A school nurse wants to decrease the incidence of obesity in elementary school children. Which of the following describes a secondary prevention intervention that the nurse could implement?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because weighing students to identify those who are overweight is a secondary prevention intervention. This intervention aims to identify and intervene with individuals who already have risk factors for obesity. By identifying overweight students, the nurse can provide targeted interventions and support to prevent further progression to obesity. Choice A is incorrect as it focuses on primary prevention by promoting healthy behaviors to prevent obesity in the first place. Choice B is also incorrect as it involves health promotion rather than targeting those already at risk. Choice D is incorrect as putting students on a diet without proper assessment and monitoring can be harmful and does not focus on prevention or early intervention.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ecological study. The nurse is analyzing data at a group level (school) rather than individual level. This type of study evaluates associations between exposure (school remodeling) and outcome (asthma rates) in a population. It does not involve following individuals over time like a cohort study (C). Descriptive epidemiological studies (A) focus on describing the distribution of health outcomes in a population, but do not investigate associations. Choice D does not make sense in this context.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the awareness of human susceptibility to animal diseases has been publicized. This is crucial in understanding the transmission of infections from animals to humans, highlighting the importance of monitoring and preventing zoonotic diseases. Other choices are incorrect because A is focused on bioterrorism, which is a different concern, and D is about drug-resistant strains, not the primary reason for the focus on contagious infections in public health. Choice C is incomplete, so it cannot be considered as a valid option.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because epidemiology focuses on investigating patterns and causes of diseases in populations. Recommending a restaurant closure due to a norovirus outbreak is a key epidemiological activity as it involves identifying the source of an illness and implementing measures to prevent further spread. A: Prescribing antibiotics is more related to individual treatment rather than population-level disease investigation. B: Teaching a community class on diabetes is more about health education rather than disease surveillance and control. D: Encouraging families to eat dinner together is a community health promotion activity, not directly related to epidemiological investigations.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Sure! The hallmark feature of an analytic study in epidemiology is the use of an appropriate comparison group (Choice A). This is essential for drawing valid conclusions about the relationship between an exposure and an outcome. By comparing individuals with the exposure to those without, researchers can assess the association between the exposure and the outcome. Choice B, randomization in recruiting study participants, is more related to experimental studies rather than analytic epidemiological studies. Choice C, confirmation of diagnosis via lab testing, is important for accurate data collection but not unique to analytic studies. Choice D, testing a hypothesis, is a common step in research but does not specifically define an analytic study in epidemiology.