Epidemiology Midterm Study Set
Questions with Accurate Answers
200 babies were followed from birth to age five to determine if those whose
mothers smoked during pregnancy were more likely to have respiratory infections
in the first five years of life than those whose mothers did not smoke during
pregnancy. The findings supported the investigators' assumption that smoking
during pregnancy increases the frequency of respiratory infections in young
children. correct answer Prospective Cohort
A disease outbreak is called a pandemic when it spreads across several or many
countries and affects many people.
true
false correct answer true
A histogram of the distribution of cases of a disease or condition by time of onset
correct answer epidemic curve
A measure of association or relationship between the incidence in the exposed
and that in the unexposed. Calculated by dividing the new onset cases by those
not exposed to the factor correct answer relative risk
A measure of association or relationship between the incidence in the exposed
and that in the unexposed. Calculated by dividing the new onset cases by those
not exposed to the factor correct answer Relative Risk
A measure of association used to quantify the strength of association between
and exposure and an outcome. The number of cases and controls are arbitrary
representations of the real population. correct answer Odds Ratio
,A measure of disease frequency that indicates the force of morbidity or the
probability that a disease will develop in a given period of time. Calculated by
dividing the number of new cases by the total number of susceptible people at
the beginning of the study period correct answer incidence rate
A range of values thought to contain the true value a predetermined proportion
of the time. correct answer confidence interval
A retrospective cohort study is conducted to evaluate the relationship between
supplemental use of calcium and the risk of hip fractures in 1000 post-
menopausal women. Of the 730 women with hip fractures, 180 reported regularly
taking calcium. Of the 270 women who did not have a hip fracture during this
same time period, 156 reported no calcium supplements. Develop a 2 x 2 table.
What is the relative risk of suffering a hip fracture if you regularly took calcium as
a supplement? correct answer Hip Fracture No Fracture Total
Calcium 180 114 294
No Calcium 550 156 706
Total 730 270 1000
180//706= 0.79
**this relative risk is <1, has protective effect so,
0.79*100=79-100=21%
People who take calcium are 21% less likely to have a hip fracture than people
who do not take calcium. Calcium supplements appear to have a protective effect
on preventing hip fracture.
,A study was undertaken to test the hypotheses that chewing tobacco increases
the risk of stomach cancer. Detailed historical data on chewing tobacco use were
collected from 400 subjects with stomach cancer and compared to the same
historical data from matched subjects. The results revealed that chewing tobacco
was not a significant risk facor for stomach cancer. correct answer Case Control
A total of 825 insulation workers employed between 1941 and 1944 were
identified from the personnel records of three large insulation manufacturing
plants in the southeastern U.S. in 1975. During the period 1941-1975, 26 deaths
from lung cancer were discovered among the workers. Only six lung cancer
deaths, however, were reported among a comparable group of 700 coworkers
who did not work with insulation during the same time period. The investigators
had postulated that exposure to the insulation material increases the risk of lung
cancer. correct answer Retrospective Cohort
Advantages of case-control studies include all except
Relatively low cost
Shorter study duration
Possible to investigate rare diseases
Clearly establishes a sequence of events correct answer Clearly establishes a
sequence of events
All cases (new and old) in a population at risk over a specified time. correct
answer prevalence
, All proportions are ratios, but not all ratios are proportions
true
false correct answer true
All proportions are ratios, but not all ratios are proportions.
true
false correct answer true
An ambi-directional cohort study was conducted to evaluate the relationship
between obesity and the risk of heart disease in people who primarily eat out as
opposed to eating at home. Investigators selected 800 individuals for study. Of
the 400 people who primarily eat out, 167 people were found to be obese and 58
people who primarily eat at home were found to be obese. Develop a 2 x 2 table.
