NUR 471 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE NURSING EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
Definition and focus of epidemiology - correct answer ✔✔The study of the distribution and
determinants that determine health-related states or events in a population
Host - correct answer ✔✔Susceptible human or animal who harbors and nourishes a disease-causing
agent
Agent - correct answer ✔✔A factor that causes or contributes to a health problem or condition
biologic, chemical, nutrient, physical, psychological
Environment - correct answer ✔✔All the external factors surrounding the host that might influence
vulnerability or resistance
Different theories of causation - correct answer ✔✔Chain of causality and Web of causation
Chain of causation - correct answer ✔✔linear chain of events that can be followed for the relationship
between cause and effect
Web of causation - correct answer ✔✔Multiple causes
•The implication that intervention (or breaking of the web at any point nearest to the disease) could
profoundly impact the development of that disease.
•Another common term used for this approach is causal matrix.
Causation in noninfectious/noncommunicable disease: environmental exposure and potential health
outcomes - correct answer ✔✔Strength of association
Consistency of association
specificity
temporality
Biological Gradient
Biological Plausibility
Coherence of explanation
Analogy
Experimental Evidence
Strength of association - correct answer ✔✔ratio of disease rates in those with and without the
suspected causal factor
Consistency of Association - correct answer ✔✔An association is demonstrated in varying types of
studies among diverse study groups (i.e., replication)
Specificity - correct answer ✔✔A cause leads to one effect
Temporality - correct answer ✔✔Exposure to the suspected factor must precede the onset of disease
(i.e., time order or time sequence)
, Biological Gradient - correct answer ✔✔With increasing levels of exposure to the factor, there is a
corresponding increase in occurrence of the disease (i.e., dose-response relationship)
Biological Plausibility - correct answer ✔✔hypothesized cause makes sense based on current biologic or
social models (i.e., it is possible)
Coherence of explanation - correct answer ✔✔hypothesized cause makes sense based on current
knowledge about the natural history or biology of the disease (i.e., scientific knowledge).
Analogy - correct answer ✔✔Similarities between the association of interest and others (e.g., potential
links to birth defects from new drugs is a concern because we already recognize this potential from the
use of the drug thalidomide during the 1950s and early 1960s)
Experimental evidence - correct answer ✔✔Experimental and nonexperimental studies support the
association.
Stages of natural progression of a disease - correct answer ✔✔1. susceptibility
2.subclinical
3. CLinical
4. resolution
Susceptibility - correct answer ✔✔•Before disease has occurred
•Underlying factors increase susceptibility of host
Subclinical - correct answer ✔✔•Exposure has occurred
•Individual is asymptomatic
Clinical - correct answer ✔✔•Signs and symptoms now apparent
•Possible that individual asymptomatic, but may have positive test/lab results
Resolution - correct answer ✔✔•Disease causes sufficient changes in body
•Signs and symptoms may be mild to severe
•Outcomes: recovery, disability, death
Descriptive epidemiology - correct answer ✔✔Observations and description of naturally occurring
events
Difference between prevalence and incidence - correct answer ✔✔prevalence=(existing
cases)/(population at risk)
incidence=(new cases)/(population at risk)
How primary, secondary, tertiary prevention efforts impact prevalence and incidence - correct answer
✔✔Primary prevention would prevent and limit incidence of new cases
Secondary prevention would detect and treat existing cases(prevalence)
Tertiary prevention would try to lessen the effects and prevent recurrence of disease of existing
cases(Prevalence)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
Definition and focus of epidemiology - correct answer ✔✔The study of the distribution and
determinants that determine health-related states or events in a population
Host - correct answer ✔✔Susceptible human or animal who harbors and nourishes a disease-causing
agent
Agent - correct answer ✔✔A factor that causes or contributes to a health problem or condition
biologic, chemical, nutrient, physical, psychological
Environment - correct answer ✔✔All the external factors surrounding the host that might influence
vulnerability or resistance
Different theories of causation - correct answer ✔✔Chain of causality and Web of causation
Chain of causation - correct answer ✔✔linear chain of events that can be followed for the relationship
between cause and effect
Web of causation - correct answer ✔✔Multiple causes
•The implication that intervention (or breaking of the web at any point nearest to the disease) could
profoundly impact the development of that disease.
•Another common term used for this approach is causal matrix.
Causation in noninfectious/noncommunicable disease: environmental exposure and potential health
outcomes - correct answer ✔✔Strength of association
Consistency of association
specificity
temporality
Biological Gradient
Biological Plausibility
Coherence of explanation
Analogy
Experimental Evidence
Strength of association - correct answer ✔✔ratio of disease rates in those with and without the
suspected causal factor
Consistency of Association - correct answer ✔✔An association is demonstrated in varying types of
studies among diverse study groups (i.e., replication)
Specificity - correct answer ✔✔A cause leads to one effect
Temporality - correct answer ✔✔Exposure to the suspected factor must precede the onset of disease
(i.e., time order or time sequence)
, Biological Gradient - correct answer ✔✔With increasing levels of exposure to the factor, there is a
corresponding increase in occurrence of the disease (i.e., dose-response relationship)
Biological Plausibility - correct answer ✔✔hypothesized cause makes sense based on current biologic or
social models (i.e., it is possible)
Coherence of explanation - correct answer ✔✔hypothesized cause makes sense based on current
knowledge about the natural history or biology of the disease (i.e., scientific knowledge).
Analogy - correct answer ✔✔Similarities between the association of interest and others (e.g., potential
links to birth defects from new drugs is a concern because we already recognize this potential from the
use of the drug thalidomide during the 1950s and early 1960s)
Experimental evidence - correct answer ✔✔Experimental and nonexperimental studies support the
association.
Stages of natural progression of a disease - correct answer ✔✔1. susceptibility
2.subclinical
3. CLinical
4. resolution
Susceptibility - correct answer ✔✔•Before disease has occurred
•Underlying factors increase susceptibility of host
Subclinical - correct answer ✔✔•Exposure has occurred
•Individual is asymptomatic
Clinical - correct answer ✔✔•Signs and symptoms now apparent
•Possible that individual asymptomatic, but may have positive test/lab results
Resolution - correct answer ✔✔•Disease causes sufficient changes in body
•Signs and symptoms may be mild to severe
•Outcomes: recovery, disability, death
Descriptive epidemiology - correct answer ✔✔Observations and description of naturally occurring
events
Difference between prevalence and incidence - correct answer ✔✔prevalence=(existing
cases)/(population at risk)
incidence=(new cases)/(population at risk)
How primary, secondary, tertiary prevention efforts impact prevalence and incidence - correct answer
✔✔Primary prevention would prevent and limit incidence of new cases
Secondary prevention would detect and treat existing cases(prevalence)
Tertiary prevention would try to lessen the effects and prevent recurrence of disease of existing
cases(Prevalence)
