Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread and affect populations. It is an essential field of study for public health professionals, as it allows them to understand the patterns and distribution of diseases in different populations. As such, it plays a critical role in the prevention and control of infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and other health issues.
Multiple choice questions on epidemiology These questions require the test-taker to choose the correct answer from a list of options. They can cover a range of topics, such as the basic concepts of epidemiology, research methods, and statistical analysis. MCQs are a common form of assessment used in epidemiology courses and exams, and they help to evaluate the knowledge and understanding of the test-taker in this field.
This article will present some epidemiology MCQs that will test your knowledge of key concepts and principles. The questions will be designed to cover various areas of epidemiology, including disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, risk factors, and research methods. So, get ready to put your epidemiology knowledge to the test!
Epidemiology mcqs
Q1. Which of the following is the primary objective of epidemiology?
a) To identify risk factors for disease
b) To develop treatment for diseases
c) To prevent diseases in populations
d) To understand the pathogenesis of diseases
Q2. Which of the following is NOT one of the three key factors in the epidemiologic triangle?
a) Host
b) Environment
c) Agent
d) Time
Q3. What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
a) Incidence refers to the proportion of the population with a disease, while prevalence refers to the number of new cases of a disease in a population over a period of time
b) Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease in a population over a period of time, while prevalence refers to the proportion of the population with a disease
c) Incidence and prevalence are the same thing
d) Incidence and prevalence are measures of mortality
Q4. What is the purpose of a case-control study?
a) To determine the incidence of a disease in a population
b) To determine the cause of a disease
c) To determine the prevalence of a disease in a population
d) To compare the characteristics of individuals with a disease to those without a disease
Q5. What is the difference between a cohort study and a case-control study?
a) In a cohort study, participants are selected based on their disease status, while in a case-control study, participants are selected based on their exposure status
b) In a cohort study, participants are followed over time to observe outcomes, while in a case-control study, outcomes have already occurred
c) Cohort studies are more expensive than case-control studies
d) Case-control studies are more rigorous than cohort studies
Q6. What is a randomised controlled trial (RCT)?
a) An observational study that compares the incidence of a disease in a population with different levels of exposure to a risk factor
b) A study that compares the characteristics of individuals with a disease to those without a disease
c) A study that randomly assigns participants to an intervention or control group to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment or prevention strategy
d) A study that compares the prevalence of a disease in a population with different levels of exposure to a risk factor
Q7. What is the difference between sensitivity and specificity?
a) Sensitivity is the proportion of true negatives, while specificity is the proportion of true positives
b) Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives, while specificity is the proportion of true negatives
c) Sensitivity and specificity are the same thing
d) Sensitivity and specificity are measures of prevalence
Q8. What is the basic reproductive number (R0) in epidemiology?
a) The proportion of individuals in a population who are infected with a disease at a given time
b) The number of new cases of a disease in a population over a period of time
c) The average number of secondary infections that result from one infected individual in a susceptible population
d) The proportion of individuals in a
Q9. What is herd immunity?
a) The proportion of individuals in a population who are vaccinated against a disease
b) The proportion of individuals in a population who are naturally immune to a disease
c) The point at which enough individuals in a population are immune to a disease that it is unlikely to spread
d) The total number of individuals in a population who have been infected with a disease
Q10. Which of the following is NOT a key element of outbreak investigation?
a) Identification of the outbreak
b) Characterization of the outbreak
c) Determination of the cause of the outbreak
d) Implementation of a vaccination campaign
Q11. Which of the following is an example of a notifiable disease?
a) Influenza
b) Malaria
c) Cholera
d) Common cold
Q12. What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?
a) A pandemic is a disease outbreak that occurs in a specific geographic area, while an epidemic is a disease outbreak that occurs across multiple continents
b) A pandemic is a disease outbreak that affects a large region or multiple continents, while an epidemic is a disease outbreak that affects a smaller geographic area or population
c) Pandemic and epidemic are interchangeable terms that describe the same thing
d) A pandemic is a disease outbreak that affects animals, while an epidemic is a disease outbreak that affects humans
Q13. What is the difference between passive and active surveillance in disease monitoring?
a) Passive surveillance involves healthcare providers reporting cases to public health authorities, while active surveillance involves public health authorities actively seeking out cases
b) Passive surveillance involves monitoring of cases in the general population, while active surveillance involves monitoring of cases in specific high-risk populations
c) Passive surveillance is more expensive than active surveillance
d) Passive surveillance is more accurate than active surveillance
Q14. What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?
a) Quarantine is the separation of individuals who are ill from those who are not ill, while isolation is the restriction of movement for individuals who have been exposed to a disease but are not yet ill
b) Quarantine is the restriction of movement for individuals who have been exposed to a disease but are not yet ill, while isolation is the separation of individuals who are ill from those who are not ill
c) Quarantine and isolation are interchangeable terms that describe the same thing
d) Quarantine and isolation are both measures used to prevent the spread of disease within a population
Q15. Which of the following is NOT a mode of transmission for infectious diseases?
a) Airborne
b) Foodborne
c) Waterborne
d) Psychic
Multiple choice questions on epidemiology
Q16. Which of the following is an example of a vector-borne disease?
a) HIV
b) Tuberculosis
c) Malaria
d) Influenza
Q17. What is the basic reproduction number (R0) of a disease?
a) The average number of individuals infected by one person with the disease
b) The total number of individuals in a population who have been infected with the disease
c) The proportion of individuals in a population who are immune to the disease
d) The proportion of individuals in a population who have been vaccinated against the disease
Q18. Which of the following is an example of a non-communicable disease?
a) Tuberculosis
b) Influenza
c) Diabetes
d) Measles
Q19. Which of the following is an example of a zoonotic disease?
a) Tuberculosis
b) Influenza
c) Malaria
d) Ebola
Q20. What is the difference between morbidity and mortality?
a) Morbidity is the number of deaths caused by a disease, while mortality is the number of people affected by the disease
b) Morbidity and mortality are interchangeable terms that describe the same thing
c) Morbidity is the number of people affected by a disease, while mortality is the number of deaths caused by the disease
d) Morbidity and mortality refer to different types of diseases, with morbidity referring to infectious diseases and mortality referring to non-infectious diseases
What is epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the study of how diseases and health conditions are distributed in populations and the factors that influence their occurrence. It involves investigating patterns, causes, and effects of health-related events to inform public health interventions.
What do epidemiologists do?
Epidemiologists collect and analyze data to understand the distribution and determinants of diseases or health conditions. They investigate outbreaks, study risk factors, develop surveillance systems, design and evaluate interventions, and contribute to public health policy and planning.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease that occur in a population over a specific period. Prevalence, on the other hand, is the total number of cases (both new and existing) of a disease in a population at a given point in time.
What is the difference between endemic, epidemic, and pandemic?
endemic diseases are always present at a relatively stable level within a specific population or region. Epidemics are localized outbreaks of a disease that exceed the expected number of cases in a given area. Pandemics, on the other hand, are global or international outbreaks affecting a large number of people worldwide.