HSC404 Ethics in Healthcare
Midterm Exam Review
Qns & Ans
2025
1. The population of a city on February 15, 2005, was 36,600. The city has a passive surveillance
system that collects hospital and private physician reports of influenza cases every month.
During the period between January 1 and April 1, 2005, 2,200 new cases of influenza occurred in
the city. Of these cases, 775 persons were ill with influenza according to surveillance reports on
April 1, 2005. The prevalence rate of active influenza as of April 1, 2005, was:
Correct! 20 per 1,000 population
2. The population of a city on February 15, 2005, was 36,600. The city has a passive surveillance
system that collects hospital and private physician reports of influenza cases every month.
During the period between January 1 and April 1, 2005, 2,200 new cases of influenza occurred in
the city. Of these cases, 775 persons were ill with influenza according to surveillance reports on
April 1, 2005. The monthly incidence rate of active cases of influenza for the 3-month period
was:
Correct! 20 per 1,000 population
3. What would be the effect on age-specific incidence rates of uterine cancer if women with
hysterectomies were excluded from the denominator of incidence calculations assuming that
most women who have had hysterectomies are older than 50 years of age?
Correct!: Rates would increase in women older than 50 years of age but may decrease in
younger women as they get older.
4. The ability of a single person to remain free of clinical illness following exposure to an infectious
agent is known as:
Correct!: Immunity
5. Which of the following reasons can explain why a person who did not consume the infective
food item got sick?
, Correct: All of the above
6. Which of the food items (or combination of items) is most likely to be the infective item(s)?
Correct!: Ice cream only
7. The case-fatality rate associated with plague is lowest in which community?
Correct Answer: Community C
8. The incidence and prevalence rates of a chronic childhood illness for a specific community are
given below.
Correct Answer: The duration of disease is becoming longer.
9. The following table gives the mean annual age-specific mortality rates from measles during the
first 25 years of life in successive 5-year periods. You may assume that the population is in a
steady state (i.e., migrations out are equal to migrations in).
Based on the information above, one may conclude:
Correct Answer: Children ages 5 to 9 had the highest rate of death in all periods
10. In a country with a population of 16 million people, 175,000 deaths occurred during the year
ending December 31, 2005. These included 45,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 135,000
persons who were sick with TB. Assume that the population remained constant throughout the
year. Not all 135,000 cases of TB were contracted during 2005. Which of the following
statements is true?
Correct Answer: None of the above
11. In 2001, a state enacted a law that required the use of safety seats for all children under 7 years
of age and mandatory seatbelt use for all persons. The table above lists the number of deaths
due to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and the total population by age in 2000 (before the law)
and in 2005 (4 years after the law was enacted).
Correct Answer: Correct, because both the total and the age-adjusted mortality rates are higher
in 2005 than in 2000
12. Which of the following is an advantage of active surveillance?
Correct!: More accurate due to reduced reporting burden for health care providers
13. A disease has an incidence of 10 per 1,000 persons per year, and 80% of those affected will die
within 1 year. Prior to the year 2000, only 50% of cases of the disease were detected by
physician diagnosis prior to death. In the year 2000, a lab test was developed that identified 90%
of cases an average of 6 months prior to symptom onset; however, the prognosis did not
improve after diagnosis. Which statement is true concerning the duration of the disease after
the development of the lab test?
Correct Answer: Mean duration of a case of the disease is longer in 2000
,14. What is the overall attack rate in persons who did not eat ice cream?
Correct!: 33%
15. The table above describes the number of illnesses and deaths caused by plague in four
communities. The proportionate mortality ratio associated with plague is lowest in which
community?
Correct!: Community D
16. Which of the following is characteristic of a single-exposure, common-vehicle outbreak?
Correct!: The epidemic curve has a normal distribution when plotted against the logarithm of time
17. The following table gives the mean annual age-specific mortality rates from measles during the
first 25 years of life in successive 5-year periods. You may assume that the population is in a
steady state (i.e., migrations out are equal to migrations in).
Correct Answer: 2.4 3.3 2.0 0.6 0.1
18. A disease has an incidence of 10 per 1,000 persons per year, and 80% of those affected will die
within 1 year. Prior to the year 2000, only 50% of cases of the disease were detected by
physician diagnosis prior to death. In the year 2000, a lab test was developed that identified 90%
of cases an average of 6 months prior to symptom onset; however, the prognosis did not
improve after diagnosis. Comparing the epidemiology of the disease prior to 2000 with the
epidemiology of the disease after the development of the lab test, which statement is true
concerning the disease in 2000?
