Public Health Midterm – Flashcards
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Public health measures that contribute most to people being healthier today than they were a century ago are: A. Sanitation, better nutrition, and occupational safety B. Better medical care C. Tertiary prevention D. Health policy and management
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A. Sanitation, better nutrition, and occupational safety
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Which of the following statements is true? A. Differences in the health of people of different races and ethnic groups is determined mainly by genetics. B. People rarely choose to behave in ways that damage their own health. C. People's behavior is strongly influenced by their social environment. D. People have no control over their own health.
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C. People's behavior is strongly influenced by their social environment.
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Enforcing laws and regulations falls under which core function of public health? A. Assurance B. Assessment C. Tertiary prevention D. Intervention
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A. Assurance
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Public health focuses on ____________ of disease and __________ of health. A. Improvement; alleviation B. Promotion; prevention C. Prevention; promotion D. Alleviation; improvement
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C. Prevention; promotion
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Public health focuses on populations, whereas medicine focuses on individuals. T or F
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T
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The core functions of public health are: A. Epidemiology, statistics, and environmental health sciences B. Diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapy C. Primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention D. Assessment, policy development, and assurance
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D. Assessment, policy development, and assurance
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Epidemiology is part of what function of public health? A. Policy development B. Assurance C. Assessment D. Intervention
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C. Assessment
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Seat belt laws are an example of: A. Secondary prevention B. Public health assessment C. Primary prevention D. Tertiary prevention
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A. Secondary prevention
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Primary prevention refers to: A. Rehabilitation B. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment C. Prevention of exposure to risk factors D. Disability limitation
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C. Prevention of exposure to risk factors
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Vaccines are an example of: A. Secondary prevention B. Public health assessment C. Tertiary prevention D. Primary prevention
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D. Primary prevention
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The costs of public health measures are easier to calculate than are the benefits. T or F
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T
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Which of the following justifications for limiting people's freedom is likely to be the most controversial? A. To promote the general welfare. B. To prevent someone from harming himself. C. To protect children. D. To prevent someone from harming others
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B. To prevent someone from harming himself.
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The lesson of the "tragedy of the commons" for public health is that: A. Under some circumstances, a community benefits when every individual acts for his or her own gain. B. Under some circumstances, individuals in a community may profit by agreeing as a group to limit each person's freedom to act. C. Environmental pollution is a tragedy. D. Herdsmen should not be allowed to own more than a limited number of cattle.
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B. Under some circumstances, individuals in a community may profit by agreeing as a group to limit each person's freedom to act.
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Restricting individual freedoms for public health purposes is unconstitutional. T or F
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F
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Which of the following measures could be considered primarily an attempt to legislate morality? A. Laws against bringing cocaine over the border into the United States B. Laws against drinking and driving C. Laws against homosexuality D. Laws prohibiting an adult from having sex with a child
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C. Laws against homosexuality
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Which of the following statements best expresses the market justice view? A. Members of a community have collective responsibility for their common welfare. B. The government should provide everyone with an equal income. C. Members of a community have a responsibility to prevent any individual from taking risks that could harm his or her health. D. Every adult individual is responsible for his or her own lot in life.
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D. Every adult individual is responsible for his or her own lot in life.
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Which of the following measures to limit the freedom of adults in the name of public health has not been taken by the U.S. or state governments? A. Laws against smoking cigarettes B. Laws requiring use of seat belts in cars C. Laws against using addictive drugs D. Laws against drinking alcohol
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A. Laws against smoking cigarettes
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Which of the following statements best expresses the social justice view of public health? A. Members of a community have a responsibility to prevent any individual from taking risks that could harm his or her health. B. Members of a community have collective responsibility for their common welfare. C. The government should provide everyone with an equal income. D. Every adult individual is responsible for his or her own lot in life.
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B
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Restricting the legal drinking age in the United States to 21 is an example of: A. Libertarianism B. Market justice C. Paternalism D. Conservatism
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C
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Many public health measures have a negative economic impact on an industry. In some cases, public health advocates would consider this economic impact to be an acceptable consequence. However, sometimes this economic impact may have mixed consequences for public health. Which of the following measures is most likely to have negative as well as positive results for public health? A. Effect of smoking regulations on the tobacco industry. B. Effect of banning pesticide use on the agriculture industry. C. Effect of laws requiring reinforced car bumpers on the automobile industry. D. Effect of limiting occupational exposure to benzene on the chemical industry.
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B
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The U.S. Constitution specifically authorizes the federal government to do which of the following activities relevant to public health? A. Tax and spend B. Require motorcyclists to wear helmets C. Regulate food and drugs D. Ban guns within a school zone
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A
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Which of the following activities is not part of the NIH's responsibilities? A. Conduct research on the basic physiology of diseases. B. Operate a reference library for medical information. C. Control the spread of infectious diseases. D. Test experimental medical therapies.
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C
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Which of the following statements is not true? A. Courts can invalidate regulations that legislatures have mandated public health agencies to create. B. The government has the authority to limit individual freedom for the common good. C. Legislatures do not have the power to restrict the actions of public health agencies. D. Police powers are sometimes needed for public health.
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C
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The level of government that, according to the Constitution, has the primary responsibility for the health of the population is: A. State B. County C. Non-governmental agencies D. Federal
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A
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Which governmental organization is the main assessment and epidemiologic agency for the nation? A. FDA B. NIH C. WHO D. CDC
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D
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Which of the following agencies is not part of the Department of Health and Human Services? A. NIH B. FDA C. EPA D. CDC
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C
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Which of the following is not part of the FDA's responsibilities? A. Evaluate new drugs. B. Conduct research on basic physiology of diseases. C. Regulate vaccines and diagnostic tests. D. Ensure the safety of foods.
