epidemiology exercises

Question 1

Compare food histories between persons with Staphylococcus food poisoning and those without
distribution
determinants
application

Answer 1

determinants

Question 2

Compare frequency of brain cancer among anatomists with frequency in general population
distribution
determinants
application

Answer 2

determinants

Question 3

mark on a map the residences of all children born with birth defects within a 2 mile of hazardous waste site
distribution
determinants
application

Answer 3

distribution

Question 4

Graph the number of cases of congenital syphilis by year for the country
distribution
determinants
application

Answer 4

distribution

Question 5

Recommend that close contacts of a child recently reported with meningococcal meningitis receive Rifampin
distribution
determinants
application

Answer 5

application

Question 6

Tabulate the frequency of clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings among children with chickenpox in Cincinnati, Ohio
distribution
determinants
application

Answer 6

distribution

Question 7

Reviewing reports of test results for Chlamydia trachomatis from public health clinics

A. Public health surveillance
B. Field investigation
C. Analytic studies
D. Evaluation
E. Linkages
F. Policy development

Answer 7

a. public health surveillance

Question 8

Meeting with directors of family planning clinics and college health clinics to discuss Chlamvdia testing and reporting

A. Public health surveillance
B. Field investigation
C. Analytic studies
D. Evaluation
E. Linkages
F. Policy development

Answer 8

e. linkages

Question 9

Developing guidelines/criteria about which patients coming to the clinic should be screened (tested) for Chlamvdia infection

A. Public health surveillance
B. Field investigation
C. Analytic studies
D. Evaluation
E. Linkages
F. Policy development

Answer 9

f. policy development

Question 10

Interviewing persons infected with Chlamydia to identify their sex partners

A. Public health surveillance
B. Field investigation
C. Analytic studies
D. Evaluation
E. Linkages
F. Policy development

Answer 10

b. field investigation

Question 11

Conducting an analysis of patient flow at the public health clinic to determine waiting times for clinic patients

A. Public health surveillance
B. Field investigation
C. Analytic studies
D. Evaluation
E. Linkages
F. Policy development

Answer 11

d. evaluation

Question 12

Comparing persons with symptomatic versus asymptomatic Chlamydia infection to identify predictors

A. Public health surveillance
B. Field investigation
C. Analytic studies
D. Evaluation
E. Linkages
F. Policy development

Answer 12

c. analytical studies

Question 13

Representative sample of residents were telephoned and asked how much they exercise each week and whether they currently have (have ever been diagnosed with) heart disease.

Experimental
Observational cohort
Observational case-control
Observational cross-sectional
Not an analvtical or epidemiologic study

Answer 13

d. observational cross-sectional

Question 14

Occurrence of cancer was identified between April 1991 and July 2002 for
50,000 troops who served in the first Gulf War (ended April 1991) and
50,000 troops who served elsewhere during the same period.

Experimental
Observational cohort
Observational case-control
Observational cross-sectional
Not an analvtical or epidemiologic study

Answer 14

b. observational cohort

Question 15

Persons diagnosed with new-onset Lyme disease were asked how often they walk through woods, use insect repellant, wear short sleeves and pants, etc. Twice as many patients without Lyme disease from the same physician’s practice were asked the same questions, and the responses in the two groups were compared.

Experimental
Observational cohort
Observational case-control
Observational cross-sectional
Not an analvtical or epidemiologic study

Answer 15

c. observational case control

Question 16

Subjects were children enrolled in a health maintenance organization. At
2 months, each child was randomly given one of two types of a new vaccine against rotavirus infection. Parents were called by a nurse two weeks later and asked whether the children had experienced any of a list of side-effects.

Experimental
Observational cohort
Observational case-control
Observational cross-sectional
Not an analvtical or epidemiologic study

Answer 16

experimental

Question 17

22 cases of legionellosis occurred within 3 weeks among residents of a particular neighborhood (usually 0 or 1 per year)

A. Sporadic disease
B. Endemic disease
C. Hyperendemic disease
D. Pandemic disease
E. Epidemic disease

Answer 17

e. epidemic disease

Question 18

Average annual incidence was 364 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis per 100,000 population in one area, compared with national average of 134 cases per 100,000 population

A. Sporadic disease
B. Endemic disease
C. Hyperendemic disease
D. Pandemic disease
E. Epidemic disease

Answer 18

c. hyperendemic disease

Question 19

Over 20 million people worldwide died from influenza in 1918-1919

A. Sporadic disease
B. Endemic disease
C. Hyperendemic disease
D. Pandemic disease
E. Epidemic disease

Answer 19

d. pandemic disease

Question 20

Single case of histoplasmosis was diagnosed in a community

A. Sporadic disease
B. Endemic disease
C. Hyperendemic disease
D. Pandemic disease
E. Epidemic disease

Answer 20

a. sporadic disease

Question 21

About 60 cases of gonorrhea are usually reported in this region per week, slightly less than the national average

A. Sporadic disease
B. Endemic disease
C. Hyperendemic disease
D. Pandemic disease
E. Epidemic disease

Answer 21

b. endemic disease

Question 22

21 cases of shigellosis among children and workers at a day care center over a period of 6 weeks, no external source identified incubation period for shigellosis is usually 1-3 days)

A. Point source
B. Intermittent or continuous common source
C. Propagated

Answer 22

c. propagated

Question 23

36 cases of giardiasis over 6 weeks traced to occasional use of a supplementary reservoir (incubation period for giardiasis 3-25 days or more, usually 7-10 days)

A. Point source
B. Intermittent or continuous common source
C. Propagated

Answer 23

b. intermittent or continuous common source

Question 24

43 cases of norovirus infection over 2 days traced to the ice machine on a cruise ship (incubation period for norovirus is usually 24-48 hours)

A. Point source
B. Intermittent or continuous common source
C. Propagated

Answer 24

a. point source