Epidemiology MCQ for BN and BSc Nursing Nepal

1. 1
Epidemiology
Multiple Choice Questions with Answers
For Nursing
Prepared By
Samikshya Maharjan Mahatara
MPH,BN
Lect. NIHS,KTM

2. 2
Epidemiology
1. Who attempted to explain disease occurrence from a rational rather than a supernatural
viewpoint.
a. John Graunt
b. Hippocrates
c. John Snow
d. William Farr
Ans: b
2. The father of epidemiology is
a. John Snow
b. John Graunt
c. Willam Farr
d. John M Last
Ans: a
3. “The study of the distribution and determinants of health related states or events in
specified populations, and the application of this study to control of health problems.”
This definition is by :
a. John Snow
b. John M Last
c. John Graunt
d. Jonas salk
Ans: b
4 .When a disease spreads from one country to another in a short time , it is called:
a. Endemic
b. Epidemic
c. Pandemic
d.Sporadic
Ans: c
5.The constant presence of disease within a geographic area refers to:
a. Epidemic
b. Endemic
c. Pandemic

3. 3
d. Sporadic
Ans: b
6.The components of epidemiology are all except
a. Disease frequency
b. Distribution of diseases
c. Determinants of diseases
d. Proportion
Ans: d
7. In the definition of epidemiology, “distribution’’ refers to
a. Where
b. Where
c. Who
d. All of the above
Ans: d
8. The components of epidemiology are
a. Disease frequency
b. Distribution of diseases
c. Determinants of diseases
d. All of the above
Ans: d

4. 4
Uses of epidemiology
1. The measurement of strength of association between risk factor and outcome is:
a. Odds ratio
b. Poisson’s ratio
c. Attribute risk
d. Relative risk
Ans: a
2. If odds ratio is one, then:
a. High association
b. Low association
c. False association
d. None of the above
Ans: d
3. Prevalence of disease is
a. Rate
b. Ratio
c. Proportion
d. None of the above
Ans: c
4. Severity of a disease is measured by:
a. Relative risk
b. Attribute risk
c. Case fatality rate
d. Proportional mortality risk
Ans: c
5. Male:Female = 12:9 have the tool of measurement use is
a. Rate
b. Ratio
c. Proportion
d. Percentage
Ans: b

5. 5
6. Which of the following is correct relationship between Incidence and Prevalence?
a. Incidence=Prevalence+Duration
b. Prevalence= Incidence+ Duration
c. Incidence= Prevalence X Duration
d. Prevalence = Incidence X Duration
Ans: d
7. Denominator of crude death rate is
a. 1000 live birth
b. Mid year population
c. Total number of deaths in a community
d. Total number of case population in community
Ans: b
8. Simplest measure of mortality
a. Crude death rate
b. Case fatality rate
c. Proportional mortality rate
d. Specific Death rate
Ans: a
9. In a community, an increase in new cases denotes
a. Increase in incidence rate
b. Increase in prevalence rate
c. Decrease in incidence rate
d. Decrease in prevalence rate
Ans: a
10. All are true of attack rate except
a. It is type of prevalence rate
b. Expressed as percentage
c. Used when population is exposed to risk for a limited period of time

6. 6
d. Reflects extent of epidemic
Ans: a
11. For calculation of incidence denominator is taken as
a. Mid year population
b. Population at risk
c. Total number of cases
d. Total number of deaths
Ans:b
12. Prevalence of a disease
a. Is the best measure of disease frequently in etiological studies
b. Can only be determined by a cohort study
c. Is the number of new cases in a defined population
d. Describes the balance between incidence,mortality and recovery.
Ans: d
13. Which of the following can cause an increase in the prevalence of the disease
a. Immigration of healthy persons
b. Increased cure rate of disease
c. Longer duration of illness
d.Decrease in population
Ans: c
14. All of the following statements regarding prevalence are true except
a. It is rate
b.It is ratio
c. Duration of disease effects prevalence
d. Numerator and denominator are separate entities
Ans: a
15. In which of the following infectious disease the prevalence is most likely to exceed
incidence?

