ATI RN
Introduction to Epidemiology Ray M Merrill Case Study Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The public health nurse is studying the proportion of the population in a certain county that had pneumonia during the winter months. Which epidemiological measure will the nurse use?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Prevalence rate. In this case, the nurse is studying the proportion of the population that had pneumonia during the winter months. Prevalence rate measures the total number of existing cases in the population at a specific point in time, which aligns with the nurse's objective to study the proportion of the population affected by pneumonia during the winter months. Incorrect choices: A: Attack rate measures the proportion of people exposed to a particular factor who develop the disease. B: Incidence rate measures the number of new cases of a disease that develop in a population over a specific period. D: Risk ratio compares the risk of developing a disease in the exposed group to the risk in the non-exposed group. In summary, prevalence rate is the appropriate measure as it focuses on the total number of existing cases of pneumonia in the population, while the other choices do not match the nurse's objective in this scenario.
Question 2 of 5
Which diagnosis would the nurse anticipate when observing a “bull’s eye†rash on a client’s leg?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Lyme disease. The "bull's eye" rash is a classic symptom of Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. This rash appears as a red circular rash with a clear center, resembling a bull's eye. This distinctive rash is a result of the bacteria spreading in the skin. Other choices are incorrect as they do not present with a bull's eye rash. Zika virus presents with fever and rash, West Nile virus with fever and neurological symptoms, and Dengue fever with fever, severe headache, and joint pain. Lyme disease is the only condition among the options that specifically presents with a bull's eye rash.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is using analytic epidemiology when conducting a research project. Which of the following projects is the nurse most likely completing?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Determining factors contributing to childhood obesity. Analytic epidemiology involves analyzing the determinants of health and disease in populations. By studying the factors contributing to childhood obesity, the nurse is using analytic epidemiology to identify risk factors, trends, and patterns to develop prevention and intervention strategies. The other choices involve descriptive epidemiology (A: Reviewing communicable disease statistics, C: Analyzing locations where family violence is increasing) and basic data collection (D: Documenting population characteristics for healthy older citizens), which do not involve the in-depth analysis and investigation of causes and contributing factors that characterize analytic epidemiology.
Question 4 of 5
Several small communities have applied for grant funding from the state department of health
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: Identify the issue - The issue is determining the priority for grant funding among the communities based on teenage pregnancy rates. Step 2: Consider impact - Community size affects the scale of the issue. Step 3: Evaluate severity - Although communities B and C have higher total numbers of teenage pregnancies, community A has the highest rate per capita. Step 4: Conclusion - The nurse should suggest funding for Community A first due to the highest rate of teenage pregnancies per capita, indicating a more urgent need for intervention. Summary: Choice A is correct as it prioritizes the community with the highest rate of teenage pregnancies per capita. Choices B, and C have higher total numbers of teenage pregnancies, but A is more urgent due to its smaller population. Choice D has the highest total number of teenage pregnancies, but the rate per capita in Community A is the highest, making it the most critical.
Question 5 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.