GLOSSARY
© SH Weiss, DM Rosenblum, SL Collini, MM Sass, ML Knight, 2004, New Jersey.
A B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V W X
Y Z Abbreviations & Acronyms
- Adenoma
- a type of noncancerous tumor.
- Adjuvant Therapy
- treatment given following the primary treatment to enhance the effectiveness of the primary treatment. Adjuvant therapy may be chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy.
- Advanced Practice Nurse
- registered nurse with master’s level nursing education who provides expert clinical care in settings including but not limited to acute and long-term care facilities and ambulatory care clinics.
- Aflatoxins
- group of toxic compounds, which are powerful liver carcinogens, produced by certain molds
- Age-adjusted
- used to describe rates in which statistical procedures have been applied to remove the effect of differences in composition (specifically, variations in age distribution) of the various populations (important when trying to portray an accurate picture of the burden of cancer when cancer is known to disproportionately affect older people). Age-adjusted rates are obtained by:
- First, separating the population of interest into narrowly prescribed age groups (typically each with an age range of five years);
- Then, computing the rate in each of those age groups by dividing the frequency of occurrence in the age group by the number of people in the age group (these are age-specific rates); and
- Finally, taking a weighted average of these age-specific rates using some standard set of weights, typically derived from the fractions of some larger population in each of these age groups.
The resulting age-adjusted rate gives the rate that would be observed in the relevant population if its age distribution were the same as that of the larger population from which the standard weights are derived but its rates at each age were the actually observed rates (or, equivalently, the rate that would be observed in the larger population if the rates at each age in the larger population were the same as those in the relevant population). If the standard set of weights come from the U.S. population in 2000, the age-adjusted rates are said to be adjusted to the standard 2000 U.S. population.
- AIDS
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
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- Barium enema
- a series of x-rays of the lower intestine. The x-ray pictures are taken after the person is given an enema with a white, chalky solution that contains barium. The barium is opaque to x-rays (“radio-opaque”), and hence outlines the intestines on the x-ray pictures.
- Basal cell carcinoma
- most common form of skin cancer; due to the very high cure rate and high incidence, usually excluded from cancer statistics
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- monitors major behavioral risk factors that lead to illness and/or death. Behavioral Risk Factor Survey is a telephone survey that is partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a component of the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). BRFSS survey results are used to monitor selected public health objectives related to disease prevention and healthy behaviors. The national BRFSS web site is http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/; the New Jersey state BRFSS web site is http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/brfss.htm. (Note that New Jersey data is available at the national site—the New Jersey site provides a convenient overview of the data and useful summaries of historical data.)
- Benign
- Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
- Biological marker
- genetic, biological, or chemical measurements taken from a sample of biological material used to detect preclinical disease or to monitor disease status
- Biopsy
- the removal of cells or tissues for examination under a microscope. When only a sample of tissue is removed, the procedure is called an incisional biopsy or core biopsy. When the whole tumor is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle, the procedure is called a needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration. Related types are punch biopsies, frequently used to evaluate skin lesions, and brush biopsies, which are now frequently being used in assessing oral lesions. Specialized biopsy needles exist for use in various organs such as in biopsies of the liver, kidney or bone marrow, which can be performed through the skin, and other specialized needles that can be used with fiber-optic endoscopy or bronchoscopy, for example.
- Biotherapy
- treatment of disease with biologicals, such as certain drugs, vaccines, or antitoxins
- Bladder
- (urinary bladder) the organ that stores urine after it has been generated by the kidneys but before it has been excreted from the body through the urethra.
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. (In customary American units, this is equal to 703 times weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared.)
- Breast
-
1) the front of the chest 2) either of the two mammary glands (the milk-secreting organs on the front of the chest of the human female)
- BRCA-I
-
breast cancer susceptibility gene number 1, localized to chromosome 13q12-q13, which influences vulnerability to breast and ovarian cancer
- BRCA-II
- breast cancer susceptibility gene number 2, localized to chromosome 17q, which influences vulnerability to breast and ovarian cancer
- Breast Self-Exam (BSE)
- systematic method of self-inspection and palpation (feeling) of the breast and armpit
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- Cachexia
- a general wasting of the body during a chronic disease
- Cancer
- a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
- Cancer Control PLANET
- CDC website, http://cancercontrolplanet.cancer.gov/, providing links to resources for comprehensive cancer control. P.L.A.N.E.T. stands for: Plan, Link, Act, Network with Evidence-based Tools.
