CHAPTER 05 EPIDEMIOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Which of the following 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 - ANSWER-ANS: C
The researchers concluded that ecosocial or contextual conditions strongly enhance
sexually transmitted infection risk by increasing sexual risk behaviors and likelihood of
exposure to infection. Thus, the environment has been determined to be a more
important variable in sexually transmitted infections than the pathogenesis,
susceptibility, and the amount of sex education provided.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: p. 74
A community health nurse determined exactly how many cases of a particular disease
were currently occurring in the community. Which of the following actions 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 - ANSWER-ANS: B
No conclusions can really be drawn from just knowing a number. Only by converting
that count to a rate and then comparing the rate with the previous rate, or with the rate
in the broader environment or a similar community nearby, can any conclusions be
drawn as to whether there is a problem or intervention needed. Once the rate has been
calculated, the nurse will be able to share the findings with leadership, determine the
resources available to intervene if necessary, and determine if the disease is a priority.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 74
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 of the following 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 - ANSWER-ANS: A
, As only new cases were being reported to the health department, the media could only
report the ongoing incidence rate, that is, the number of new cases reported each day.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: pp. 74-75
When trying to determine whether the swine flu outbreak was getting worse, which of
the following rates 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 - ANSWER-ANS: C
The incidence rate of new cases would be most useful for detecting short-term acute
disease changes, because the swine flu duration is usually relatively short.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 75
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 of the following best describes the attack rate?
a. 650 persons
b. 1000 persons
c. 650:1000
d. 6.5% - ANSWER-ANS: C
Rates are calculated by the number of people with the problem over the number
exposed to the problem. In this case, 650 persons out of the 1000 at the banquet
complained of illness. Although this rate could be presented as an attack rate of 65%,
6.5% is incorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 75
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. - ANSWER-
ANS: B
Diabetes would have the higher prevalence rate because it is a long-term chronic
condition that typically does not decrease. Although flu might have a higher incidence
rate of new cases, because flu is typically of short duration, the prevalence rate would
remain low. Flu is contagious, which could increase the incidence rate but not the
prevalence rate.
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Which of the following 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 - ANSWER-ANS: C
The researchers concluded that ecosocial or contextual conditions strongly enhance
sexually transmitted infection risk by increasing sexual risk behaviors and likelihood of
exposure to infection. Thus, the environment has been determined to be a more
important variable in sexually transmitted infections than the pathogenesis,
susceptibility, and the amount of sex education provided.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: p. 74
A community health nurse determined exactly how many cases of a particular disease
were currently occurring in the community. Which of the following actions 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 - ANSWER-ANS: B
No conclusions can really be drawn from just knowing a number. Only by converting
that count to a rate and then comparing the rate with the previous rate, or with the rate
in the broader environment or a similar community nearby, can any conclusions be
drawn as to whether there is a problem or intervention needed. Once the rate has been
calculated, the nurse will be able to share the findings with leadership, determine the
resources available to intervene if necessary, and determine if the disease is a priority.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 74
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 of the following 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 - ANSWER-ANS: A
, As only new cases were being reported to the health department, the media could only
report the ongoing incidence rate, that is, the number of new cases reported each day.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: pp. 74-75
When trying to determine whether the swine flu outbreak was getting worse, which of
the following rates 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 - ANSWER-ANS: C
The incidence rate of new cases would be most useful for detecting short-term acute
disease changes, because the swine flu duration is usually relatively short.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 75
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 of the following best describes the attack rate?
a. 650 persons
b. 1000 persons
c. 650:1000
d. 6.5% - ANSWER-ANS: C
Rates are calculated by the number of people with the problem over the number
exposed to the problem. In this case, 650 persons out of the 1000 at the banquet
complained of illness. Although this rate could be presented as an attack rate of 65%,
6.5% is incorrect.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 75
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. - ANSWER-
ANS: B
Diabetes would have the higher prevalence rate because it is a long-term chronic
condition that typically does not decrease. Although flu might have a higher incidence
rate of new cases, because flu is typically of short duration, the prevalence rate would
remain low. Flu is contagious, which could increase the incidence rate but not the
prevalence rate.
