Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR503 Final Exam Study Notes
Be sure to review the terminology and concepts of the first four weeks: these concepts help to
inform and support the last four weeks of the course.
All information listed on this review doc can be found in the course text, Gordis.
Definitions of study designs: Chapter 10: Differentiate between the case-control and cohort studies.
Ask yourself, which is used when, and why.
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Prevention
Primary prevention -Preventing the initial development of a disease (eg. Immunization, reducing
exposure to a risk factor)
Secondary prevention-Early detection of existing disease to reduce severity and complications (eg.
Screening for cancer)
Tertiary prevention-Reducing the impact of the disease (eg. Rehabilitation for stroke)
Case-Control:
Examine the possible relationship of an exposure to a certain disease
Identify group of individuals with the disease (cases)
For comparison, gather a group of people without that disease (controls)
Determine what proportion of the cases were exposed and were not
Also determine what proportion of the controls were exposed and not
Text: Thus, in a case-control study, if there is an association of an exposure with a disease, the
prevalence of history of exposure should be higher in persons who have the disease (cases)
than in those who do not have the disease (controls). They are quick, inexpensive, and easy.
They are particularly appropriate for (1) investigating outbreaks, and (2) studying rare diseases
or outcomes
Ask yourself: Why is this important to the NP in primary care? How does this inform a
provider’s decision-making? Cohort Studies: Chapter 13: Comparing Cohort and Case-Control
Studies: See Figure 13-1 and 13-2 (busy pictures but hang in there) in a cohort study, exposed
and nonexposed persons are compared, and in a case-control study, persons with the disease
(cases) and without the disease (controls) are compared, in a case-control study, persons with
the disease (cases) and without the disease (controls) are compared
Chapter 13 comparison of studies - important to review
Matching: Chapter 10: Text: A major concern in conducting a case-control study is that cases and
controls may differ in characteristics or exposures other than the one that has been targeted for study.
Matching is defined as the process of selecting the controls so that they are similar to the cases in
certain characteristics, such as age, race, sex, socioeconomic status, and occupation.
Randomization: The point of randomization is to prevent any potential biases on the part of the
investigators/researchers. Text: Thus, the use of randomization is crucial to protect the study from any
NR503 Final Exam Study Notes
Be sure to review the terminology and concepts of the first four weeks: these concepts help to
inform and support the last four weeks of the course.
All information listed on this review doc can be found in the course text, Gordis.
Definitions of study designs: Chapter 10: Differentiate between the case-control and cohort studies.
Ask yourself, which is used when, and why.
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Prevention
Primary prevention -Preventing the initial development of a disease (eg. Immunization, reducing
exposure to a risk factor)
Secondary prevention-Early detection of existing disease to reduce severity and complications (eg.
Screening for cancer)
Tertiary prevention-Reducing the impact of the disease (eg. Rehabilitation for stroke)
Case-Control:
Examine the possible relationship of an exposure to a certain disease
Identify group of individuals with the disease (cases)
For comparison, gather a group of people without that disease (controls)
Determine what proportion of the cases were exposed and were not
Also determine what proportion of the controls were exposed and not
Text: Thus, in a case-control study, if there is an association of an exposure with a disease, the
prevalence of history of exposure should be higher in persons who have the disease (cases)
than in those who do not have the disease (controls). They are quick, inexpensive, and easy.
They are particularly appropriate for (1) investigating outbreaks, and (2) studying rare diseases
or outcomes
Ask yourself: Why is this important to the NP in primary care? How does this inform a
provider’s decision-making? Cohort Studies: Chapter 13: Comparing Cohort and Case-Control
Studies: See Figure 13-1 and 13-2 (busy pictures but hang in there) in a cohort study, exposed
and nonexposed persons are compared, and in a case-control study, persons with the disease
(cases) and without the disease (controls) are compared, in a case-control study, persons with
the disease (cases) and without the disease (controls) are compared
Chapter 13 comparison of studies - important to review
Matching: Chapter 10: Text: A major concern in conducting a case-control study is that cases and
controls may differ in characteristics or exposures other than the one that has been targeted for study.
Matching is defined as the process of selecting the controls so that they are similar to the cases in
certain characteristics, such as age, race, sex, socioeconomic status, and occupation.
Randomization: The point of randomization is to prevent any potential biases on the part of the
investigators/researchers. Text: Thus, the use of randomization is crucial to protect the study from any