- Cancer Cluster
- a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a specified geographic area over a specific period of time.
- Carcinogen
- any substance that causes cancer.
- Carcinoma in-situ
- cancer that involves only the cells in which it began and has not spread to other tissues
- Cervix
- the uterine cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina. (Cervix is the Latin word for “neck.”)
- Chemoprevention
- the use of drugs, vitamins, or other agents to try to reduce the risk of or delay the development or recurrence of cancer.
- Chemoprophylaxis
- drug treatment designed to prevent future occurrences of disease. Treatment may be chemotherapy as far as an individual is concerned but chemoprophylactic for the population as a whole.
- Chemotherapy
- treatment used with anti-cancer drugs to achieve a cure
- Cholangiocarcinoma
- relatively rare cancer that arises from the cells of the bile duct (passages external to the liver)
- Clinical Breast Exam
- a clinical breast exam is performed by a healthcare provider. It includes visual examination and palpation (feeling) of the entire breast and underarm area, and is performed in both sitting and lying down positions. It is recommended that women get a CBE by a healthcare provider at least every three years beginning at age 20 and yearly after age 40.
- Colon
- the long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water and a few other nutrients from digested food after it has passed through the small intestine. The remaining material, solid waste called stool, moves through the colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the anus. The colon is the major part of the large intestine.
- Colonoscopy
- an examination of the inside of the colon using a thin, lighted tube (called a colonoscope) inserted into the rectum. If abnormal areas are seen, tissue can be removed and examined under a microscope to determine if disease is present.
- Colorectal
- related to the colon and rectum.
- Community Health Assessment (CHA)
- in New Jersey, a formal countywide or multi-countywide process which identifies the county’s status of health and quality of life. The assessment, required to be conducted by Local Boards of Health, identifies problems, assesses the community’s capacity to address health and social service needs and allows for statewide comparability. The assessment identifies the populations in that community that are underserved by health services providers, and provides information regarding resource inventories, and their distribution and costs.
- Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
- a formally written plan that includes the roles and responsibilities of the various public and private partners and goals and objectives aimed at countywide or multi-countywide improvement in the health status of its residents. The CHIP is compiled and published by participating public health departments and their public and private partner advisors. Private partners may be entities that affect or are affected by public health activities, and can include hospitals, service organizations and county cancer and other coalitions. The goals and objectives guide the development of health policies, services, and the county health system improvements.
- Community Public Health Providers
- governmental municipal, county and regional health agencies, and other public and private entities in the community that provide public health services.
- Confidence Interval (95%)
-
an interval constructed from observed data that has a 95% probability of including the true value of an unknown parameter of interest. The confidence expresses the percentage of intervals constructed from repeated probability sampling data that will contain the parameter (“the true value”) of interest. Hence, with 95% confidence intervals, 95% of the intervals constructed from repeated probability samples will contain the true value in the population. If a confidence interval is constructed about a rate ratio, then an interval that includes the value 1.00 has not ruled out “no difference” and thus is not statistically significant.
- Cumulative risk
- the total probability that an event will occur, usually calculated by summing risk over a period of time.
- Cystoscopy
- examination of the bladder using a thin, lighted instrument (called a cystoscope) inserted into the urethra. Tissue samples can be removed and examined under a microscope to determine if disease is present.
- Cytology
- the study of cells; a cytologic examination is done to assess whether any cells appear to be malignant or otherwise abnormal (e.g. dysplastic)
- Cytotechnologist
- individual who specializes in the study of
cells
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- Dendritic cell
- nerve cell including branched protoplasmic extensions that conduct impulses from adjacent cells inward toward the cell body
- Diagnosis
- the process of identifying a disease by its signs and symptoms.
- Diagnostic procedure
- a method used to identify a disease.
- Digital rectal examination (DRE)
- an examination in which a doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities; in males, includes an examination of the prostate gland.
- Disparities
- conditions or facts of being unequal, as in age or rank
- Distant stage
- refers to cancer that has spread either by metastasis or direct extension from the original (primary) tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes.
- Dysplasia
- abnormal development or growth, especially of cells. Cancer cells are typically dysplastic, but dysplastic cells are not necessarily cancerous.
