PPC1 and see if you can match the
word with the example.
11. Non-invasive

This describes a procedure that does not require inserting an instrument through the skin or into a
body opening. In cancer, it describes disease that has not spread outside the tissue in which it began.

12. Invasive

This describes a medical procedure that invades (enters) the body, usually by cutting or puncturing
the skin or by inserting instruments into the body.

13. Less invasive

This describes any invasive procedure that attempts to decrease the damage done by instruments
that are inserted though the skin into the body.

Can you think of examples of non-invasive, Invasive and less invasive?

14. Levels of Healthcare

Primary healthcare is a people-centered rather than disease-centered service that addresses the
majority of a person’s health needs throughout their lifetime including physical, mental and social
well-being. Primary care is generally the first level of care that patients receive when they have
medical concerns or needs and takes a whole-of-society approach that includes health promotion,
disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.

Secondary healthcare is the specialist treatment and support provided by doctors and other health
professionals for patients who have been referred to them for specific expert care, most often
provided in hospitals. Secondary care services are usually based in a hospital or clinic, though some
services may be community-based.

Tertiary healthcare, is a level above secondary health care, that has been defined as highly
specialized medical care, usually provided over an extended period of time, that involves advanced
and complex diagnostics, procedures and treatments performed by medical specialists in state-of-
the-art facilities. As such Consultants in tertiary care centers have access to more specialized
equipment and expertise.

Can you think of examples of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare?

Primary prevention
- measures taken to prevent a disease or health issue before it occurs. This can involve
health education, vaccinations, lifestyle changes, and other interventions aimed at
reducing risk factors.
Secondary prevention
- involves early detection and intervention after a disease has already begun or a risk
factor has been identified. Examples include regular screenings, early diagnosis, and
prompt treatment to prevent the progression of a disease.

Hazard
- something that has the potential to cause harm, such as a chemical, biological, physical,
or other factor that can lead to an adverse health effect or injury.
Risk
- probability or likelihood of a particular hazard causing harm. It involves assessing the
chance of an adverse event occurring and the severity of the consequences.

Incidence
- number of new cases of a specific disease or health condition occurring within a defined
population during a specified period.
Prevalence
- the total number of cases of a disease or condition present in a given population at a
specific time.

Acute
- a health condition or illness that is severe and occurs suddenly, usually short-lived,
usually only a few days or weeks, and often with a rapid progression of symptoms.
Chronic
- a health condition or illness that persists over a long period, often characterized by slow
progression and lasting for months or years.

Holistic care
- considers the whole person's physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-
being. It emphasizes comprehensive treatment and addressing various aspects of an
individual's health.
Biomedical care
- focuses primarily on diagnosing and treating diseases or conditions using scientific and
biological principles, often emphasizing medical interventions and pharmaceuticals.

Autonomy
- a person's right and ability to make decisions and take actions independently, based on
their own values, preferences, and beliefs.
Informed consent
- the process in which a person is provided with all relevant information about a medical
intervention or treatment, including its risks, benefits, and alternatives, and then gives
their voluntary agreement to undergo the procedure or treatment.

Justice
- fair and equitable distribution of resources, treatments, and opportunities, ensuring that
all individuals have access to adequate healthcare regardless of their background or
circumstances.
Beneficence
- the ethical principle of acting in the best interest of the patient, promoting their well-
being, and providing benefits while minimizing harm.

Signs
- objective indications of a disease or condition that can be observed or measured by a
healthcare provider, such as fever, rash, or high blood pressure.
Symptoms
- subjective experiences or sensations felt by an individual, indicating an abnormality or a
change in bodily function, such as pain, fatigue, or dizziness.

Correlation
- a statistical relationship between two variables where a change in one variable is
associated with a change in another, but one does not necessarily cause the other.
Causation
- a relationship between cause and effect, where one variable (cause) directly produces
an effect on another variable.