Multiple Choice Questions

Test your understanding with these multiple choice questions:

1. Which of the following is a description for ‘descriptive epidemiology’?

a. examining the incidence of disease in relation to person, place and time

b. identifying the associations between disease and causes

c. intervention to change exposure to the factor being studied

d. actions to reduce exposure to factors which impact on health

Ans: A

The study of epidemiology has three main areas. Descriptive epidemiology looks at incidence of disease in relation to the person, place and time of disease occurrence.

2. In which field of epidemiology would you expect to see ecological studies?

a. descriptive epidemiology

b. intervention studies

c. analytical epidemiology

d. statistical analysis

Ans: C

Ecological studies look at data collected on the whole population; and such, is a form of analytical epidemiology.

3. ‘Actions to reduce exposure to factors which can impact on the development of ill-health’ in terms of public health and epidemiology are normally co-ordinated by?

a. general practitioners

b. government

c. health protection

d. National Health Service

Ans: C

Health protection in the UK was co-ordinated by the health protection agency (now part of Public Health England) who assess and react to increased health risks to the whole or large parts of the population. Support and advice is provided to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services, other relevant bodies, the Department of Health and others.

4. Write down 4 of the main areas that public health initiatives aim to enhance to improve either quality of life, life opportunities or well-being.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Ans: housing; education; employment; lifestyle; obesity; air quality

5. When an infectious disease outbreak occurs, it is described in terms of its distribution in a population. Write down the correct definition next to the statements below:

An infection which spreads worldwide: ______

An infection which exists in and affects a group or population most or all of the time (e.g. colds): ______

An infection which is widespread through the population and occurs at a specific time: _____

Ans: pandemic; endemic; epidemic

6. Where a group of people with a specific condition receive a treatment and their progress is compared with a second group receiving a placebo or alternative treatment; this is known as epidemic ______.

a. case–control study

b. cohort study

c. community trial

d. clinical trial

Ans: D

A clinical trial is where a group of patients with a specific condition will receive a treatment; and their outcome of receiving the treatment is compared with that of a second group with the same condition who normally receive a placebo or alterative treatment. The patients, clinical staff and researchers are normally not aware of which group the patient is in to prevent bias.

7. Which of the following studies might be carried out to help health services plan future services?

a. cohort study

b. cross-sectional study

c. case–control study

d. community trail

Ans: B

A cross-sectional study aims to identify the proportion of the population which has the disease being studied with the aim of collecting information about the health status of the population.

8. Enabling people to increase control over their own health is known as ______.

a. health protection

b. public health

c. health promotion

d. governance

Ans: C

Health promotion aims to give people control of their own health by addressing social and environmental factors affecting their health taking the focus off solely treatment and cure and aiming to prevent the root causes of ill health.

9. Which organization is crucial in the monitoring and advising of global health issues?

a. non-government organizations

b. World Health Organization

c. North Atlantic Treaty Organization

d. United Nations

Ans: B

The World Health Organization is a branch of the United Nations looking at public health from a global perspective.