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- Epi Info™
-
a software package created, maintained and freely distributed by the Centers for Disease Control for the collection and processing of epidemiologic and other data, capable of report generation and statistical analysis. Further information is available at www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/.
- Etiology
- the study of the causes or origins of disease
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- False-negative rate
- (in the cases of screening test results) the fraction of individuals who are screened as negative but truly have the condition or disease
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
- a test to check for blood in stool. “Fecal” means “of or having to do with stool (feces)”. “Occult” means “hidden”.
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- Governmental Public Health Partnerships (GPHP)
-
voluntary organizations of governmental municipal, county and regional health agencies, and private entities that affect or are affected by public health services. GPHP’s are organized to assist the implementation the regulatory requirements of the New Jersey Public Health Practice Standards of Performance that is required of each New Jersey Board of Health.
- Grade
- a classification of a tumor’s likely aggressiveness, determined by how abnormal the cancer cells appear when examined under a microscope, the probable growth rate of the tumor, and its tendency to spread. The systems used to grade tumors vary with each type of cancer.
- Grading
- a system for classifying cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they appear when examined under a microscope. The objective of a grading system is to provide information about the probable growth rate of the tumor and its tendency to spread. The systems used to grade tumors vary with each type of cancer. Grading plays a role in treatment decisions.
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- Health Alert Network (HAN)
- a term used by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to describe the public health infrastructure. This includes the communications system, workforce training and organizational capacity needed to respond to public health emergencies. In New Jersey, the “Local Information
Network and Communication System” and the “Distance Learning Network” form the
HAN. The organizations that are formed into a communicating whole for the purpose of providing surveillance and response activities on behalf of public health incidents and emergencies. HAN’s are organized to function in response to conventional public health phenomena, man-made incidents, and to be part of the state and federal system of emergency response under the state and county Offices of Emergency Management.
- Health Officer
- a licensed individual who is employed full time as the health officer of a municipal, regional, county or contractual Local Health Agency. This individual is responsible for leading the governmental public health program in the areas served. This executive may or may not have formal training in public health or medicine.
- Hispanic
- (or Hispanic Origin) The United States’ Office of Management and Budget defines Hispanic or Latino as “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.”
- Hospice
- a licensed program which provides palliative services to terminally ill patients in a patient’s home or place of residence, including medical, nursing, social work, volunteer and counseling services.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- a virus that causes abnormal tissue growth (such as genital, anal and other warts) and is often associated with some types of cancer. There are numerous genetic subtypes of HPV, some of which are mainly associated with benign conditions such as common and plantar warts, and others with malignant tumors.
- Hyperplastic
- of or pertaining to abnormal increase in the number of normal cells
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- Incidence
- the number of newly diagnosed cases of a disease in a defined population in a specific time
- Immunotherapy
- treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease
- Income (per capita)
- average income per person, obtained by dividing aggregate income by total population of an area.
- Inpatient
- patient temporarily confined to an institution such as a hospital or nursing home, where there is an overnight stay
- In-situ
- in a given or natural position, undisturbed
- In-situ cancer
- early cancer that has not spread to neighboring tissue.
- Invasive cancer
- cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it developed and is growing into surrounding, healthy tissues. Also called infiltrating cancer.
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- Kaposi’s sarcoma
- a type of tumor characterized by the abnormal growth of blood vessels that develops into skin lesions but which also can occur internally; closely associated with the AIDS pandemic and with immunosuppressive therapy given to kidney transplant recipients.
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- Latent
- present or potential but not evident or active
- Life expectancy
- longevity, the average length of life of individuals in a population.
- Linguistic Isolation
- term used by the U.S. Census Bureau to describe the state of a household in which no household members (aged 14 years or over) speak English “very well” and all household members aged 14 years or over speak a language or languages other than English. All the members of a linguistically isolated household are tabulated as linguistically isolated, including members under 14 years old who may speak only English. (American Community Survey)
- Local Board of Health (LBOH)
- a governmental entity having the legal authority in New Jersey to regulate county, municipal, regional or special health district public health policies and services by ordinance. LBOH’s in New Jersey may manage their own Local Health Agency, or may contract with a Local Health Agency to deliver public health services.
