Unit 09: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Epidemiology

Question 1

(True/False): Qualitative research methods are now used in epidemiology to better understand social, cultural, and behavioral factors affecting health.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

____ is a tool used in epidemiology to predict and analyze the spread of diseases using mathematical equations and simulations

Answer 2

Mathematical modeling

Question 3

What is the key difference between infectious and non-infectious diseases?
A) Infectious diseases spread via transmission and require herd immunity for control.
B) Infectious diseases only affect animals, while non-infectious diseases affect humans.
C) Infectious diseases are always more severe than non-infectious diseases.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What does the basic reproductive number (R0) represent?

Answer 4

The average number of secondary infections caused by a single infectious case introduced into a completely susceptible population.

Question 5

An R0 > 1 indicates a(n) ________, while an R0 = 1 indicates the disease is ________.

Answer 5

epidemic, endemic

Question 6

(True/False): The R0 value is a fixed number that does not vary between populations.

Answer 6

False (R0 is an average and can vary depending on factors like population density and contact rates).

Question 7

The time interval between when a primary case becomes infectious and when a secondary case becomes infectious is called the ________

Answer 7

serial interval

Question 8

Why do diseases with the same R0 (e.g., TB and chickenpox) spread at different rates?

Answer 8

Because their serial intervals differ, with chickenpox having a much shorter interval than TB, resulting in faster spread.

Question 9

How does population density affect R0?

Answer 9

Higher population density increases the contact rate (C), potentially increasing R0.

Question 10

The ____ model categorizes individuals into three groups: ____ (never exposed), ____ (currently infectious), and ____ (recovered and assumed immune).

Answer 10

SIR, susceptible, infectious, recovered

Question 11

What is the key limitation of using average values in mathematical models?

Answer 11

Average values fail to capture heterogeneity in populations, such as super-spreaders or variations in biological and behavioral risk, leading to unrealistic models and inaccurate projections.

Question 12

True/False): The SIR model assumes that all individuals in the recovered group remain immune for life.

Answer 12

True (although real-world situations may differ).

Question 13

What are the four main considerations when building infectious disease models?
A) Defining host populations, including age distribution, focusing on non-infectious diseases, and assuming constant exposure risk.
B) Defining the host population, categorizing people in the model, determining transitions between states, and defining infection incidence based on exposure.
C) Estimating herd immunity, ignoring demographic factors, assuming uniform disease spread, and determining vaccination rates.

Answer 13

B

Question 14

What are stochastic models, and how do they differ from deterministic models?

Answer 14

Stochastic models use parameters generated from distributions to account for variability in risk or transmission, while deterministic models rely on fixed averages or variance-weighted averages.

Question 15

Which modeling approach uses variance-weighted averages to achieve more realistic simulations?
A) Structured models
B) Stochastic models
C) Deterministic approaches

Answer 15

C

Question 16

(True/False): Serial intervals measure the time from when a primary case becomes infectious to when a secondary case becomes infectious, helping to estimate how quickly an epidemic grows.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Why is it important to account for heterogeneity (e.g., super-spreaders) in infectious disease models?

Answer 17

Ignoring heterogeneity can lead to unrealistic predictions and ineffective control strategies by failing to capture true dynamics of disease transmission.

Question 18

Which of the following diseases is best modeled using an SIR model?
A) Non-infectious diseases like diabetes
B) Infectious diseases like measles or smallpox
C) Genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis

Answer 18

B

Question 19

While ____ research involves quantifying factors and their relationships, ____ research focuses on detailed descriptions and understanding context

Answer 19

quantitative, qualitative

Question 20

Quantitative research is generally ____ and ____-driven, aiming to confirm relationships between variables.

Answer 20

confirmatory, hypothesis

Question 21

Qualitative research is often ____ or ____, focusing on generating theories and understanding the depth of issues.

Answer 21

exploratory, explanatory

Question 22

(True/False): Qualitative research methods must always be paired with quantitative methods.

Answer 22

False (Qualitative methods can be standalone or integrated before/after quantitative studies).

Question 23

Quantitative research tends to rely on ____-based sampling approaches, while qualitative research often uses ____ sampling.

Answer 23

probability, purposive

Question 24

What is the purpose of thematic analysis in qualitative research?
A) To calculate numerical patterns in data.
B) To identify, analyze, and report patterns within data.
C) To transform qualitative data into quantitative formats.

Answer 24

B

Question 25

In thematic analysis, ____ are labels assigned to pieces of text, which are then grouped into higher-level ____

Answer 25

codes, themes