Study Guide for Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 3rd Edition Summary and Study Guide for

Unit I: Chapters 1-4:Additional Review Questions 1. What are some examples of diseases/conditions that show short- and long-term fluctuations in rates? 2. Name the seven uses of epidemiology.

3.

Describe the Natural History of Disease model.

4.

Define primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and give examples.

5.

What is an epidemic?

6.

Who was John Snow?

7.

Define the terms attack rate and secondary attack rate.

8.

Define each of the following terms: a. Incidence rate b. Mortality rate c. Prevalence rate d. Case fatality rate e. Proportional mortality ratio 9. Under what circumstances would the incidence of a disease equal (or be similar to) the prevalence? What different types of inferences can be made with incidence and prevalence data?

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Study Guide for Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 3rd Edition

10.

Explain the difference between morbidity and mortality rates.

11. Discuss the similarities and differences among crude death rate, cause-specific death rate, proportional mortality ratio, infant mortality rate, and maternal mortality rate.

12.

Explain the difference between a proportion and a ratio.

13.

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using crude rates.

14.

Define the term standardized mortality ratio (SMR).

15.

Define the following terms and indicate how they differ: a. Age-specific rates b. Age-adjusted rates

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Study Guide for Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 3rd Edition

1. Explain the concept of external validity. How does it apply to the choice of data sources? 2. Discuss the uses, strengths, and weaknesses of the following data sources: a. Health insurance statistics b. Data from medical clinics c. Special epidemiologic surveys, including morbidity surveys d. Vital statistics e. Absenteeism data from schools or work settings f. Disease registers g. Hospital and clinic statistics 3. Explain what is meant by an ecologic study and give an example. Be sure to discuss the uses and limitations of ecologic studies.

4. What is a cohort study? Give two examples of major cohort studies.

5. List the main characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of cohort studies.

6. Name the two types of intervention studies; compare and contrast them.

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Study Guide for Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 3rd Edition

1.

Cite methods for control of infectious disease in the community.

2.

What is herd immunity?

3.

When is isolation likely to be ineffective?

4.

What is meant by the term population at risk?

5.

Name four types of immunity.

6.

What is meant by screening?

7.

What is the purpose of screening?

8.

How are validity and reliability assessed?

9.

Why are sensitivity and specificity a trade-off?

10.

When should a screening test be conducted?

11.

What influences participation in a screening program?

12.

How is the severity of infectious disease measured?

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Study Guide for Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 3rd Edition

13.

What are the types of pathogenic effects produced by infective agents?

14.

What are the mechanisms of infection transmission?

15.

Discuss the following routes of transmission of infectious disease agents: a. Airborne b. Contact c. Vector-borne d. Vehicle-borne e. Direct f. Indirect

16.

Discuss the major steps necessary to investigate the possible outbreak of an epidemic.

17.

Differentiate between internal and external validity.

18.

Discuss the characteristics of a good screening test.

19.

Describe procedures that can improve sensitivity and specificity.

20.

What are the characteristics of infectious disease agents.

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Study Guide for Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 3rd Edition General Review and Additional Drill Define the following terms briefly: 1. 2. 3. Persons lost to follow-up Person-years of observation State the definitions of the following terms from memory: (d) sensitivity (e) specificity 4. 5. 6. Reliability and validity General adaptation syndrome (Selyes concept) Incidence rates and prevalence rates

Answer the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What is meant by screening? What is the purpose of screening? How are validity and reliability assessed? What determines yield? How does disease prevalence affect predictive value (+)? What procedures can be used to improve the sensitivity and specificity of a screening test? State five attributes of a good screening test. What are the mechanisms of transmission of infection? Distinguish between reliability and validity of measures. Draw a diagram to illustrate how reliability and validity are interrelated.

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