- Local Health Agency (LHA)
- an operational governmental public health organization conducting a program of public health and that is managed by a full time licensed health officer and conducts a public health program pursuant to law.
- Local Information Network and Communication System (LINCS)
- an electronic public health information system that provides communication for the Health Alert Network and information to Local Health Agencies. See
www.state.nj.us/health/lh/lincs/ for further information.
- Local Public Health System
- the public and private informational, financial, organizational, and human resources that act to maintain and advance the public’s health.
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- Malignant
- cancerous; a growth with a tendency to invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
- Mammography
- radiologic examination of the breast; the breast is compressed and at least two views are taken; special studies may include magnified views or xeromammography for the purpose of detecting abnormalities
- Managed Care
- any arrangement for health care in which an organization, such as a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), another type of doctor-hospital network, or an insurance company, acts an intermediate between the person seeking care and the physician.
- Mean
- the arithmetic average of a set of numbers. It is derived by dividing the sum of the set of numbers by the total number of items in the set. For example, mean family income is obtained by dividing the total of all income reported by people 15 years and over in families by the total number of families.
- Median
- the middle value in an ordered list of numbers. If there is an even number of items in the list, the median is the average of the two middle values. The median divides the set of values into two equal parts: one-half of the values fall below the median and one-half of the values exceed the median.
- Melanoma
- a form of skin cancer that arises in melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment. Melanoma usually begins in a mole, and can be aggressive.
- Metastasis
- the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. Cells in the metastatic (secondary) tumor are the same type as those in the original (primary) tumor.
- Molecular markers
- molecules that identify physical location on a chromosome
- Morbidity
- state of ill-health produced by a disease.
- Mortality rate
- the rate of death, i.e the number of deaths that occur in a defined population in a specific time period; may also be applied to deaths from a specific cause
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- Neoplasm
- a new growth of benign or malignant tissue.
- Nonmelanoma skin cancer
- skin cancer that arises in basal cells or squamous cells but not in melanocytes (pigment producing cells of the skin).
- Nutraceuticals
- food or naturally occurring food supplement thought to have a beneficial effect on human health
- Nutrition
- discipline that deals with food and nourishment
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- Office of Local Health
- the Office of Local Health (now the Division of Local Public Health Practice and Regional Systems Development) within the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
- Oncologist
- a doctor who specializes in treating cancer.
- Oncology
- study of cancer
- Oral surgeon
- a dentist with special training in surgery of the mouth and jaw.
- Oropharyngeal
- relating to the area of the throat at the back of the mouth
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- Palliative care
- care enhancing the quality of life of patients with cancer and other illnesses by targeting physical and psychological symptoms and spiritual needs from the time of diagnosis to end of life care in all settings
- Papanicolaou test (Pap Test/Smear)
- a cytological method of examining exfoliated cells in stained smears, which is commonly used to examine cells from the vagina and cervix in order to screen for cancer.
- Pharynx
- the hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the tube that goes to the stomach).
- Photographic mole mapping
- procedure, through the use of a dye and radioactive tracer injection, that attempts to determine the presence or absence of spread of melanoma to the draining lymph nodes
- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
- infection of the lungs caused by Pneumocystis carinii, mainly occurring in persons who are immunocompromised; closely associated with the AIDS pandemic but also a common complication of some types of immunosuppressive chemotherapy.
- Poverty Level
- income below the federal poverty level (FPL), currently $18,400 per year for a family of four. Near-poverty is income between 100-200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Low-income is income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL); currently $36,800 per year for a family of four. The level can be used in various ways to define eligibility for health and welfare services.
Excerpt from the 2003 HHS Poverty Guidelines
| Size of Family Unit | 48 Contiguous States and D.C. |
|---|
| 1 | $ 8,980 |
| 2 | 12,120 |
| 3 | 15,260 |
| 4 | 18,400 |
| 5 | 21,540 |
| 6 | 24,680 |
| 7 | 27,820 |
| 8 | 30,960 |
- Preclinical
- relating to the period of a disease before the appearance of symptoms
- Premalignant
- a term used to describe a condition that may or is likely to become cancer. Also called precancerous.
- Prevalence
- the total number of cases of a disease or health condition existing in a population at a given time. Prevalence is the measurement of burden of disease in the population; it is the number of people affected with the disease at a particular point in time. Prevalence ‘count’ is a raw number of cases such as 15 or 15,432. Prevalence Rate is this number divided by whatever unit of population is specified, such as 1,000 or 100,000.
