Applied Biostatistics & Epidemiology Final questions
and answers with solutions 2025
The Epidemiologic Triad or Triangle - ANSWER he simplest models of disease causation. The
triad consists of the causative agent(s), the host, and the environment. Understanding the 3
major parts of the 'disease equation' also enables us tothink about where interventions should
be directed (e.g., toward the agent, host, orenvironment)
Epidemiology - ANSWER what is a quantitative science
• Measurement is an essential feature
• Measurement focuses on
- Distribution of health-related states and events
- Determinants of health-related states and events
• a story about health related states and events supported with data
"The study of the distribution and determinants of heath related states or events in specified
populations, and the
application of this knowledge to the control of health
problems."
The BEINGS model - ANSWER a more comprehensive model of disease causation. The model
'builds out' the key components of the epidemiological triad and identifies the multitude of host
and environmental factors that influence the development of disease.
B = Biological and Behavioral
E = Environmental
I = Immunological
N = Nutritional
,G = Genetic
S = Social, Spiritual, and Services - ANSWER What does BEINGS model stand for?
The web of causation - ANSWER Weaves together all of the factors related to disease causation.
Themodel uses a 'web' to depict the interaction of causative and preventative factors. Theweb
depicts the complexity or 'multicausality' of disease.
The spectrum of disease - ANSWER What is described as the severity of the disease?
The natural history disease - ANSWER What refers to how a disease develops and progresses
overtime. Understanding the progression of disease is essential for prevention. Understanding
how diseases develop and progress is also important to developing the best approaches for
screening and diagnosing the disease.
Stage of susceptibility - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the individual not have
the disease but is susceptible to the disease?
Stage of preclinical disease - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the disease
process start but the person does not have symptoms of the disease? During this stage the
disease may bedetected by screening tests. This stage is also known as the presymptomatic
stage,subclinical stage, or latent disease stage.
Stage of clinical disease - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the individual
experiences signs and symptoms of the disease and the disease is clinically apparent? Most
diseases arediagnosed during this stage.
Stage of recovery, disability, or death - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the
person recover or die from the disease? If the person recovers, s/he may or may not experience
short- and long-term sequelae of the disease.
,Primary prevention - ANSWER what level of prevention is focused on preventing the occurrence
of disease. Interventions are focused on the stage of susceptibility, before the disease process
begins. In other words, it is focused on preventing the occurrence of disease. Examples of
include ensuring the availability ofclean water and safe food, sanitation, immunizations, and
hand cleaning. It is used in the stage of susceptibility.
Secondary prevention - ANSWER what level of prevention is focused at identifying individuals in
the stage of preclinical or early clinical disease, and intervening to minimize the impact of the
disease. Interventions are focused on the early detection and treatment of the disease process
to prevent progression of the disease process. The use of screening tests to identify people
likely to have a disease is an example. Screening focuses on the detection of unrecognized
disease so that treatment can be implemented early in the disease process. It also includes the
early treatment of disease to prevention its progression. It is used in the stage of preclinical
(presymptomatic, subclinical, or latent)stage of disease.
Tertiary prevention - ANSWER what level of prevention is focused at minimizing the long-term
impact of disease and helping the person achieve the highest level of function and quality of life
as possible? Interventions are focused on recovery and rehabilitation after a disease or injury
has occurred to achieve maximum function and well-being. It is used during the last part of the
stage of clinical disease and throughout the stage of recovery, disability, or death.
disease - ANSWER What is an interruption, cessation, or disorder of body functions, systems, or
organs? They arise from infectious agents, inherent weaknesses, lifestyle, aging, or
environmental stress
Risk Factors - ANSWER what are factors or events associated with the diseaseof interest? They
are not necessarily direct causes of disease or injury but are associated with the development of
the diseaseor injury. Examples of these:
- Poverty (persons living at 100% FPL)
- Neighborhood
- Race (self reported, race for addressing disparities related to various health risk factors)
- Education
, Acute Disease - ANSWER Disorder with sudden onset, relatively severe, andshort duration of
symptoms
Chronic Disease - ANSWER Less severe but of long and continuous duration, lasting over long
time periods, if not a lifetime
Communicable disease - ANSWER The ability of a disease to be transmitted from one person to
another or to spread through the population is called what? When a disease is contagious, or
capable of being transmitted.
True - ANSWER Cancer is a communicable disease due to genetic mutation (T/F)
1. Reservoir
2. Portal of exit
3. Transmission (direct, indirect, airborne)
4. Portal of entry
5. Susceptible host - ANSWER What are the five steps in the chain of infection?
Reservoir - ANSWER What step of the chain of infection is the habitat in which the agent lives in
and they can be humans, animals, insects and environment?
Portal of exit - ANSWER What step of the chain of infection includes respiratory tract, blood,
semen, other body fluids, crossing the placenta (mother-to-fetus) & blood sucking mosquitos?
