PRINCIPLES & METHODS OF
EPIDEMIOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
What is a pandemic? - ANSWER-An epidemic on a worldwide scale; during a
pandemic, large numbers of persons may be affected and a disease may cross
international borders
What is an epidemic threshold? - ANSWER-Minimum number of cases (or deaths) that
would support the conclusion that an epidemic was underway
What did Louis Pasteur do? - ANSWER--Developed vaccines for rabies and anthrax
-Discounted the theory of "spontaneous generation"
-Pasteurization
Who applied experimental methods to identify that oranges and lemons were effective
remedies for scurvy? - ANSWER-James Lind
Who demonstrated that cholera was transmitted through contaminated water, not
miasmata? - ANSWER-John Snow
Who is the father of medicine, the 1st epidemiologist, and introduced the terms
epidemic and endemic? - ANSWER-Hippocrates
Who was the first to employ statistics in the study of disease? - ANSWER-John Graunt
Who is the founder of immunization and tried to prevent smallpox? - ANSWER-Edward
Jenner
Who developed the numerical method? - ANSWER-Pierre Charles Louis
Who developed modern vital statistics system and a method for coding? - ANSWER-
William Farr
Who is the Father of Handwashing? - ANSWER-Ignaz Semmelweis
Who used photography to capture the first images of microorganisms? - ANSWER-
Robert Koch
What did Doll & Hill do? - ANSWER-A case-control design used to study lung cancer
and cigarette smoking in British physicians
,What is the influence of population dynamics on population health? - ANSWER-
Demographic and Epidemiologic transition
Which category would diabetes be classified in? - ANSWER-Metabolic
What is susceptibility (Pre-pathogenesis)? - ANSWER-Before the disease has started
What are the components of the Epidemiology Triangle? - ANSWER-Agent, Host,
Environment
What is an agent? - ANSWER-A microbial organism with the ability to cause disease
Ex: Bacteria, Virus, Protozoa, and Parasite
What are some host factors? - ANSWER-Age, sex, ethnic group, nutritional status,
socioeconomic status
What are some environmental factors? - ANSWER-• Physical
-Weather
-Climate
-Geology
• Biological
-Sources of food, water, and air
-Presence of vectors, flora, and fauna
• Social and cultural
-Density and crowding
-Adequate housing
-War
-Sanitation
-Access to health care
What are the types of disease transmission and what factors influence it? - ANSWER-
Vertical transmission: transmission from an individual to its offspring that can be through
sperm, placenta, milk, or vaginal
Horizontal transmission: transmission of infectious agents from an infected individual to
a susceptible contemporary. This includes:
-Direct contact (STD's)
-Indirect contact
-Common vehicle transmission (food-borne), Airborne (TB), and Vector-borne (Malaria)
What is primary prevention (active/passive)? - ANSWER-Active-Requires behavior
change on part of subject
• Wearing protective devises
, • Immunization
• Behavior changes
• Ensuring healthy conditions at home, school and workplace
Passive-Does not require behavior change
• Vitamin fortified foods
• Fluoridation of public water supplies
What is secondary prevention? - ANSWER-Occurs to reduce the progress of disease
that has already started
Ex: Cancer screening
What is tertiary prevention? - ANSWER-It reduces the limitation of disability from
disease; the disease has already occurred
Ex: Physical therapy for stroke victims
What are the strategies for communicable disease control/prevention? - ANSWER-1.