What is the relative risk of being obese if you eat out often? correct answer obese
not obese total
eating out 167 233 400
eating home 58 342 400
total 225 575 800
167//400 = 2.88
**this relative risk is >1, harmful effect
People who eat out are 2.88 times more likely to be obese than people who eat at
home. Eating at home is a good health strategy to prevent obesity
Questions with Accurate Answers
200 babies were followed from birth to age five to determine if those whose
mothers smoked during pregnancy were more likely to have respiratory infections
in the first five years of life than those whose mothers did not smoke during
pregnancy. The findings supported the investigators' assumption that smoking
during pregnancy increases the frequency of respiratory infections in young
children. correct answer Prospective Cohort
A disease outbreak is called a pandemic when it spreads across several or many
countries and affects many people.
true
false correct answer true
A histogram of the distribution of cases of a disease or condition by time of onset
correct answer epidemic curve
A measure of association or relationship between the incidence in the exposed
and that in the unexposed. Calculated by dividing the new onset cases by those
not exposed to the factor correct answer relative risk
A measure of association or relationship between the incidence in the exposed
and that in the unexposed. Calculated by dividing the new onset cases by those
not exposed to the factor correct answer Relative Risk
A measure of association used to quantify the strength of association between
and exposure and an outcome. The number of cases and controls are arbitrary
representations of the real population. correct answer Odds Ratio
,A measure of disease frequency that indicates the force of morbidity or the
probability that a disease will develop in a given period of time. Calculated by
dividing the number of new cases by the total number of susceptible people at
the beginning of the study period correct answer incidence rate
A range of values thought to contain the true value a predetermined proportion
of the time. correct answer confidence interval
A retrospective cohort study is conducted to evaluate the relationship between
supplemental use of calcium and the risk of hip fractures in 1000 post-
menopausal women. Of the 730 women with hip fractures, 180 reported regularly
taking calcium. Of the 270 women who did not have a hip fracture during this
same time period, 156 reported no calcium supplements. Develop a 2 x 2 table.
What is the relative risk of suffering a hip fracture if you regularly took calcium as
a supplement? correct answer Hip Fracture No Fracture Total
Calcium 180 114 294
No Calcium 550 156 706
Total 730 270 1000
180//706= 0.79
**this relative risk is <1, has protective effect so,
0.79*100=79-100=21%
People who take calcium are 21% less likely to have a hip fracture than people
who do not take calcium. Calcium supplements appear to have a protective effect
on preventing hip fracture.
,A study was undertaken to test the hypotheses that chewing tobacco increases
the risk of stomach cancer. Detailed historical data on chewing tobacco use were
collected from 400 subjects with stomach cancer and compared to the same
historical data from matched subjects. The results revealed that chewing tobacco
was not a significant risk facor for stomach cancer. correct answer Case Control
A total of 825 insulation workers employed between 1941 and 1944 were
identified from the personnel records of three large insulation manufacturing
plants in the southeastern U.S. in 1975. During the period 1941-1975, 26 deaths
from lung cancer were discovered among the workers. Only six lung cancer
deaths, however, were reported among a comparable group of 700 coworkers
who did not work with insulation during the same time period. The investigators
had postulated that exposure to the insulation material increases the risk of lung
cancer. correct answer Retrospective Cohort
Advantages of case-control studies include all except
Relatively low cost
Shorter study duration
Possible to investigate rare diseases
Clearly establishes a sequence of events correct answer Clearly establishes a
sequence of events
All cases (new and old) in a population at risk over a specified time. correct
answer prevalence
, All proportions are ratios, but not all ratios are proportions
true
false correct answer true
All proportions are ratios, but not all ratios are proportions.
true
false correct answer true
An ambi-directional cohort study was conducted to evaluate the relationship
between obesity and the risk of heart disease in people who primarily eat out as
opposed to eating at home. Investigators selected 800 individuals for study. Of
the 400 people who primarily eat out, 167 people were found to be obese and 58
people who primarily eat at home were found to be obese. Develop a 2 x 2 table.
What is the relative risk of being obese if you eat out often? correct answer obese
not obese total
eating out 167 233 400
eating home 58 342 400
total 225 575 800
167//400 = 2.88
**this relative risk is >1, harmful effect
People who eat out are 2.88 times more likely to be obese than people who eat at
home. Eating at home is a good health strategy to prevent obesity
