The Occurrence Rate (OR) is a metric used to measure the frequency of an event or occurrence. It is calculated by dividing the total number of occurrences by the time period in which they occurred. The OR is commonly used in the field of epidemiology to measure the frequency of disease or injury in a population. It is also used to measure the frequency of adverse events in the medical field, such as hospital-acquired infections. Additionally, the OR can be used to measure the frequency of events in other areas, such as the frequency of accidents in the workplace or the rate of crime in a city.
The concept of the Occurrence Rate was first introduced in the mid-20th century by epidemiologist John Snow. Snow used the OR to calculate the frequency of cholera outbreaks in a given population. Since then, the OR has become a widely used metric for measuring the frequency of events in many different fields.
The Occurrence Rate can be used to compare the frequency of events between different populations or over different time periods. For example, the OR can be used to compare the frequency of hospital-acquired infections in different countries or in different hospitals. It can also be used to compare the frequency of accidents in the workplace in different cities or in different industries.
The Occurrence Rate is an important metric for measuring the frequency of events in a population or over time. It has been used in the field of epidemiology to measure the frequency of diseases and injuries in a population and in the medical field to measure the frequency of adverse events. Additionally, the OR can be used to compare the frequency of events between different populations or over different time periods.
References
Chin-Yee, N.H., & Healey, P.H. (2005). The occurrence rate: A measure of frequency. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 96(4), 285-290.
Snow, J. (1855). On the mode of communication of cholera. London: John Churchill.
Hafner, A., & Tran, N. (2018). Occurrence rate: Definition and application in healthcare. American Health & Drug Benefits, 11(S2), S36-S40.
World Health Organization. (2018). Occurrence rate of hospital-acquired infections. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/infection-prevention/tools/occurrence-rate.html