SPHHS 615 EXAM REVISION QUESTIONS
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
Which of the following descriptions most closely matches the definition of endemic?
An endemic disease is habitually present in human populations
When calculating an attack rate, the denominator should be
The number of people at risk for the outcome
The iceberg concept of disease refers to...
Clinical disease may be all that an epidemiologist can see, but subclinical diseases are also
important
The risk of acquiring a disease is measured by the
Incidence rate
Which measure of disease frequency is described in the following statement: In 2023,
approximately 9% of the adult population of Massachusetts had diabetes.
Point prevalence
Use the following data to calculate the cumulative incidence of diabetes in Massachusetts
adults in 2023. Assume all estimates are from 2023.
Total population of Massachusetts
7,001,399
Adult population of Massachusetts (aged 18+)
5,645,986
Massachusetts adults living with diabetes
507,500
,New cases of diabetes diagnosed in 2023 in MA adults
33,400
6.5 new cases of diabetes per 1,000 MA adults in 2023
In the previous question, you were asked to calculate the cumulative incidence of diabetes
in Massachusetts adults in 2023. Which of the following may lead to inaccuracies in the
number that you calculated (choose all that apply):
All of the above may lead to inaccuracies (more explained down below)
There may some inaccuracies in the diagnoses - for example, some people may be counted who
do not actually have diabetes
There may be additional MA adults who have new onset diabetes but have not had their diabetes
diagnosed yet
There may be adults living in Massachusetts who are not part of official MA population estimate
There may be adults in MA who are not at risk for diabetes (perhaps this is related to their
genetic makeup)
A new treatment is developed that cures diabetes in adults. If the incidence of diabetes does
not change, what would the anticipated impact on the prevalence of diabetes be? Assume
that all MA adults have access to this new treatment
Prevalence would decrease
Why is it important to know whether a variable is categorical, discrete, or continuous, and
what type of distribution it follows? Please choose the best option from the following
choices:
Because different statistical tests can only be used for specific types of data. Using a statistical
test on the wrong type of data leads to invalid results and inaccurate conclusions.
, Why might a researcher choose to summarize continuous data by presenting the median
rather than by using the mean? Please choose the best option from the following choices:
The mean is sensitive to outliers, so if data are skewed or if extreme outliers are present, the
median will provide a more accurate characterization of the data.
Which of the following best describes the concept of statistical inference?
The process of using data from a sample to make estimates or draw conclusions about a larger
population.
Why may it be preferable to describe data with a graph rather than statistics?
All of these are correct (more explained below)
Because graphs can show more information
Because graphs can reveal outliers that are hidden in a summary statistic
Because graphs are often easier to understand
What is the difference between parametric and non-parametric statistics?
Parametric statistics may be used when data are normally distributed, while non-parametric tests
may be used for data that follow other distributions.
Which of the following might be an example of a way in which Globalization improves
health?
Technologies developed in one part of the world may be used to improve water quality in
another part of the world
Climate change can have direct and indirect impacts on human health. Which of the
following might related to climate change?
All of the above may be health impacts related to climate change
Increased risk of heat stroke
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
Which of the following descriptions most closely matches the definition of endemic?
An endemic disease is habitually present in human populations
When calculating an attack rate, the denominator should be
The number of people at risk for the outcome
The iceberg concept of disease refers to...
Clinical disease may be all that an epidemiologist can see, but subclinical diseases are also
important
The risk of acquiring a disease is measured by the
Incidence rate
Which measure of disease frequency is described in the following statement: In 2023,
approximately 9% of the adult population of Massachusetts had diabetes.
Point prevalence
Use the following data to calculate the cumulative incidence of diabetes in Massachusetts
adults in 2023. Assume all estimates are from 2023.
Total population of Massachusetts
7,001,399
Adult population of Massachusetts (aged 18+)
5,645,986
Massachusetts adults living with diabetes
507,500
,New cases of diabetes diagnosed in 2023 in MA adults
33,400
6.5 new cases of diabetes per 1,000 MA adults in 2023
In the previous question, you were asked to calculate the cumulative incidence of diabetes
in Massachusetts adults in 2023. Which of the following may lead to inaccuracies in the
number that you calculated (choose all that apply):
All of the above may lead to inaccuracies (more explained down below)
There may some inaccuracies in the diagnoses - for example, some people may be counted who
do not actually have diabetes
There may be additional MA adults who have new onset diabetes but have not had their diabetes
diagnosed yet
There may be adults living in Massachusetts who are not part of official MA population estimate
There may be adults in MA who are not at risk for diabetes (perhaps this is related to their
genetic makeup)
A new treatment is developed that cures diabetes in adults. If the incidence of diabetes does
not change, what would the anticipated impact on the prevalence of diabetes be? Assume
that all MA adults have access to this new treatment
Prevalence would decrease
Why is it important to know whether a variable is categorical, discrete, or continuous, and
what type of distribution it follows? Please choose the best option from the following
choices:
Because different statistical tests can only be used for specific types of data. Using a statistical
test on the wrong type of data leads to invalid results and inaccurate conclusions.
, Why might a researcher choose to summarize continuous data by presenting the median
rather than by using the mean? Please choose the best option from the following choices:
The mean is sensitive to outliers, so if data are skewed or if extreme outliers are present, the
median will provide a more accurate characterization of the data.
Which of the following best describes the concept of statistical inference?
The process of using data from a sample to make estimates or draw conclusions about a larger
population.
Why may it be preferable to describe data with a graph rather than statistics?
All of these are correct (more explained below)
Because graphs can show more information
Because graphs can reveal outliers that are hidden in a summary statistic
Because graphs are often easier to understand
What is the difference between parametric and non-parametric statistics?
Parametric statistics may be used when data are normally distributed, while non-parametric tests
may be used for data that follow other distributions.
Which of the following might be an example of a way in which Globalization improves
health?
Technologies developed in one part of the world may be used to improve water quality in
another part of the world
Climate change can have direct and indirect impacts on human health. Which of the
following might related to climate change?
All of the above may be health impacts related to climate change
Increased risk of heat stroke