7. 7
a. Influenza
b. Rubella
c. Measles
d. Leprosy
Ans: d
16. The following are measures of disease frequency, except
a. Incidence rate
b. Prevalence rate
c. Cumulative risk
d. Relative risk
Ans: d
17. The proportion of cases of a specified disease or condition which are fatal within a specified
time
a. Morbidity rate
b. Case fatality rate
c. Proportionate mortality
d. Death rate
Ans: b
18. The proportion of disease incidence that can be attributed to a specific exposure
a. Relative risk
b. Odds ratio
c. Attributable risk
d. Potential risk
Ans: c

8. 8
Epidemiological Studies
1. The study which proceeds from cause to effects
a. Retrospective
b. Cohort
c. Case control
d. Descriptive
Ans: b
2. To test the association between risk factor and diseases which of the following is the
weakest study design?
a. Case control study
b. Cohort study
c. Ecological study
d. Crossectional study
Ans: c
3. The analytical study where population is the unit of study is:
a. Case control
b. Ecological
c. Cohort
d. Cross-sectional
Ans: b
4. Best approach to study a rare disease is:
a. Case control
b. Ecological
c. Cohort
d. Cross-sectional
Ans: a
5. All are analytic studies except
a. Field trails
b. Case-control
c. Cohort
d. Ecological
Ans: a

9. 9
6. Study of time place and person is called
a. Experimental epidemiology
b. Analytical epidemiology
c. Descriptive epidemiology
d. Field trials study
Ans: c
7. Which of the following is not a feature of a cross sectional study
a. Not expensive
b. Observational study
c. Used for chronic diseases
d. Well suited for establishing interrelationships of diseases
Ans: d
8. Prevalence of cataract at one point of time can be determined by
a. Longitudinal study
b. Cross- sectional study
c. Surveillance
d. Cohort study
Ans: b
9. In a case control study , the most characteristic feature is
a. Odds ratio estimation
b. Problem bias
c.Yield incidence rate
d. Expensive
Ans: a
10. Which of the following statement is correct in regards to case control study
a. Proceeds from effects to cause
b. Exposure already occurred

10. 10
c. Odd’s ratio can be determined
d. Incidence rate can be calculated
Ans: a
11.True about case control study
a. Less expensive
b. Those with disease and not diseased compared
c. Attributable risk is estimated
d. None of the above
Ans: a
12. Case control study, All can be measured except
a. Relative risk
b. Incidence
c. Odds ratio
d. Cause and effect relation
Ans: a
13. Cohort study is a type of
a. Clinical trial
b. Analytical study
c. Descriptive study
d. Experimental study
Ans: b
14. Incidence rate is measured by
a. Case control study
b. Cohort study
c. Cross sectional study
d. Cross over study
Ans: b

11. 11
14.Case control studies are used for:
a. Study of common diseases
b. Finding multiple risk factors
c. Finding incidence rate
d. Finding relative risk
Ans: b
15. Incidence of diarrhea in a community can be calculated by-
a. Case control study
b. Cohort study
c. Cross sectional study
d. Cross over study
Ans: b
16. A longitudinal or prospective study is also referred to as
a. Ecological study
b. Cross-sectional study
c. Cohort study
d. Observational study
Ans. c
17. Hypothesis is tested in which type of the study
a. Observational study
b. Analytical study
c. Descriptive study
d. Experimental study
Ans: b
18. Incidence study design is also called as
a. Case control study
b. Cohort study
c. Experimental study

12. 12
d. Community trials
Ans: b
19. Experimental studies are:
a. Randomized controlled trails
b. Field trails
c. Community trails
d. All of the above
Ans: d
20. Steps of Randomized controlled trial (RCT) are:
a. Drawing up a protocol
b. Selecting reference and experimental populations
c. Randomization
d. All of the above
Ans: d
21. Types of RCT are:
a. Clinical trails
b. Preventive trails
c. Risk factor trails
d. All of the above
Ans: d
22. What do you mean by selection bias?
a. Systematic error
b. Bias in participation
c. Error in exposure
d. Bias in interpreting the exposure information
Ans: a

