INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are some characteristics of descriptive studies? - ANSWER--Usually early stage
of investigation
-Usually answer who, where, and when
-No comparison group (uncontrolled)
-Allow formulating hypothesis

What are some characteristics of analytic studies? - ANSWER--Usually later stage of
investigation
-Usually answer why and how?
-Use a comparison group (controlled)
-Allow testing hypothesis

What is a case report? - ANSWER--A single case/patient
-The "first" one
-An unusual one
-No comparison, only to "what we know"

What is a case series? - ANSWER--A group of similar cases
-Allows presentation of variation

What is a cross-sectional study? - ANSWER--Includes both diseased and non-diseased
individuals
-Allows estimate of disease prevalence (descriptive)
-Sometimes comparisons are done between groups (analytic)

What is an ecological study? - ANSWER-Study unit is group while unit of interest is
individual

What is a case-control study? - ANSWER--Longitudinal study
-Sampling based on outcome status

What is a cohort study? - ANSWER--Longitudinal study
-Sampling, if applied, based on exposure status

What is an experimental study? - ANSWER--Longitudinal study
-Exposures/treatments are assigned by researchers

What is a meta-analysis? - ANSWER-Systematical evaluation of a collection of studies

Why should veterinarians going into clinical practice learn anything about epidemiology?
- ANSWER--Epidemiology plays a significant role in medical decision making