NURS 473 Final Exam Study Guide
1. Define "epidemiology": a science for studying population health
the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related (like health, diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability and
mortality in populations) states states in populations (a common characteristic such as gender, age, race, ethnicity or place
of residence)
a quantitative discipline based on statistics and research methods
goal = to control health problems
2. What are the two studies that Epidemiological studies are classified as?: -
Descriptive OR Analytic Epidemiology
3. Describe what "Descriptive Epidemiology" is.: Provides the data to develop rates, ratios, and proportions
- Describes health events in terms of who, where and when were they affected, or "person" "place" and "time"
- Compares affected groups and unaffected groups
- Descriptive studies usually precede analytic ones
- Generate morbidity and mortality statistics
ex. studies that aim to identify:
Mortality rates for asbestosis by state (place)
Seasonal patterns of rubella, influenza, and rotavirus (time) Farm tractor deaths by day
of week or hour of day (time) Reports cases of Zika Virus by State (place)
Incidence of pertussis by age (person) Age-specific lung
,cancer rates (person)
Teen pregnancy by race and ethnicity (person)
4. Describe what "Analytic Epidemiology" is.: The "how" and the "why" of health and disease -- Studies that identify
association between a health event and factors causing or contributing to it
- Determinants of disease and causality
- Tests hypotheses or seeks answers to specific questions
- Can be retrospective or prospective in design
- Studies can be experimental or observational
5. Describe "Demography".: Statistical study of human populations
- Size, density, distribution, vital statistics
- How population characteristics influence community needs and delivery of health care services
- Descriptions and comparisons are made according to age, race, sex, socio-eco-
nomic status, geographic distribution, birth, death marriage and divorce
ex. the US Census
6. Define "Incidence": refers to the # of people who are newly identified or diag- nosed with the condition during a
specific and defined time period (most common calendar year)
- New cases (new diagnoses)
- Events (falls, heart attacks, deaths)
- Allows the estimation of risk necessary to assess causal association (relative risk)
,- Generally a 'prospective' study is required to determine incidence
- Incidence and incidence rates used to track effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention
Ex. in Arizona in 2008 (during the 2008 calendar year) the incidence of HIV/AIDS was 700 (700 newly diagnosed cases
infection-either HIV or as full blown AIDS) and the incidence rate was 10.77 per 100,000 population. The rate was
calculated based on the 2008 mid year population of Arizona
Researchers use incidence rates to determine the effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention. If primary preventio
efforts are effective, the incidence and incidence rate should go down in a population. If secondary prevention is effective
and more cases are identified, the incidence is likely to rise.
7. Define "Prevalence": Total number of people in the population who have a condition at a particular point in
time
- May be calculated in a "one-shot" cross-sectional or retrospective study
- Influenced by rate of new cases, number of existing cases, new treatments, and deaths
- Used to describe scope of problem and need for services.
- Period prevalence: Rarely used. Total number of people who have the condition during a specified period of time. Not
limited to new cases, which would be incidence.
Ex. in 2008 (probably a mid year estimate) there were 4,142 persons known to be living with HIV or AIDS
(prevalence) and based on a calculation using Arizona's 2008 population, Arizona s HIV prevalence rate is 217.6
per 100,000 persons.
Prevalence cannot be used to determine effectiveness of programs as there are too many variables that impact the number
Prevalence is often used to describe the
, scope of the public health problem and to plan for services and resources (tertiary prevention)
8. What is good to know about the difference between "Incidence" and "Preva- lence"?: While 'Incidence' and
'Prevalence' are both reported for many public health problems (not just diseases, but social conditions such as poverty,
homelessness, literacy), 'Incidence' is a better descriptor for some problems (falls, heart attacks, pregnancies) and
'Prevalence' is a better descriptor for others (obesity, low literacy).
9. Define "Rates": Measure the amount of disease, injury, or death within a unit of the population and within a unit of
time
- Enable researchers to compare different populations in terms of health risk
- Less reliable when based on small numbers
- Usually based on data from a calendar year
Commonly Used Rates (Box 3.1)
- Measures of Natality
-Measures of Morbidity and Mortality
FOR THE FINAL, you need to know what each of the rates listed on page 33 of your textbook mean and how to
recognize examples. You do not need to memorize each formula's K (x 1000 or x 100,000). You do need to know that
the denominator in the equation is the population at risk!
10. What is the difference between the Prevalence and the Prevalence Rate?: a rate is the actual number (of new or
existing cases) divided by the total population at risk multiplied by a defined unit of population. See page 29 in your
textbook.
11. Example of: Incidence vs. Incidence Rate: •Incidence: 3,370 (new) cases of acute Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
infection were reported to the CDC in 2015.
•Incidence rate: There were 1.1 (new) cases of HBV infection per 100,000 population in 2015.