13. 13
23. Matching is done to remove
a. Bias
b. Known confounding
c. Unknown confounding
d. Case detection
Ans: a
24. Natural history of disease is best studies by:
a. Cohort study
b. Cross-sectional study
c. Case control Study
d. Experimental study
Ans : b
25. Random error can be minimized by
a. Increasing the sample size
b. Decreasing the sample size
c. Matching
d. Randomization
Ans: a
26. A study that measures the number of persons with influenza in a calendar year
a. Cohort study
b. Case control study
c. Cross-sectional study
d. Experimental study
Ans: c

14. 14
27. A study where in bias is less likely to occur
a. Case series
b. Cross-sectional
c. Case control
d. Cohort
Ans: d
Mode Of Diseases Transmission
1. First case noticed in an epidemic is
a. Index case
b. Primary case
c. Secondary case
d. Tertiary case
Ans: a
2. First case of a communicable disease introduced into the population is
a. Index case
b. Primary case
c. Secondary case
d. Tertiary case
Ans: b
3. Sub-clinical cases are also known as
a. Apparent cases
b. Missed cases

15. 15
c. Abortive cases
d. All of the above
Ans: d
4. The series of chain in transmission of diseases is
a. Reservior- mode of transmission- susceptible host
b. Susceptible host-mode of transmission- reservoir
c. Mode of transmission-reservior- susceptible host
d.Host- sources- transmission
Ans: a
5. In terms of “ Mode of disease transmission ”which is the vector borne disease?
a. Leprosy
b. Malaria
c. Tuberculosis
d .AIDS
Ans:b
6. Transmission of the infectious agent through the agency of water, food, raw vegetables, fruits,
milk, blood etc.
a. Vehicle borne
b. Vector borne
d. Air borne
d. Fomite borne
Ans: a

16. 16
7. Droplet nuclei is a
a. Air borne transmission
b. Vertical transmission
c.Vehicle borne transmission
d. Vector borne transmission
Ans: a
8. Infectious agent enter the host by respiratory tract is
a. Portal of entry
b. Site of election
c. Portal of exit
d. None of the above
Ans: a
9. The disease agent that may multiply in the host but does not manifest itself by sign and
symptoms is
a. Clinical case
b. Subclinical case
c. Latent case
d. Specific case
Ans: b

17. 17
10. Infectious agent lies dormant within the host without symptoms is
a. Clinical case
b. Subclinical case
c. Latent case
d. Specific case
Ans: c
11.Vertical transmission is by
a. Mosquitoes
b. Direct contact
c. Droplet
d. Placenta
Ans: d
12. The route by which an infectious agent is transmitted from a reservoir to another host is
called the
a. Chain of transmission
b. Mode of transmission
c. The route of entry
d. the route of exist
Ans: b

18. 18
13.When infectious agents are transmitted to new hosts through intermediates such as air, food,
water,objects or substances in the environment, or other animals are called
a. Direct transmission
b. Indirect transmission
c. Mode of transmission
d. Chain of transmission
Ans: b
Disease Prevention and Control
1. The process of providing information regarding the epidemics of any new disease or
condition is known as:
a. Contamination
b. Notification
c. Isolation
d. Investigation
Ans: b
2. Following are the methods of controlling the reservoir except
a. Early diagnosis
b. Notification
c. Vector control
d. Isolation
Ans: c
3. The limitation of freedom of movement of such well person or domestic animal exposed
to communicable disease for a period of disease in such manner as to effective contact
with those not so exposed is
a. Isolation
b. Quarantine
c. Treatment
d. Early detection

19. 19
Ans: b
4. The ultimate objective of surveillance is
a.Control
b. Observation
c. Prevention
d. None of the above
Ans:c
Concept of Prevention
1. In a population to prevent coronary artery disease changing harmful lifestyles by
education is referred to as-
a. High risk strategy
b. Primary prevention
c. Secondary prevention
d. Tertiary prevention
Ans: b
2. A concept directed against prevention of risk factors of coronary artery disease is
a. Primordial prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Health education
d. Primary prevention
Ans: a
3. All of the following are methods of health promotion except
a. Immunization
b. Nutritional changes
c. Behavioral changes
d. Health education
Ans: a