The prevalence rate is determined by the rate of occurrence of new cases (incidence) and the duration of the disease: duration is long if survival with the disease is long and the disease is not considered ‘cured’. For some diseases, especially acute illnesses, when people recover, they are no longer counted in the prevalence rate. For cancers, people who are ‘survivors’ are traditionally considered as part of the prevalence rates, even if they are at minimal risk of recurrence.
Limited-Duration Prevalence represents the proportion of people alive on a certain day who had a diagnosis of the disease within the past x years (e.g. x = 5, 10 or 20 years). Registries of shorter duration, less than 40 or 50 years of data collection, can only estimate limited-duration prevalence.
Limited-duration prevalence can be further classified into periods from year of diagnosis. Thus, the 20-years prevalence can be further classified into the prevalence of those diagnosed in the last 0 to < 5 years, 5 to < 10 years, 10 to < 15 years, and 15 to < 20 years.
Complete Prevalence represents the proportion of people alive on a certain day who were diagnosed with the disease, regardless of how long ago the diagnosis was made
- Prognosis
- the likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery.
- Prostate gland
- walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive system just below the bladder. It surrounds part of the urethra, the canal that empties the bladder. It produces a fluid that forms part of the male ejaculate.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
- a substance that may be found in an increased amount in the blood of some men who have prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia, a benign condition in which an overgrowth of prostate tissue pushes against the urethra (which passes through the prostate) and the bladder, blocking the release of urine.
- Public Health
- this includes organized community efforts to maintain, protect and improve the health of the people.
- Public Health Medical Director
-
an individual under the administrative direction of a health officer of a local health agency who is responsible for developing and evaluating medical policies related to the public’s health.
- Public Health Practice Standards (PHPS)
-
in New Jersey, the management practices and services that are required to be provided by every Local Board of Health as specified by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services regulation, the Public Health Practice Standards of Performance Standards for Local Boards of Health (N.J.A.C. 8:52). The PHPS were based on the National Public Health Performance Standards Program’s Essential Services of Public Health, Healthy People 2010 and Healthy New Jersey 2010 objectives. Further information is available
at www.state.nj.us/health/lh/phps.htm.
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- Race
- in the 2000 US Census the question on race asked respondents to report the race or races they considered themselves to be. Both questions are based on self-identification. For the 2000 census the Census Bureau considers race to be a different attribute from ethnicity (notably Hispanic origin).
- White refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicated their race or races as “White” or wrote in entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish.
- Black or African American refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicated their race or races as “Black[or] African American”, or wrote in entries such as African American, Afro American, Nigerian, or Haitian.
- American Indian and Alaska Native refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. It includes people who indicated their race or races by marking this category or writing in their principal or enrolled tribe, such as Rosebud Sioux, Chippewa, or Navajo.
- Asian refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. It includes people who indicated their race or races as “Asian Indian”, “Chinese”, “Filipino”, “Korean”, “Japanese”, “Vietnamese”, or “Other Asian”, or wrote in entries such as Burmese, Hmong, Pakistani, or Thai. (See also: Asian American)
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. It includes people who indicated their race or races as “Native Hawaiian”, “Guamanian or Chamorro”, “Samoan”, or “Other Pacific Islander”, or wrote in entries such as Tahitian, Mariana Islander, or Chuukese. (See also: American Pacific Islander)
- Some other race was included in 2000 census for respondents who were unable to identify with the five Office of Management and Budget race categories. Respondents who provided write-in entries such as Moroccan, South African, Belizean, or a Hispanic origin (for example, Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban) are included in the “Some other race” category.
- Rectum
- the last 8 to 10 inches of the large intestine, just above the anus.
- Recurrence
- the return of cancer, at the same site as the original (primary) tumor or in another location, after it had disappeared.
- Regional cancer
- refers to cancer that has grown beyond the original (primary) tumor to nearby lymph nodes and/or organs and tissues.
- Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS)
-
an individual who is licensed in New Jersey and is responsible for the performance of inspections, the compilation of proper records of inspections, the collection of evidence of violations, and the issuance of notice of violation to responsible parties.
