EPIDEMIOLOGY NURS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
In comparing the mammography readings of two technicians
who evaluated the same set of 600 mammograms for the
presence of breast cancer from a generally representative
sample of women from the population,
A. Agreement regarding negative or normal
mammograms is likely to be low The kappa
statistic measures agreement due to chance
only
B. Overall percent agreement calculated for both
readers may conceal significant disagreements
regarding positive tests
C. A kappa of 0.9 would be unsatisfactory
D. A kappa of 0.6 represents a poor agreement
In a country with a population of 16 million people, 175,000
deaths occurred during the year ending December 31, 2005.
These included 45,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 135,000
persons who were sick with TB. Assume that the population
remained constant throughout the year. Not all 135,000 cases of
TB were contracted during 2005. Which of the following
statements is true?
A. The case-fatality rate provides a reasonable estimate of the
incidence
B. The prevalence of TB for 2005 is equal to the
denominator of the case-fatality rate The duration
of TB is brief
All of the
above
None of
the above
Which of the following statements pertains to
relative survival? Refers to survival of first-degree
, relatives Is equal to the case-fatality rate Is
generally closer to observed survival rates
in younger age groups
Is generally closer to observed survival rates in older age groups
Provides an estimate of proportionate mortality
An important assumption in this type of analysis is that:
A. No change has occurred in the effectiveness of
treatment during the 3 years Treatment has improved
during the period of the study
B. Persons lost to follow-up
are counted in the table
The data are age-adjusted
C. Both a and c
The population of the city on February 15, 2005, was 36,600.
The city has a passive surveillance system that collects hospital
and private physician reports of influenza cases every month.
During the period between January 1 and April 1, 2005, 2,200
new cases of influenza occurred in the city. Of these cases, 775
persons were ill with influenza according to surveillance reports
on April 1, 2005. The monthly incidence rate of active cases of
influenza for the 3-month period was:
A. 4 per 1,000 population
B. 17 per 1,000 population
C. 20 per 1,000 population
D. 39 per 1,000 population
E. 130 per 1,000 population
What would be the effect on age-specific incidence rates of
uterine cancer if women with hysterectomies were excluded
from the denominator of incidence calculations assuming that
most women who have had hysterectomies are older than 50
, years of age?
A. The rates in all age groups would remain the same.
B. Only rates in women older than 50 years of age would tend
to decrease.
C. Rates in women younger than 50 years would increase
compared to women older than 50 years of age.
D. Rates would increase in women older than 50 years of age
but may decrease in younger women as they get older.
E. It cannot be determined whether the rates would increase
or decrease.
The ability of a single person to remain free of clinical illness
following exposure to an infectious agent is known as:
A. Hy
gie
ne
Vac
cin
ati
on
Her
d
im
mu
nit
y
Im
mu
nit
y
Lat
enc
y
ANSWERS
In comparing the mammography readings of two technicians
who evaluated the same set of 600 mammograms for the
presence of breast cancer from a generally representative
sample of women from the population,
A. Agreement regarding negative or normal
mammograms is likely to be low The kappa
statistic measures agreement due to chance
only
B. Overall percent agreement calculated for both
readers may conceal significant disagreements
regarding positive tests
C. A kappa of 0.9 would be unsatisfactory
D. A kappa of 0.6 represents a poor agreement
In a country with a population of 16 million people, 175,000
deaths occurred during the year ending December 31, 2005.
These included 45,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 135,000
persons who were sick with TB. Assume that the population
remained constant throughout the year. Not all 135,000 cases of
TB were contracted during 2005. Which of the following
statements is true?
A. The case-fatality rate provides a reasonable estimate of the
incidence
B. The prevalence of TB for 2005 is equal to the
denominator of the case-fatality rate The duration
of TB is brief
All of the
above
None of
the above
Which of the following statements pertains to
relative survival? Refers to survival of first-degree
, relatives Is equal to the case-fatality rate Is
generally closer to observed survival rates
in younger age groups
Is generally closer to observed survival rates in older age groups
Provides an estimate of proportionate mortality
An important assumption in this type of analysis is that:
A. No change has occurred in the effectiveness of
treatment during the 3 years Treatment has improved
during the period of the study
B. Persons lost to follow-up
are counted in the table
The data are age-adjusted
C. Both a and c
The population of the city on February 15, 2005, was 36,600.
The city has a passive surveillance system that collects hospital
and private physician reports of influenza cases every month.
During the period between January 1 and April 1, 2005, 2,200
new cases of influenza occurred in the city. Of these cases, 775
persons were ill with influenza according to surveillance reports
on April 1, 2005. The monthly incidence rate of active cases of
influenza for the 3-month period was:
A. 4 per 1,000 population
B. 17 per 1,000 population
C. 20 per 1,000 population
D. 39 per 1,000 population
E. 130 per 1,000 population
What would be the effect on age-specific incidence rates of
uterine cancer if women with hysterectomies were excluded
from the denominator of incidence calculations assuming that
most women who have had hysterectomies are older than 50
, years of age?
A. The rates in all age groups would remain the same.
B. Only rates in women older than 50 years of age would tend
to decrease.
C. Rates in women younger than 50 years would increase
compared to women older than 50 years of age.
D. Rates would increase in women older than 50 years of age
but may decrease in younger women as they get older.
E. It cannot be determined whether the rates would increase
or decrease.
The ability of a single person to remain free of clinical illness
following exposure to an infectious agent is known as:
A. Hy
gie
ne
Vac
cin
ati
on
Her
d
im
mu
nit
y
Im
mu
nit
y
Lat
enc
y
