ATI RN
Introduction to Epidemiology Ray M Merrill Case Study Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
In a particular community, several high school students were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 2 during the annual high school health fair. Over the next few years, the nursing staff developed and implemented educational programs about the risk factors for diabetes mellitus Type 2 and proper nutrition. Which of the following would be most useful for the nurses to use to determine if they are having any impact?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because prevalence refers to the total number of existing cases of a disease in a specific population at a given point in time. Monitoring the prevalence of diabetes during screening events will indicate if the educational programs are effective in reducing the number of existing cases. A: The epidemic ending does not specifically measure the impact of the educational programs on diabetes prevalence. B: The incidence decreasing only reflects new cases, not the overall impact on existing cases. D: The risk increasing does not directly measure the impact of the educational programs on diabetes prevalence.
Question 2 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 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.
Question 3 of 5
The administration at a local medical center examines the trends in health problems when developing long-range plans for staffing and space allocation. Which of the following sources of information would be most helpful?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: The National Hospital Discharge Survey. This source provides comprehensive data on hospital discharges, including diagnoses and procedures. It offers a broad overview of health problems and treatment trends on a national level, which can be valuable for long-range planning at a local medical center. A: Local data from a professional survey in the city may not capture a comprehensive picture of health trends compared to a national survey like the National Hospital Discharge Survey. B: The National Health Interview Survey focuses more on health behaviors and access to healthcare, rather than specific health problems and treatment trends, which may not be as directly relevant for staffing and space allocation planning. D: State vital statistics provide information on births, deaths, and other vital events but may not offer detailed data on specific health problems and treatment trends, as needed for staffing and space allocation planning.
Question 4 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. 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.
Question 5 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: 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.