Correct Answer: Incidence is higher and prevalence is higher than in 1999
19. A survey was conducted among 1,000 randomly sampled adult males in the United States in
2005. The results from this survey are shown below.
The researchers stated that there was a doubling of risk of hypertension in each age group
younger than 60 years of age. You conclude that the researchers' interpretation:
Correct!: is incorrect because prevalence rates are estimated
20. Which of the following is a condition which may occur during the incubation period?
Correct!: Transmission of infection
21. The incidence and prevalence rates of a chronic childhood illness for a specific community are
given below.
Based on the data, which of the following interpretations best describes disease X?
Correct! :The duration of disease is becoming longer.
, 22. A disease has an incidence of 10 per 1,000 persons per year, and 80% of those affected will die
within 1 year. Prior to the year 2000, only 50% of cases of the disease were detected by
physician diagnosis prior to death. In the year 2000, a lab test was developed that identified 90%
of cases an average of 6 months prior to symptom onset; however, the prognosis did not
improve after diagnosis. Which statement is true concerning the disease-specific mortality rate
after the development of the lab test?
Correct! :The mortality rate for the disease is the same in 2000
23. Among those who are 25 years of age, those who have been driving less than 5 years had 13,700
motor vehicle accidents in 1 year, while those who had been driving for more than 5 years had
21,680 motor vehicle accidents during the same time period. It was concluded from these data
that 25-year-olds with more driving experience have increased accidents compared to those who
started driving later. This conclusion is:
Correct Answer: Incorrect because rates are not reported
24. In a country with a population of 16 million people, 175,000 deaths occurred during the year
ending December 31, 2005. These included 45,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 135,000
persons who were sick with TB. Assume that the population remained constant throughout the
year. Not all 135,000 cases of TB were contracted during 2005. Which of the following
statements is true?
Correct! : None of the above
25. Which of the following is a condition which may occur during the incubation period?
Correct! : Transmission of infection
26. Test A has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 90%. Test B has a sensitivity of 80% and a
specificity of 98%. In a community of 10,000 people with 5% prevalence of the disease, Test A
has always been given before Test B. What is the best reason for changing the order of the tests?
Correct! : The total number of false positives found by both tests is decreased if Test B is given
first
27. In 2001, a state enacted a law that required the use of safety seats for all children under 7 years
of age and mandatory seatbelt use for all persons. The table above lists the number of deaths
due to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and the total population by age in 2000 (before the law)
and in 2005 (4 years after the law was enacted).
Based on the information in the table, it was reported that there was an increased risk of death
due to MVAs in the state after the law was passed. These conclusions are:
Correct Answer : Correct, because both the total and the age-adjusted mortality rates are higher
in 2005 than in 2000
Midterm Exam Review
Qns & Ans
2025
1. The population of a city on February 15, 2005, was 36,600. The city has a passive surveillance
system that collects hospital and private physician reports of influenza cases every month.
During the period between January 1 and April 1, 2005, 2,200 new cases of influenza occurred in
the city. Of these cases, 775 persons were ill with influenza according to surveillance reports on
April 1, 2005. The prevalence rate of active influenza as of April 1, 2005, was:
Correct! 20 per 1,000 population
2. The population of a city on February 15, 2005, was 36,600. The city has a passive surveillance
system that collects hospital and private physician reports of influenza cases every month.
During the period between January 1 and April 1, 2005, 2,200 new cases of influenza occurred in
the city. Of these cases, 775 persons were ill with influenza according to surveillance reports on
April 1, 2005. The monthly incidence rate of active cases of influenza for the 3-month period
was:
Correct! 20 per 1,000 population
3. What would be the effect on age-specific incidence rates of uterine cancer if women with
hysterectomies were excluded from the denominator of incidence calculations assuming that
most women who have had hysterectomies are older than 50 years of age?
Correct!: Rates would increase in women older than 50 years of age but may decrease in
younger women as they get older.
4. The ability of a single person to remain free of clinical illness following exposure to an infectious
agent is known as:
Correct!: Immunity
5. Which of the following reasons can explain why a person who did not consume the infective
food item got sick?
, Correct: All of the above
6. Which of the food items (or combination of items) is most likely to be the infective item(s)?
Correct!: Ice cream only
7. The case-fatality rate associated with plague is lowest in which community?
Correct Answer: Community C
8. The incidence and prevalence rates of a chronic childhood illness for a specific community are
given below.
Correct Answer: The duration of disease is becoming longer.
9. The following table gives the mean annual age-specific mortality rates from measles during the
first 25 years of life in successive 5-year periods. You may assume that the population is in a
steady state (i.e., migrations out are equal to migrations in).
Based on the information above, one may conclude:
Correct Answer: Children ages 5 to 9 had the highest rate of death in all periods
10. In a country with a population of 16 million people, 175,000 deaths occurred during the year
ending December 31, 2005. These included 45,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 135,000
persons who were sick with TB. Assume that the population remained constant throughout the
year. Not all 135,000 cases of TB were contracted during 2005. Which of the following
statements is true?
