#1
Which of the following is a measure of disease frequency?
Incidence rate
ExplanationMeasures the rate of new cases of a disease over a specified period in a defined population.
#2
What does the 'incubation period' refer to in epidemiology?
The time between exposure to a pathogen and the onset of symptoms
ExplanationThe duration between initial exposure to a pathogen and the appearance of symptoms or signs.
#3
Which of the following is NOT a type of epidemiological study design?
Experimental study
ExplanationTypically involves manipulating variables, whereas epidemiological studies observe associations without intervention.
#4
What is the purpose of randomization in a randomized controlled trial (RCT)?
To minimize bias and confounding variables
ExplanationRandom assignment helps ensure that participant characteristics are equally distributed between intervention and control groups, reducing the influence of confounding factors.
#5
Which of the following is a measure of association commonly used in epidemiological studies?
Odds ratio
ExplanationQuantifies the strength of association between exposure to a particular factor and the presence of a disease.
#6
What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?
A pandemic affects a larger geographic area than an epidemic
ExplanationEpidemic refers to the rapid spread of a disease within a community, whereas pandemic describes its spread over multiple countries or continents.
#7
Which of the following is an example of a vector-borne disease?
Malaria
ExplanationTransmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
#8
Which study design is most suitable for determining causality?
Randomized controlled trial
ExplanationUtilizes random assignment of participants to intervention and control groups, minimizing bias for causal inference.
#9
What does 'herd immunity' refer to?
Resistance of a population to a specific infectious agent due to a high proportion of individuals immune to the agent
ExplanationWhen a large portion of a community becomes immune to a disease, making its spread less likely.
#10
What does 'sensitivity' of a diagnostic test measure?
The ability of the test to correctly identify those with the disease
ExplanationSensitivity indicates a test's ability to detect true positive cases among those who actually have the disease.
#11
What is the purpose of the 'control group' in an epidemiological study?
To provide a basis for comparison with the exposed group
ExplanationAllows researchers to compare outcomes between those exposed to a factor of interest and those not exposed, helping assess the impact of the exposure.
#12
What is the purpose of 'case-control studies' in epidemiology?
To identify risk factors for a disease by comparing those with the disease to those without
ExplanationRetrospectively compares individuals with a particular condition to those without, aiming to identify factors associated with the disease.
#13
Which of the following is NOT considered a determinant of health?
Religion
ExplanationWhile religion may influence health behaviors, it's not typically considered a direct determinant of health.
#14
What does the 'P value' indicate in statistical analysis?
The probability of obtaining the observed results if the null hypothesis is true
ExplanationIndicates the likelihood of observing the results, or more extreme results, under the assumption that the null hypothesis is true.
#15
What is the difference between prevalence and incidence?
Prevalence refers to the number of cases in a population at a specific time, while incidence refers to the rate of new cases over time
ExplanationPrevalence indicates existing cases in a population, whereas incidence measures the occurrence of new cases within a specified time frame.
#16
What is the primary goal of epidemiology?
To prevent diseases and promote public health
ExplanationEpidemiology aims to understand patterns of health and disease to inform prevention and control strategies.
#17
What is the purpose of the 'incidence rate' in epidemiology?
To measure the rate of new cases of a disease in a population over a defined period of time
ExplanationProvides insight into the frequency and risk of new cases developing within a population over time.
#18
Which of the following is a characteristic of a good screening test?
High specificity
ExplanationIndicates the ability of a test to correctly identify those without the disease, reducing false positives and unnecessary follow-up tests.
#19
What is the 'secondary attack rate' in epidemiology?
The rate at which susceptible individuals acquire the disease from contact with a primary case
ExplanationMeasures the likelihood of transmission from an infected individual to susceptible contacts within a defined population or setting.