ATI RN
Introduction to Epidemiology Ray M Merrill Case Study Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
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 focuses on early detection and intervention for individuals who already have risk factors for a health condition, in this case, obesity. By identifying overweight students early on, the nurse can provide targeted interventions and support to prevent further weight gain and related health issues. A, giving a presentation on the importance of exercise, is more of a primary prevention strategy aimed at educating all students to prevent obesity from occurring in the first place. B, designing a game for healthy food choices, is also a primary prevention strategy that promotes healthy behaviors for all students. D, putting students on a diet if they are overweight, is more of a tertiary prevention approach focusing on treatment after the condition has already developed, rather than early detection and prevention.
Question 2 of 5
A principal comments to the school nurse that it seems there are a lot more problems with asthma among the students than there were before the school was remodeled a couple of years ago. The nurse investigates the principal’s observation by reviewing all the school records to determine visits to the health office because of asthma by week and month for the past 5 years. Which of the following best describes the type of study the nurse is conducting?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ecological study. In this scenario, the nurse is reviewing school records to investigate the relationship between the school remodeling and the increase in asthma cases among students. This type of study looks at group-level data without focusing on individual-level data. 1. An ecological study examines the relationship between exposure (school remodeling) and outcome (increase in asthma cases) at the population or group level. 2. Descriptive epidemiological study (A) focuses on describing the distribution of a disease within a population but does not investigate causal relationships. 3. Prospective cohort study (C) involves following a group of individuals over time to study the development of specific outcomes. This study is not following individuals but rather looking at group-level data. 4. Option D appears to be incomplete and does not relate to the type of study being conducted. Therefore, the nurse is conducting an ecological study by analyzing school records to determine the association between the school remodeling and the increase in asthma cases among students
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following explains why contagious infections are becoming a central focus of public health? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step 1: Awareness of human susceptibility to animal diseases has been publicized, leading to increased concern about zoonotic infections. Step 2: Zoonotic infections can easily spread from animals to humans, causing contagious outbreaks. Step 3: Public health efforts are focusing on preventing and controlling these infections to protect human health. Summary: A: Fear of bioterrorism is not a primary reason for the focus on contagious infections. C: No information is provided to support this choice. D: Drug-resistant strains of old diseases are a concern, but not the main reason for the current focus on contagious infections.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following activities best defines epidemiology?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step 1: Epidemiology focuses on studying patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease in specific populations. Step 2: Recommending a restaurant closure after a norovirus outbreak investigation aligns with identifying the source and preventing further spread in a population. Step 3: This activity involves data collection, analysis, and intervention to control disease transmission. Step 4: Prescribing antibiotics (A) and teaching diabetes classes (B) are more related to individual healthcare, not population-based disease control. Encouraging family dinners (D) is unrelated to epidemiological principles.
Question 5 of 5
What is the hallmark feature of an analytic study in epidemiology?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The hallmark feature of an analytic study in epidemiology is the use of an appropriate comparison group (Choice A). This is crucial for determining the relationship between an exposure and an outcome. By comparing individuals with the exposure to those without, researchers can evaluate the association. Randomization (Choice B) is a feature of experimental studies, not analytic epidemiological studies. Confirmation of diagnosis via lab testing (Choice C) is important for accuracy but not specific to analytic studies. Testing a hypothesis (Choice D) is a general research concept and not unique to analytic epidemiological studies.