1. Define "epidemiology": a science for studying population health
the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related (like health, diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability and
mortality in populations) states states in populations (a common characteristic such as gender, age, race, ethnicity or place
of residence)
a quantitative discipline based on statistics and research methods
goal = to control health problems
2. What are the two studies that Epidemiological studies are classified as?: -
Descriptive OR Analytic Epidemiology
3. Describe what "Descriptive Epidemiology" is.: Provides the data to develop rates, ratios, and proportions
- Describes health events in terms of who, where and when were they affected, or "person" "place" and "time"
- Compares affected groups and unaffected groups
- Descriptive studies usually precede analytic ones
- Generate morbidity and mortality statistics
ex. studies that aim to identify:
Mortality rates for asbestosis by state (place)
Seasonal patterns of rubella, influenza, and rotavirus (time) Farm tractor deaths by day
of week or hour of day (time) Reports cases of Zika Virus by State (place)
Incidence of pertussis by age (person) Age-specific lung
,cancer rates (person)
Teen pregnancy by race and ethnicity (person)
4. Describe what "Analytic Epidemiology" is.: The "how" and the "why" of health and disease -- Studies that identify
association between a health event and factors causing or contributing to it
- Determinants of disease and causality
- Tests hypotheses or seeks answers to specific questions
- Can be retrospective or prospective in design
- Studies can be experimental or observational
5. Describe "Demography".: Statistical study of human populations
- Size, density, distribution, vital statistics
- How population characteristics influence community needs and delivery of health care services
- Descriptions and comparisons are made according to age, race, sex, socio-eco-
nomic status, geographic distribution, birth, death marriage and divorce
ex. the US Census
6. Define "Incidence": refers to the # of people who are newly identified or diag- nosed with the condition during a
specific and defined time period (most common calendar year)
- New cases (new diagnoses)
- Events (falls, heart attacks, deaths)
- Allows the estimation of risk necessary to assess causal association (relative risk)
,- Generally a 'prospective' study is required to determine incidence
- Incidence and incidence rates used to track effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention
Ex. in Arizona in 2008 (during the 2008 calendar year) the incidence of HIV/AIDS was 700 (700 newly diagnosed cases
infection-either HIV or as full blown AIDS) and the incidence rate was 10.77 per 100,000 population. The rate was
calculated based on the 2008 mid year population of Arizona
Researchers use incidence rates to determine the effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention. If primary preventio
efforts are effective, the incidence and incidence rate should go down in a population. If secondary prevention is effective
and more cases are identified, the incidence is likely to rise.
7. Define "Prevalence": Total number of people in the population who have a condition at a particular point in
time
- May be calculated in a "one-shot" cross-sectional or retrospective study
- Influenced by rate of new cases, number of existing cases, new treatments, and deaths
- Used to describe scope of problem and need for services.
- Period prevalence: Rarely used. Total number of people who have the condition during a specified period of time. Not
limited to new cases, which would be incidence.
Ex. in 2008 (probably a mid year estimate) there were 4,142 persons known to be living with HIV or AIDS
(prevalence) and based on a calculation using Arizona's 2008 population, Arizona s HIV prevalence rate is 217.6
per 100,000 persons.
Prevalence cannot be used to determine effectiveness of programs as there are too many variables that impact the number
Prevalence is often used to describe the
, scope of the public health problem and to plan for services and resources (tertiary prevention)
8. What is good to know about the difference between "Incidence" and "Preva- lence"?: While 'Incidence' and
'Prevalence' are both reported for many public health problems (not just diseases, but social conditions such as poverty,
homelessness, literacy), 'Incidence' is a better descriptor for some problems (falls, heart attacks, pregnancies) and
'Prevalence' is a better descriptor for others (obesity, low literacy).
9. Define "Rates": Measure the amount of disease, injury, or death within a unit of the population and within a unit of
time
- Enable researchers to compare different populations in terms of health risk
- Less reliable when based on small numbers
- Usually based on data from a calendar year
Commonly Used Rates (Box 3.1)
- Measures of Natality
-Measures of Morbidity and Mortality
FOR THE FINAL, you need to know what each of the rates listed on page 33 of your textbook mean and how to
recognize examples. You do not need to memorize each formula's K (x 1000 or x 100,000). You do need to know that
the denominator in the equation is the population at risk!
10. What is the difference between the Prevalence and the Prevalence Rate?: a rate is the actual number (of new or
existing cases) divided by the total population at risk multiplied by a defined unit of population. See page 29 in your
textbook.
11. Example of: Incidence vs. Incidence Rate: •Incidence: 3,370 (new) cases of acute Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
infection were reported to the CDC in 2015.
•Incidence rate: There were 1.1 (new) cases of HBV infection per 100,000 population in 2015.