Direct - ANSWER What mode of transmission in the chain of infection includes one to one
contact like kissing, sexual intercourse or soil contact?
and answers with solutions 2025
The Epidemiologic Triad or Triangle - ANSWER he simplest models of disease causation. The
triad consists of the causative agent(s), the host, and the environment. Understanding the 3
major parts of the 'disease equation' also enables us tothink about where interventions should
be directed (e.g., toward the agent, host, orenvironment)
Epidemiology - ANSWER what is a quantitative science
• Measurement is an essential feature
• Measurement focuses on
- Distribution of health-related states and events
- Determinants of health-related states and events
• a story about health related states and events supported with data
"The study of the distribution and determinants of heath related states or events in specified
populations, and the
application of this knowledge to the control of health
problems."
The BEINGS model - ANSWER a more comprehensive model of disease causation. The model
'builds out' the key components of the epidemiological triad and identifies the multitude of host
and environmental factors that influence the development of disease.
B = Biological and Behavioral
E = Environmental
I = Immunological
N = Nutritional
,G = Genetic
S = Social, Spiritual, and Services - ANSWER What does BEINGS model stand for?
The web of causation - ANSWER Weaves together all of the factors related to disease causation.
Themodel uses a 'web' to depict the interaction of causative and preventative factors. Theweb
depicts the complexity or 'multicausality' of disease.
The spectrum of disease - ANSWER What is described as the severity of the disease?
The natural history disease - ANSWER What refers to how a disease develops and progresses
overtime. Understanding the progression of disease is essential for prevention. Understanding
how diseases develop and progress is also important to developing the best approaches for
screening and diagnosing the disease.
Stage of susceptibility - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the individual not have
the disease but is susceptible to the disease?
Stage of preclinical disease - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the disease
process start but the person does not have symptoms of the disease? During this stage the
disease may bedetected by screening tests. This stage is also known as the presymptomatic
stage,subclinical stage, or latent disease stage.
Stage of clinical disease - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the individual
experiences signs and symptoms of the disease and the disease is clinically apparent? Most
diseases arediagnosed during this stage.
Stage of recovery, disability, or death - ANSWER What stage of disease progression does the
person recover or die from the disease? If the person recovers, s/he may or may not experience
short- and long-term sequelae of the disease.
,Primary prevention - ANSWER what level of prevention is focused on preventing the occurrence
of disease. Interventions are focused on the stage of susceptibility, before the disease process
begins. In other words, it is focused on preventing the occurrence of disease. Examples of
include ensuring the availability ofclean water and safe food, sanitation, immunizations, and
hand cleaning. It is used in the stage of susceptibility.
Secondary prevention - ANSWER what level of prevention is focused at identifying individuals in
the stage of preclinical or early clinical disease, and intervening to minimize the impact of the
disease. Interventions are focused on the early detection and treatment of the disease process
to prevent progression of the disease process. The use of screening tests to identify people
likely to have a disease is an example. Screening focuses on the detection of unrecognized
disease so that treatment can be implemented early in the disease process. It also includes the
early treatment of disease to prevention its progression. It is used in the stage of preclinical
(presymptomatic, subclinical, or latent)stage of disease.
Tertiary prevention - ANSWER what level of prevention is focused at minimizing the long-term
impact of disease and helping the person achieve the highest level of function and quality of life
as possible? Interventions are focused on recovery and rehabilitation after a disease or injury
has occurred to achieve maximum function and well-being. It is used during the last part of the
stage of clinical disease and throughout the stage of recovery, disability, or death.
disease - ANSWER What is an interruption, cessation, or disorder of body functions, systems, or
organs? They arise from infectious agents, inherent weaknesses, lifestyle, aging, or
environmental stress
Risk Factors - ANSWER what are factors or events associated with the diseaseof interest? They
are not necessarily direct causes of disease or injury but are associated with the development of
the diseaseor injury. Examples of these:
- Poverty (persons living at 100% FPL)
- Neighborhood
- Race (self reported, race for addressing disparities related to various health risk factors)
- Education
, Acute Disease - ANSWER Disorder with sudden onset, relatively severe, andshort duration of
symptoms
Chronic Disease - ANSWER Less severe but of long and continuous duration, lasting over long
time periods, if not a lifetime
Communicable disease - ANSWER The ability of a disease to be transmitted from one person to
another or to spread through the population is called what? When a disease is contagious, or
capable of being transmitted.
True - ANSWER Cancer is a communicable disease due to genetic mutation (T/F)
1. Reservoir
2. Portal of exit
3. Transmission (direct, indirect, airborne)
4. Portal of entry
5. Susceptible host - ANSWER What are the five steps in the chain of infection?
Reservoir - ANSWER What step of the chain of infection is the habitat in which the agent lives in
and they can be humans, animals, insects and environment?
Portal of exit - ANSWER What step of the chain of infection includes respiratory tract, blood,
semen, other body fluids, crossing the placenta (mother-to-fetus) & blood sucking mosquitos?
Direct - ANSWER What mode of transmission in the chain of infection includes one to one
contact like kissing, sexual intercourse or soil contact?
