HOSA EPIDEMIOLOGY ACTUAL EXAM
UPDATE 2026 WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
QUESTION5 Ws of Descriptive Epidemiology - answer-Diagnosis or health event (what), Person
(who), Place (where), Time (when) and Modes of Transmission (why/how)
QUESTIONFrequency - answer-Not only the number of health events, but also the relationship
of that number to the size of the population.
QUESTIONPattern - answer-The occurrence of health-related events by time, place and person.
QUESTIONDescriptive Epidemiology - answer-Characterizing health events by time, place, and
person.
Incidence - answer-The number of new cases per person per unit of time
QUESTIONPrevalence - answer-The proportion of the population at a given time that has a case
QUESTIONCase Fatality Rate - answer-Ratio of fatal cases to total cases
QUESTIONRisk factor - answer-A definable element of exposure that captures at least one part
of the pathway by which the cause increases the risk that a member of the population will meet
the criteria of a case.
,QUESTIONObservational Study - answer-Study in which events occur without the scientist
having controlled starting conditions. Resembles the studies of geology and astronomy.
QUESTIONEpidemiology - answer-The study of the distribution and determinants of health-
related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study is the control
of health problems.
QUESTIONEfficiency - answer-Refers to the ability of the program to produce the intended
results with a minimum expenditure of time and resources.
QUESTIONFormative Evaluation - answer-Evaluation that focuses on plans.
QUESTIONProcess Evaluation - answer-Evaluation that focuses on operations.
QUESTIONSummative Evaluation - answer-Evaluation that focuses on impact.
QUESTIONLinkages - answer-Working in conjunction with members of other disciplines.
QUESTIONCase Definition - answer-A set of standard criteria for classifying whether a person
has a particular disease, syndrome, or other health condition.
QUESTIONRate - answer-The number of cases divided by the size of the population per unit of
time.
QUESTIONSecular trends - answer-Long term trends; Assess the prevailing direction of disease
occurrence (increasing, decreasing, or essentially flat).
, QUESTIONEpidemic Curve - answer-A graph used to show the time course for a disease
outbreak or epidemic.
QUESTIONExperimental Study - answer-In this type of study, the investigator determines
through a controlled process the exposure for each individual (clinical trial) or community
(community trial), and then tracks the the individual or communities over time to detect the
effects of the exposure.
QUESTIONCohort Study - answer-In this type of study, and epidemiologist records whether each
study participant is exposed or not, and then tracks the participants to see if they develop the
disease of interest. Similar to an experimental study, but observes rather than determines the
exposure status.
QUESTIONProspective Cohort Study - answer-A kind of cohort study that observes the exposure
status, and tracks the participants to see if they develop the disease in question; Also called a
follow-up study
QUESTIONRetrospective Cohort Study - answer-In this type of study, both the exposure and the
outcomes have already occurred.
QUESTIONCase-Control Study - answer-In this type of study, epidemiologists start by enrolling a
group of people with a disease and a group of people with out that disease (controls).
Investigators then compare previous exposures between the two groups.
QUESTIONDeterminants - answer-The causes and other factors that influence the occurrence of
disease and other health-related events.
QUESTIONAnalytic Epidemiology - answer-Provides the "why" and "how" disease and other
health events spread/occur.
UPDATE 2026 WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
QUESTION5 Ws of Descriptive Epidemiology - answer-Diagnosis or health event (what), Person
(who), Place (where), Time (when) and Modes of Transmission (why/how)
QUESTIONFrequency - answer-Not only the number of health events, but also the relationship
of that number to the size of the population.
QUESTIONPattern - answer-The occurrence of health-related events by time, place and person.
QUESTIONDescriptive Epidemiology - answer-Characterizing health events by time, place, and
person.
Incidence - answer-The number of new cases per person per unit of time
QUESTIONPrevalence - answer-The proportion of the population at a given time that has a case
QUESTIONCase Fatality Rate - answer-Ratio of fatal cases to total cases
QUESTIONRisk factor - answer-A definable element of exposure that captures at least one part
of the pathway by which the cause increases the risk that a member of the population will meet
the criteria of a case.
,QUESTIONObservational Study - answer-Study in which events occur without the scientist
having controlled starting conditions. Resembles the studies of geology and astronomy.
QUESTIONEpidemiology - answer-The study of the distribution and determinants of health-
related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study is the control
of health problems.
QUESTIONEfficiency - answer-Refers to the ability of the program to produce the intended
results with a minimum expenditure of time and resources.
QUESTIONFormative Evaluation - answer-Evaluation that focuses on plans.
QUESTIONProcess Evaluation - answer-Evaluation that focuses on operations.
QUESTIONSummative Evaluation - answer-Evaluation that focuses on impact.
QUESTIONLinkages - answer-Working in conjunction with members of other disciplines.
QUESTIONCase Definition - answer-A set of standard criteria for classifying whether a person
has a particular disease, syndrome, or other health condition.
QUESTIONRate - answer-The number of cases divided by the size of the population per unit of
time.
QUESTIONSecular trends - answer-Long term trends; Assess the prevailing direction of disease
occurrence (increasing, decreasing, or essentially flat).
, QUESTIONEpidemic Curve - answer-A graph used to show the time course for a disease
outbreak or epidemic.
QUESTIONExperimental Study - answer-In this type of study, the investigator determines
through a controlled process the exposure for each individual (clinical trial) or community
(community trial), and then tracks the the individual or communities over time to detect the
effects of the exposure.
QUESTIONCohort Study - answer-In this type of study, and epidemiologist records whether each
study participant is exposed or not, and then tracks the participants to see if they develop the
disease of interest. Similar to an experimental study, but observes rather than determines the
exposure status.
QUESTIONProspective Cohort Study - answer-A kind of cohort study that observes the exposure
status, and tracks the participants to see if they develop the disease in question; Also called a
follow-up study
QUESTIONRetrospective Cohort Study - answer-In this type of study, both the exposure and the
outcomes have already occurred.
QUESTIONCase-Control Study - answer-In this type of study, epidemiologists start by enrolling a
group of people with a disease and a group of people with out that disease (controls).
Investigators then compare previous exposures between the two groups.
QUESTIONDeterminants - answer-The causes and other factors that influence the occurrence of
disease and other health-related events.
QUESTIONAnalytic Epidemiology - answer-Provides the "why" and "how" disease and other
health events spread/occur.
