PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DISEASE: AN
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE
8TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)GARY D. HAMMER; STEPHEN J.
MCPHEE
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A 55-year-old male presents with progressive dyspnea. You
need to integrate epidemiology and pathophysiology to
estimate disease burden in your clinic population. Which
measure best reflects the number of existing, clinically
recognized cases of a chronic disease at a single point in time?
A. Incidence rate
B. Cumulative incidence
C. Prevalence
D. Case fatality rate
,Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): Prevalence measures the proportion of a
population with an existing disease at a point in time and
therefore best estimates current clinic burden for chronic
conditions. It integrates both incidence and disease duration.
A: Incidence rate measures new cases per person-time and
does not describe existing cases.
B: Cumulative incidence measures the proportion developing
disease over a specified period (new cases), not existing cases
at a point.
D: Case fatality rate reflects the proportion of diagnosed
individuals who die from the disease, not the number of
existing cases.
Teaching Point
Prevalence = existing cases at a time; useful for resource
planning.
Citation
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
,Question Stem
A nurse educator is teaching about levels of prevention. A
community immunization program aimed at preventing measles
outbreaks is an example of which level of disease prevention?
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Primary prevention prevents disease occurrence by
reducing exposure or increasing resistance (e.g., vaccination).
B: Secondary prevention aims to detect disease early
(screening), not prevent initial occurrence.
C: Tertiary prevention reduces complications or disability from
established disease (rehabilitation).
D: Quaternary prevention addresses preventing unnecessary
medical interventions; not the correct classification for
vaccination programs.
Teaching Point
Vaccination programs are primary prevention—they stop
disease before it starts.
, Citation
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
During pretest counseling you explain test characteristics. If a
genetic screening test has high sensitivity but low specificity,
which clinical consequence is most likely?
A. Many false negatives and few false positives
B. Many false positives and few false negatives
C. Both false positives and negatives will be rare
D. The test will have a high positive predictive value in all
populations
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): High sensitivity reduces false negatives (few missed
cases), while low specificity increases false positives; thus many
false positives are expected.
A: That describes low sensitivity and high specificity, which is
opposite.
C: Low specificity makes false positives common, so both error
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE
8TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)GARY D. HAMMER; STEPHEN J.
MCPHEE
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
A 55-year-old male presents with progressive dyspnea. You
need to integrate epidemiology and pathophysiology to
estimate disease burden in your clinic population. Which
measure best reflects the number of existing, clinically
recognized cases of a chronic disease at a single point in time?
A. Incidence rate
B. Cumulative incidence
C. Prevalence
D. Case fatality rate
,Correct Answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): Prevalence measures the proportion of a
population with an existing disease at a point in time and
therefore best estimates current clinic burden for chronic
conditions. It integrates both incidence and disease duration.
A: Incidence rate measures new cases per person-time and
does not describe existing cases.
B: Cumulative incidence measures the proportion developing
disease over a specified period (new cases), not existing cases
at a point.
D: Case fatality rate reflects the proportion of diagnosed
individuals who die from the disease, not the number of
existing cases.
Teaching Point
Prevalence = existing cases at a time; useful for resource
planning.
Citation
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
,Question Stem
A nurse educator is teaching about levels of prevention. A
community immunization program aimed at preventing measles
outbreaks is an example of which level of disease prevention?
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Primary prevention prevents disease occurrence by
reducing exposure or increasing resistance (e.g., vaccination).
B: Secondary prevention aims to detect disease early
(screening), not prevent initial occurrence.
C: Tertiary prevention reduces complications or disability from
established disease (rehabilitation).
D: Quaternary prevention addresses preventing unnecessary
medical interventions; not the correct classification for
vaccination programs.
Teaching Point
Vaccination programs are primary prevention—they stop
disease before it starts.
, Citation
Hammer & McPhee (2021). Pathophysiology of Disease (8th
Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction
Question Stem
During pretest counseling you explain test characteristics. If a
genetic screening test has high sensitivity but low specificity,
which clinical consequence is most likely?
A. Many false negatives and few false positives
B. Many false positives and few false negatives
C. Both false positives and negatives will be rare
D. The test will have a high positive predictive value in all
populations
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): High sensitivity reduces false negatives (few missed
cases), while low specificity increases false positives; thus many
false positives are expected.
A: That describes low sensitivity and high specificity, which is
opposite.
C: Low specificity makes false positives common, so both error