Remove, eliminate or contain the cause or source of infection
2. Disrupt and block the chain of infection/transmission
3. Protect the susceptible population
What are the host-related control and prevention? - ANSWER-•Quarantine
-One of the first public health measures to control disease communication
•Isolation
• Infection Control
-Hygiene
-Chemicals and antibiotics
What are some ways chronic diseases can be prevented or controlled? - ANSWER-
Behavior change and reduction of exposure; these can be accomplished by: policies,
prevention programs, and screening programs
What are some environmental control measures? - ANSWER-• Provide clean and safe
air, water, and food
• Management of waste and vectors
What sort of public health measures are aimed at preventing nutritional diseases, like
malnutrition for example? - ANSWER--Policies
-Health promotion and education programs
-Knowing what to eat
EPIDEMIOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
What is a pandemic? - ANSWER-An epidemic on a worldwide scale; during a
pandemic, large numbers of persons may be affected and a disease may cross
international borders
What is an epidemic threshold? - ANSWER-Minimum number of cases (or deaths) that
would support the conclusion that an epidemic was underway
What did Louis Pasteur do? - ANSWER--Developed vaccines for rabies and anthrax
-Discounted the theory of "spontaneous generation"
-Pasteurization
Who applied experimental methods to identify that oranges and lemons were effective
remedies for scurvy? - ANSWER-James Lind
Who demonstrated that cholera was transmitted through contaminated water, not
miasmata? - ANSWER-John Snow
Who is the father of medicine, the 1st epidemiologist, and introduced the terms
epidemic and endemic? - ANSWER-Hippocrates
Who was the first to employ statistics in the study of disease? - ANSWER-John Graunt
Who is the founder of immunization and tried to prevent smallpox? - ANSWER-Edward
Jenner
Who developed the numerical method? - ANSWER-Pierre Charles Louis
Who developed modern vital statistics system and a method for coding? - ANSWER-
William Farr
Who is the Father of Handwashing? - ANSWER-Ignaz Semmelweis
Who used photography to capture the first images of microorganisms? - ANSWER-
Robert Koch
What did Doll & Hill do? - ANSWER-A case-control design used to study lung cancer
and cigarette smoking in British physicians
,What is the influence of population dynamics on population health? - ANSWER-
Demographic and Epidemiologic transition
Which category would diabetes be classified in? - ANSWER-Metabolic
What is susceptibility (Pre-pathogenesis)? - ANSWER-Before the disease has started
What are the components of the Epidemiology Triangle? - ANSWER-Agent, Host,
Environment
What is an agent? - ANSWER-A microbial organism with the ability to cause disease
Ex: Bacteria, Virus, Protozoa, and Parasite
What are some host factors? - ANSWER-Age, sex, ethnic group, nutritional status,
socioeconomic status
What are some environmental factors? - ANSWER-• Physical
-Weather
-Climate
-Geology
• Biological
-Sources of food, water, and air
-Presence of vectors, flora, and fauna
• Social and cultural
-Density and crowding
-Adequate housing
-War
-Sanitation
-Access to health care
What are the types of disease transmission and what factors influence it? - ANSWER-
Vertical transmission: transmission from an individual to its offspring that can be through
sperm, placenta, milk, or vaginal
Horizontal transmission: transmission of infectious agents from an infected individual to
a susceptible contemporary. This includes:
-Direct contact (STD's)
-Indirect contact
-Common vehicle transmission (food-borne), Airborne (TB), and Vector-borne (Malaria)
What is primary prevention (active/passive)? - ANSWER-Active-Requires behavior
change on part of subject
• Wearing protective devises
, • Immunization
• Behavior changes
• Ensuring healthy conditions at home, school and workplace
Passive-Does not require behavior change
• Vitamin fortified foods
• Fluoridation of public water supplies
What is secondary prevention? - ANSWER-Occurs to reduce the progress of disease
that has already started
Ex: Cancer screening
What is tertiary prevention? - ANSWER-It reduces the limitation of disability from
disease; the disease has already occurred
Ex: Physical therapy for stroke victims
What are the strategies for communicable disease control/prevention? - ANSWER-1.
Remove, eliminate or contain the cause or source of infection
2. Disrupt and block the chain of infection/transmission
3. Protect the susceptible population
What are the host-related control and prevention? - ANSWER-•Quarantine
-One of the first public health measures to control disease communication
•Isolation
• Infection Control
-Hygiene
-Chemicals and antibiotics
What are some ways chronic diseases can be prevented or controlled? - ANSWER-
Behavior change and reduction of exposure; these can be accomplished by: policies,
prevention programs, and screening programs
What are some environmental control measures? - ANSWER-• Provide clean and safe
air, water, and food
• Management of waste and vectors
What sort of public health measures are aimed at preventing nutritional diseases, like
malnutrition for example? - ANSWER--Policies
-Health promotion and education programs
-Knowing what to eat