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- trained medical professional who has passed a state registration examination, has been licensed to practice nursing, and assists people in healthcare settings
- Remission
- disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer. When this happens, the disease is said to be “in remission.” A remission may be temporary or permanent.
- Risk factor
- anything that increases the chance of developing a disease.
- Rural
- the Census Bureau’s classification of “rural” consists of all territory, population, and housing units located outside of urban areas and urban clusters (See “Urban” for definition and relevant Census Bureau web sites.)
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- Sarcoma
- a cancer of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels or other connective or supportive tissue.
- Screening
- checking for disease or other medical conditions when there are no symptoms.
- Secondary cancer
- a new primary cancer in a person with a history of cancer, especially one that is caused by previous cancer treatment.
- Secondary spread
- cancer that has spread from the organ in which it first appeared to another organ. For example, breast cancer cells may spread (metastasize) to the lungs and cause the growth of a new tumor. When this happens, the disease is called metastatic breast cancer, and the tumor in the lungs is called a secondary tumor or secondary cancer.
- Sigmoidoscopy
- inspection of the lower colon using a thin, lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope. Samples of tissue or cells may be collected for examination under a microscope. Also called proctosigmoidoscopy. There are rigid sigmoidoscopies that can only examine the lower bowel, and flexible sigmoidoscopies that can examine somewhat higher. In contrast, colonoscopies are flexible instruments that can examine the entire colon.
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- form of cancer that can be seen on the skin or lips or inside the mouth, throat, or esophagus
- Stage of diagnosis
- stage at which a disease or health condition is identified; at diagnosis (from early to late) may be expressed as numbers (I, II, III, or IV, for example) or by terms such as “localized,” “regional,” and “distant”
- Surveillance
-
the continuous and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health information that is essential to the planning, implementation and evaluation of the status of public health, and the dissemination of that information.
- Surveillance System
-
a functional capacity for data collection, analysis and dissemination linked to public health programs and the application of that information to activities of disease containment and control, elimination and mitigation.
- Symptom
- a condition of the body reported by an individual when suffering from a disease; here used more loosely to include signs; any evidence used in diagnosis or identification of infected individuals.
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- TELEforms Data Collection System
- a data collection system developed and used by the NJ-CCCP Evaluation Team and UMDNJ’s Clinical Research Group in conjunction with staff on the Capacity and Needs Assessment project to collect data on providers, community organizations, schools, employers and faith-based organizations in New Jersey’s 21 counties. Data collected with these forms include contact and location information as well as cancer prevention, detection and treatment resources at the organization. Forms were then scanned into a large database accessible by all County Evaluators during the report writing process. The system used for this project was programmed using TELEforms®, Microsoft Access™ and Excel®, and Epi Info™. The goal of the TELEforms system is to develop a picture of where and for whom services are available by capturing and reporting the information in each county. By focusing on and emphasizing the underserved and disadvantaged regions, this data collection process should be able to quantitatively describe disparities between capacity and needs on a local basis.
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- Urban
- for Census 2000, the Census Bureau classifies as “urban” all territory, population, and housing units located within an urbanized area (UA) or an urban cluster (UC). It delineates UA and UC boundaries to encompass densely settled territory, which consists of: 1) core census block groups or blocks that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile and 2) surrounding census blocks that have an overall density of at least 500 people per square mile. In addition, under certain conditions, less densely settled territory may be part of each UA or UC. Further details for Census 2000 are available at www.census.gov/geo/www/ua/ua_2k.html; details for the 1990 census are at www.census.gov/population/censusdata/urdef.txt.
- Ultraviolet (UV) light
- electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays. Visible light is part of a much larger spectrum of electromagnetic radiation including radio waves, microwaves, heat, X-rays, gamma rays, and so forth. Ultraviolet light is a component of sunlight that is invisible to humans.
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Glossary prepared by Stanley H. Weiss, MD, FACP (NJMS-UMDNJ), Daniel M. Rosenblum, PhD (NJMS-UMDNJ), Susan L. Collini, MPH (NJMS-UMDNJ), Marcia M. Sass, ScD (SPH-UMDNJ), Margaret L. Knight, RN, MEd (OCCP-NJDHSS). Special thanks for suggestions to Robert Schermer, MUP, Greg Cable, PhD, and Judith B. Klotz, PhD (SPH-UMDNJ). Public sources of definitions include
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
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