EPIDEMIOLOGY VOCABULARY EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
epidemic - ANSWER-the occurrence of more cases of disease, injury, or other health
condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a
particular period; usually, the cases are presumed to have a common cause or to be
related to one another in some way
pandemic - ANSWER-an epidemic occurring over a widespread area and usually
affecting a substantial proportion of the population
observational study - ANSWER-a study in which the investigator observes rather than
influences exposure and disease among participants; case-control and cohort studies
experimental study - ANSWER-a study in which a sample of persons from a population
are enrolled and their exposure and health outcomes are measured simultaneously; a
survey
hyperendemic - ANSWER-the constant presence at high incidence and prevalence of
an agent or health condition within a given geographic area or population
component cause - ANSWER-a factor that contributes to a sufficient cause
sufficient cause - ANSWER-a factor or collection of factors whose presence is always
followed by the occurrence of a particular health problem
necessary cause - ANSWER-a factor that must be present for a disease or other
problem to occur
case definition - ANSWER-a set of uniformly applied criteria for determining whether a
person should be identified as having a particular disease, injury, or other health
condition' in epidemiology, particularly for an outbreak investigation, this specifies
clinical criteria and details of time, place, and person
outbreak - ANSWER-the occurrence of more cases of disease, injury, or other health
condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a
specific period; usually, the cases are presumed to have a common cause or to be
related to one another in some way; sometimes distinguished from an epidemic as more
localized, or the term less likely to evoke public panic
effectiveness - ANSWER-the ability of an intervention or program to produce the
intended or expected results in the field
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
epidemic - ANSWER-the occurrence of more cases of disease, injury, or other health
condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a
particular period; usually, the cases are presumed to have a common cause or to be
related to one another in some way
pandemic - ANSWER-an epidemic occurring over a widespread area and usually
affecting a substantial proportion of the population
observational study - ANSWER-a study in which the investigator observes rather than
influences exposure and disease among participants; case-control and cohort studies
experimental study - ANSWER-a study in which a sample of persons from a population
are enrolled and their exposure and health outcomes are measured simultaneously; a
survey
hyperendemic - ANSWER-the constant presence at high incidence and prevalence of
an agent or health condition within a given geographic area or population
component cause - ANSWER-a factor that contributes to a sufficient cause
sufficient cause - ANSWER-a factor or collection of factors whose presence is always
followed by the occurrence of a particular health problem
necessary cause - ANSWER-a factor that must be present for a disease or other
problem to occur
case definition - ANSWER-a set of uniformly applied criteria for determining whether a
person should be identified as having a particular disease, injury, or other health
condition' in epidemiology, particularly for an outbreak investigation, this specifies
clinical criteria and details of time, place, and person
outbreak - ANSWER-the occurrence of more cases of disease, injury, or other health
condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a
specific period; usually, the cases are presumed to have a common cause or to be
related to one another in some way; sometimes distinguished from an epidemic as more
localized, or the term less likely to evoke public panic
effectiveness - ANSWER-the ability of an intervention or program to produce the
intended or expected results in the field