Correct Answer: None of the above
11. In 2001, a state enacted a law that required the use of safety seats for all children under 7 years
of age and mandatory seatbelt use for all persons. The table above lists the number of deaths
due to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and the total population by age in 2000 (before the law)
and in 2005 (4 years after the law was enacted).
Correct Answer: Correct, because both the total and the age-adjusted mortality rates are higher
in 2005 than in 2000
12. Which of the following is an advantage of active surveillance?
Correct!: More accurate due to reduced reporting burden for health care providers
13. A disease has an incidence of 10 per 1,000 persons per year, and 80% of those affected will die
within 1 year. Prior to the year 2000, only 50% of cases of the disease were detected by
physician diagnosis prior to death. In the year 2000, a lab test was developed that identified 90%
of cases an average of 6 months prior to symptom onset; however, the prognosis did not
improve after diagnosis. Which statement is true concerning the duration of the disease after
the development of the lab test?
Correct Answer: Mean duration of a case of the disease is longer in 2000
,14. What is the overall attack rate in persons who did not eat ice cream?
Correct!: 33%
15. The table above describes the number of illnesses and deaths caused by plague in four
communities. The proportionate mortality ratio associated with plague is lowest in which
community?
Correct!: Community D
16. Which of the following is characteristic of a single-exposure, common-vehicle outbreak?
Correct!: The epidemic curve has a normal distribution when plotted against the logarithm of time
17. The following table gives the mean annual age-specific mortality rates from measles during the
first 25 years of life in successive 5-year periods. You may assume that the population is in a
steady state (i.e., migrations out are equal to migrations in).
Correct Answer: 2.4 3.3 2.0 0.6 0.1
18. A disease has an incidence of 10 per 1,000 persons per year, and 80% of those affected will die
within 1 year. Prior to the year 2000, only 50% of cases of the disease were detected by
physician diagnosis prior to death. In the year 2000, a lab test was developed that identified 90%
of cases an average of 6 months prior to symptom onset; however, the prognosis did not
improve after diagnosis. Comparing the epidemiology of the disease prior to 2000 with the
epidemiology of the disease after the development of the lab test, which statement is true
concerning the disease in 2000?
Correct Answer: Incidence is higher and prevalence is higher than in 1999
19. A survey was conducted among 1,000 randomly sampled adult males in the United States in
2005. The results from this survey are shown below.
The researchers stated that there was a doubling of risk of hypertension in each age group
younger than 60 years of age. You conclude that the researchers' interpretation:
Correct!: is incorrect because prevalence rates are estimated
20. Which of the following is a condition which may occur during the incubation period?
Correct!: Transmission of infection
21. The incidence and prevalence rates of a chronic childhood illness for a specific community are
given below.
Based on the data, which of the following interpretations best describes disease X?
Correct! :The duration of disease is becoming longer.
, 22. A disease has an incidence of 10 per 1,000 persons per year, and 80% of those affected will die
within 1 year. Prior to the year 2000, only 50% of cases of the disease were detected by
physician diagnosis prior to death. In the year 2000, a lab test was developed that identified 90%
of cases an average of 6 months prior to symptom onset; however, the prognosis did not
improve after diagnosis. Which statement is true concerning the disease-specific mortality rate
after the development of the lab test?
Correct! :The mortality rate for the disease is the same in 2000
23. Among those who are 25 years of age, those who have been driving less than 5 years had 13,700
motor vehicle accidents in 1 year, while those who had been driving for more than 5 years had
21,680 motor vehicle accidents during the same time period. It was concluded from these data
that 25-year-olds with more driving experience have increased accidents compared to those who
started driving later. This conclusion is:
Correct Answer: Incorrect because rates are not reported
24. In a country with a population of 16 million people, 175,000 deaths occurred during the year
ending December 31, 2005. These included 45,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 135,000
persons who were sick with TB. Assume that the population remained constant throughout the
year. Not all 135,000 cases of TB were contracted during 2005. Which of the following
statements is true?
Correct! : None of the above
25. Which of the following is a condition which may occur during the incubation period?
Correct! : Transmission of infection
26. Test A has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 90%. Test B has a sensitivity of 80% and a
specificity of 98%. In a community of 10,000 people with 5% prevalence of the disease, Test A
has always been given before Test B. What is the best reason for changing the order of the tests?
Correct! : The total number of false positives found by both tests is decreased if Test B is given
first
27. In 2001, a state enacted a law that required the use of safety seats for all children under 7 years
of age and mandatory seatbelt use for all persons. The table above lists the number of deaths
due to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and the total population by age in 2000 (before the law)
and in 2005 (4 years after the law was enacted).
Based on the information in the table, it was reported that there was an increased risk of death
due to MVAs in the state after the law was passed. These conclusions are:
Correct Answer : Correct, because both the total and the age-adjusted mortality rates are higher
in 2005 than in 2000
