epidem Flashcards
An epidemiologist has written a summary of a food poisoning outbreak, including its cause and ways to prevent it from occurring in the future. Which best describes what has been done?
a. Analytic epidemiology
b. Descriptive epidemiology
c. Prospective cohort study
d. Retrospective cross-sectional survey
b. Descriptive epidemiology
Descriptive epidemiology describes the amount and distribution of disease, which may suggest possible causes. These causes can then be confirmed or corrected through more advanced methods of research.
Analytic epidemiology investigates the causes of disease by determining why a disease rate is lower in one population group than another. A prospective cohort study monitors a group of disease-free individuals to determine whether and when disease occurs.
Retrospective studies compare individuals with a particular condition or disease and those who do not have the disease.
Two brothers played with their cousin. One brother later became quite ill, whereas the other did not. Which provides the best explanation for this occurrence?
a. Difference in length of time exposed
b. Difference in how actively the children played
c. Difference in genetic inheritance between the two brothers
d. Difference in lifestyle between the two brothers
c. Difference in genetic inheritance between the two brothers
Which has been determined to be a major variable in transmission of sexually transmitted infections?
a. The pathogenesis of the involved agents
b. The susceptibility of the host
c. The environment in which the hosts live
d. The amount of sex education provided in the schools
c. The environment in which the hosts live
A community health nurse determined exactly how many cases of a particular disease were currently occurring in the community. Which action should the nurse take before determining what interventions should be planned?
a. Analyze whether the disease was a priority to the nurse’s agency
b. Compare the current rate with the previous rate of disease
c. Determine what resources are available to intervene
d. Share the findings with the public health agency leadership
b. Compare the current rate with the previous rate of disease
People were very concerned about another outbreak of swine flu. All care providers were asked to report, without individual names, any new cases to the public health department for tracking. Which would be most helpful for the local media to report to keep citizens informed?
a. The ongoing incidence rate
b. The ongoing prevalence of the illness
c. How many were hospitalized
d. How many had died so far in local hospitals and care facilities
a. The ongoing incidence rate
When trying to determine whether the swine flu outbreak was getting worse, which rate should be carefully observed?
a. The crude death rate
b. The age-specific death rate
c. The swine flu incidence rate
d. The swine flu prevalence rate
c. The swine flu incidence rate
A newspaper published an article stating that the athletic banquet at the local high school had approximately 1000 family members in attendance. Exactly 650 persons became ill within 24 hours, complaining of severe diarrhea, vomiting, and cramping. Which best describes the attack rate?
a. 650 persons
b. 1000 persons
c. 650:1000
d. 6.5%
c. 650:1000
In a particular community, the rate of new cases of diabetes and the rate of new cases of flu during the month of January were precisely the same. Which disease would have the higher prevalence rate?
a. As an acute condition, flu would have the higher prevalence rate.
b. As a chronic condition, diabetes would have the higher prevalence rate.
c. Flu would have the higher prevalence rate because people can get flu several times
in one season.
d. Flu would have the higher prevalence rate because it is so contagious.
b. As a chronic condition, diabetes would have the higher prevalence rate.
Which research study would determine the attributable risk of a sedentary lifestyle in cardiac disease?
a. Measuring all cases of cardiac problems in a specific community
b. Comparing the number of persons with cardiac disease among athletes with the
number among nonathletes in a community
c. Subtracting the rate of cardiac disease among athletes from the rate of cardiac
disease among nonathletes
d. Calculating the relative risk and then subtracting the attack rate to determine the
attributable risk
c. Subtracting the rate of cardiac disease among athletes from the rate of cardiac
A student athlete receives a screening examination before being active in school sports. Which level of prevention is being used?
a. Health prevention
b. Primary prevention
c. Secondary prevention
d. Tertiary prevention
c. Secondary prevention
For which would a screening test be most appropriate?
a. Disease A, which must be caugth early becasue society punishes those known to have the disease
b. Disease B, which can be controlled if caught early in the disease process
c. Disease C, which people need to know whether they have contracted, even though
there is no treatment for the disease
d. Disease D, because people may want to use that information in family planning
b. Disease B, which can be controlled if caught early in the disease process
Which would be the best method to increase the positive predictive value of a screening test?
a. Test a large population at once
b. Test a group at high risk for the health problem
c. Use a very sensitive screening test
d. Use a very specific screening test
b. Test a group at high risk for the health problem
Which is the most effective way to determine if Healthy People 2020 is improving the health of Americans?
a. Availability of relatable data on total populations’s health problems
b. Comprehensive and systematically collected surveillance data on the health status of various population groups
c. Increased financing to allow ongoing collation of information
d. Willingness of individuals to share health information with the federal government
b. Comprehensive and systematically collected surveillance data on the health status of various population groups
A researcher is examining potential risk factors in comparison with disease at a specific time through collecting data regarding current exercise, sleep patterns, and current health status among 12-year-olds. Which research study would be most appropriate?
a. Cross-sectional study
b. Prospective study
c. Retrospective study
d. True experiment
a. Cross-sectional study
A client has developed pellagra because of a lack of certain B vitamins. Which best describes the classification of the nutritional deficiency?
a. Relative risk factor
b. Agent factor
c. Environment factor
d. Host factor
b. Agent factor
