Chapter 10 Epidemiological Applications
The nursing staff has attempted to screen the entire African-American population
in the community for diabetes. Which of the following would provide immediate
verification of the success of the nursing staff's efforts?
a. An epidemic of diabetes will be recognized.
b. The incidence of diabetes will increase in the community.
c. The prevalence of diabetes will decrease in the community.
d. The risk for diabetes in the community will increase.
- ans -ANS: B
If the screening has been successful, more diabetes will be diagnosed and,
hopefully, treated. Thus, the incidence of new cases will increase.
In a particular community, several high school students were diagnosed with
diabetes mellitus type 2 during the annual high school health fair. Over the next
few years, the nursing staff developed and implemented educational programs
about the risk factors for diabetes mellitus type 2 and proper nutrition. Which of
the following would be the most useful for the nurses to use to determine if they
are having any impact?
a. The epidemic of diabetes in the high school is gradually ending.
b. The incidence of diabetes is slowly decreasing during screening events.
c. The prevalence of diabetes is slowly decreasing during screening events.
d. The risk for diabetes is slowly increasing over time.
- ans -ANS: B
Incidence rates and incidence proportions are the measure of choice to study
etiology because incidence is affected only by factors related to the risk of
developing disease and not to survival or cure. If the educational programs are
having the desired impact, the incidence of diabetes being diagnosed will
decrease in future screenings. Prevalence is a fairly stable number over time, but
incidence reacts more quickly to changes in risk factors or intervention programs.
This year 600 of 8000 young women age 17 to 20 years at a university health
center tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Which of the
following terms best describes this data?
a. An epidemic
b. Incidence
c. Prevalence
, d. Risk
- ans -ANS: C
Prevalence is the measure of existing disease in a population at a particular time.
Because we do not have baseline data, we have no way to conclude that this is an
epidemic with higher-than-normal results from the screening. Incidence refers to
new cases, whereas prevalence means all cases.
A nursing staff has successfully screened for diabetes in the community. Which of
the following might best persuade the health board to increase funding for
diabetic clinics in this community?
a. An epidemic of diabetes is now recognized and must be addressed
.b. The incidence of diabetes is now higher than previously recognized in the
community.
c. The prevalence of diabetes is now higher than previously recognized in the
community.
d. The risk for diabetes in the community could decrease if funding is received.
- ans -ANS: C
Prevalence is a fairly stable number. Prevalence proportions reflect duration in
addition to the risk for getting the disease. Prevalence is useful in planning health
care services because it is an indication of the level of disease existing in the
population and therefore the size of the population in need of services.
A public health nurse found that out of the 70 people who ate the potato salad at
a school picnic, 63 developed symptoms of food poisoning. Which of the following
best describes the attack rate?
a. 63%
b. 70%
c. 90%
d. 100%
- ans -ANS: C
The attack rate is the proportion of persons exposed to an agent who develop the
disease. Because 63 of the 70 persons became ill, the attack rate is 63:70, or 90%.
Sixty-three (63) is the number of clients who developed symptoms of food
poisoning. Seventy (70) is the total number of people who ate the potato salad at
the school picnic. These numbers need to be used as part of the formula to
calculate the attack rate.
The nursing staff has attempted to screen the entire African-American population
in the community for diabetes. Which of the following would provide immediate
verification of the success of the nursing staff's efforts?
a. An epidemic of diabetes will be recognized.
b. The incidence of diabetes will increase in the community.
c. The prevalence of diabetes will decrease in the community.
d. The risk for diabetes in the community will increase.
- ans -ANS: B
If the screening has been successful, more diabetes will be diagnosed and,
hopefully, treated. Thus, the incidence of new cases will increase.
In a particular community, several high school students were diagnosed with
diabetes mellitus type 2 during the annual high school health fair. Over the next
few years, the nursing staff developed and implemented educational programs
about the risk factors for diabetes mellitus type 2 and proper nutrition. Which of
the following would be the most useful for the nurses to use to determine if they
are having any impact?
a. The epidemic of diabetes in the high school is gradually ending.
b. The incidence of diabetes is slowly decreasing during screening events.
c. The prevalence of diabetes is slowly decreasing during screening events.
d. The risk for diabetes is slowly increasing over time.
- ans -ANS: B
Incidence rates and incidence proportions are the measure of choice to study
etiology because incidence is affected only by factors related to the risk of
developing disease and not to survival or cure. If the educational programs are
having the desired impact, the incidence of diabetes being diagnosed will
decrease in future screenings. Prevalence is a fairly stable number over time, but
incidence reacts more quickly to changes in risk factors or intervention programs.
This year 600 of 8000 young women age 17 to 20 years at a university health
center tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Which of the
following terms best describes this data?
a. An epidemic
b. Incidence
c. Prevalence
, d. Risk
- ans -ANS: C
Prevalence is the measure of existing disease in a population at a particular time.
Because we do not have baseline data, we have no way to conclude that this is an
epidemic with higher-than-normal results from the screening. Incidence refers to
new cases, whereas prevalence means all cases.
A nursing staff has successfully screened for diabetes in the community. Which of
the following might best persuade the health board to increase funding for
diabetic clinics in this community?
a. An epidemic of diabetes is now recognized and must be addressed
.b. The incidence of diabetes is now higher than previously recognized in the
community.
c. The prevalence of diabetes is now higher than previously recognized in the
community.
d. The risk for diabetes in the community could decrease if funding is received.
- ans -ANS: C
Prevalence is a fairly stable number. Prevalence proportions reflect duration in
addition to the risk for getting the disease. Prevalence is useful in planning health
care services because it is an indication of the level of disease existing in the
population and therefore the size of the population in need of services.
A public health nurse found that out of the 70 people who ate the potato salad at
a school picnic, 63 developed symptoms of food poisoning. Which of the following
best describes the attack rate?
a. 63%
b. 70%
c. 90%
d. 100%
- ans -ANS: C
The attack rate is the proportion of persons exposed to an agent who develop the
disease. Because 63 of the 70 persons became ill, the attack rate is 63:70, or 90%.
Sixty-three (63) is the number of clients who developed symptoms of food
poisoning. Seventy (70) is the total number of people who ate the potato salad at
the school picnic. These numbers need to be used as part of the formula to
calculate the attack rate.