20. 20
4. Immunization is
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. Disability limitation
Ans: a
5.Tertiary prevention is needed in which stage of natural history of disease
a. Pre- pathogenesis
b. Pathogenesis
c. Prodromal
d. Terminal
Ans:d
6. Pap smear is an example of
a. Primary level of prevention
b. Secondary level of prevention
c. Tertiary level of prevention
d. Health education
Ans: b
7. Benzathine pencillin prophylaxis for rheumatic fever comes under
a. Primodial prevention
b. Primary prevention
c. Secondary prevention
d. Tertiary prevention
Ans:c

21. 21
8. Prevention of disease by immunization comes under which category
a. Primordial prevention
b. Primary prevention
c. Secondary prevention
d. Tertiary prevention
Ans: b
9. The terms primary, secondary and tertiary prevention were first documented in the late 1940s
by:
a. Hugh Leavell and E. Guerney Clark
b.Polgan
c. Lui pasture
d.Robert Koch
Ans: a
10. Isolation of a child with measles belongs to what level of prevention?
a. Primary
b. Secondary
c. Intermediate
d. Tertiary
Ans: b
11. The purpose is to limit the incidence of disease by controlling causes and risk factors
a. Primordial prevention
b. Primary prevention
c. Secondary prevention
d. Tertiary prevention

22. 22
Ans: b
Modes of Intervention
1. Vitamin A prophylaxis is an example
a. Primordial prevention
b. Health promotion
c. Specific protection
d. Disability limitation
Ans: c
2. The 1st step of mode of intervention is
a. Health promotion
b. Health education of the publics
c.Environmental modification
d. Life style and behavior’s change
Ans: a
3. Any loss or abnormality of any physical ,psychological or anatomical structure or function.
a. Disability
b. Handicap
c. Impairment
d. Disease
Ans: c

23. 23
4. Concept of Disability
a. Disease impairment disability handicap
b. Disease disability impairment handicap
c. Impairment disease handicap disability
d. disability disease handicap disability
Ans: a
5. First in sequence
a.Impairment
b.Disease
c.Disability
d. Rehabilitation
Ans: b
Investigations of an Epidemic
1. Following are the steps of epidemiological investigations except:
a. Verification of diagnosis
b. Defining population at risk
c. Confirmation of the existence of an epidemic
d. Health education
ans: d
2. Verification of diagnosis is
a. First step in an epidemic investigation
b. A clinical exam of a sample of cases
c. Lab. Investigations done if necessary
d. All of the above
Ans: d

24. 24
3. The important components for rapid search for all cases and their characteristics are:
a. Medical survey
b. Epidemiological case sheet
c. Searching more cases
d. All of the above
Ans: d
4. The objectives of an epidemiological investigation according to Roht, L.H. (1982) are:
a. To define the magnitude of the epidemic outbreak or involvement in terms of time,
place and person.
b. To determine the particular conditions and factors responsible for the occurrence of the
epidemic.
c. To make recommendations to prevent recurrence.
d. All of the above.
Ans : d
5. The important criteria to estimate the number of cases is by:
a. Counting the number of the cases
b. Sketching the map of the area.
c. a and b
d. None of the above
Ans: c
Field Technique
1. Field technique includes:
a. Topic selection;
b. Formulate research questions,
c. Statement of problems and literature review,
d. All of the above
Ans: d
2. Problem may identify from the sources of:
a. Experience and clinical fieldwork.
b. Social issues
c. Ideas or suggestions from others.
d. All of the above
Ans: d

25. 25
3. The title of the research should be
a. Short
b. Accurate
c. Concise
d. All of the above
Ans: d
4. Data collection techniques are:
a. Interview
b. Observation
c. Questionnaire
d. All of the above
Ans: d
5. For successful interview, the interviewers should be:
a. Capable
b. Honest and Sincere
c. Punishable
d. a and b
Ans: d
6. What will be the ideal number of participants in Focus Group Discussion (FGD):
a. 3-6 persons
b. 6-12 persons
c. 12-15 persons
d. 15-25 persons
Ans: b
7. A FGD is :
a. Qualitative method.
b. Quantative method
c. Survey method
d. All of the above
Ans: a