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B
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Which of the following activities is not part of the CDC's responsibilities? A. Identify behavioral health hazards B. Publish MMWR C. Conduct research on the basic physiology of diseases D. Control the spread of infectious diseases
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C
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Which of the following carries out core public health functions, such as sanitation? A. Nongovernmental organizations B. Federal Agencies C. State health departments D. Local public health agencies
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D
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Which of the following statements is true? A. The federal government has no authority to protect the health of the population. B. The federal government sometimes uses the interstate commerce provision of the Constitution to protect the health of the population. C. The federal government uses the power of eminent domain to protect the health of the population. D. The federal government is explicitly mandated in the Constitution to protect the health of the population.
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B
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The main purpose of epidemiologic surveillance is: A. To recognize when an outbreak is occurring so that control measures may be instituted B. To determine the cause of an infectious disease so that it may be treated C. To identify those responsible for the occurrence of an outbreak so that they may be punished or put out of business D. To collect data on the number of patients with a disease so that the medical system will be prepared to handle them
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A
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Which of the following is not true of epidemiology? A. It studies disease occurrence in humans. B. It is a component of the assessment function of public health. C. Its objective is primarily to determine the causes of disease. D. It is primarily an experimental science.
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D
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Routine data collected by the British government enabled Snow to recognize the cause of cholera. T or F
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T
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Which of the following statements is not true of the Framingham Heart Study? A. It found that high blood pressure is associated with weight gain. B. It found that smokers' risks of heart disease drops to normal after they quit. C. It found that it is normal and healthy for blood pressure to rise with age. D. Publicity about its findings helped to change people's health-related behavior.
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C
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The Framingham Heart Study identified all of the following as risk factors for heart disease except: A. Smoking B. High cholesterol C. Exercise D. High blood pressure
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C
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John Snow is called the father of modern epidemiology because: A. He conducted the first clinical trial by assigning some households to receive polluted water and other households to receive clean water. B. He discovered the bacteria that cause cholera. C. He was the first to use the term "epidemiology". D. He was the first to use epidemiology by recognizing a natural experiment was occurring.
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D
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Epidemiologic data can be used to directly develop policy and influence population health. T or F
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T
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Which of the following statements was not a finding of the British Doctors Study? A. Death rates from lung cancer increased with the amount smoked. B. Deaths from lung cancer were higher in urban areas than rural areas. C. Deaths from heart attacks were higher in heavy smokers. D. Death rates from lung cancer were lower in ex-smokers than current smokers
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B
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Which of the following statements is true of heart disease? A. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in men but not women. B. The death rate from heart disease is higher now than it was in the mid-20th century. C. One in every five men in the U.S. gets heart disease before age 60. D. Moderate alcohol consumption protects against heart disease.
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D
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From an epidemiologic perspective, which of the following is not true of chronic diseases? A. They usually take a long time to develop. B. They usually have more than one cause. C. They are more difficult to study than infectious diseases. D. They are more likely to be fatal than infectious diseases.
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D
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An epidemiologist investigating an outbreak of encephalitis in New York City reports that there have been 17 new cases this week. Which of the following terms best describes the number he reports? A. Prevalence of encephalitis B. Determinants of encephalitis C. Population at risk of encephalitis D. Incidence of encephalitis
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D
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When epidemiologists are called on to investigate an outbreak of an infectious disease, what is the first thing they must do? A. Agree on a case definition B. Count the number of cases C. Quarantine the patients D. Ask the patients what they have eaten
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A
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The New York State Health Department reported in 1997 that the death rate for AIDS in the state had fallen over the past year due to the efficacy of the new drugs. The incidence of HIV remained constant. What happened to the prevalence of HIV infections? A. Decreased B. Remained the same C. Increased
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C
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The Long Island Breast Cancer Study tested the hypothesis that environmental pollution was causing the relatively high rates of breast cancer among residents of Suffolk and Nassau counties of New York. Epidemiologists identified a group of 1,420 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1984 and 1986 and compared their residential histories over a 20 year period with those of a matched group of healthy women. What kind of epidemiologic study was this? A. Prospective B. Intervention C. Case-control D. Cohort
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C
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Which of the following is part the "who" question of disease distribution? A. Age B. Sex C. Race D. All of the above
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D
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What term correctly fills in the blank in the following sentence: Smoking is a(n) ________ of lung cancer. A. Determinant B. Intervention C. Distribution D. Incidence
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A
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The Nurses' Health Study is what kind of study? A. Case-control B. Intervention C. Community trial D. Cohort
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D
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An epidemic curve illustrates which of the following questions of disease distribution? A. "Who" B. "When" C. "Where" D. All of the above
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B
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Researchers want to identify the impact of cholesterol on the development of heart disease. They follow individuals who are vegan, vegetarian, and meat-eaters for 10 years and they record if any of them experience a heart attack. What kind of epidemiologic study was this? A. Intervention B. Retrospective C. Case-control D. Cohort
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D
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International comparisons of cancer mortality suggest that which of the following factors accounts for differences among countries in colon and rectum cancer? A. Diet B. Genetics C. Hormones D. Reckless behavior
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A
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Which of the following has been proven effective as a treatment for the disease indicated? A. Penicillin for syphilis B. Tonsillectomy for strep throat C. Bone marrow transplant for breast cancer D. Bleeding for rheumatic fever
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A
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Which of the following is a common source of error in a small epidemiologic study? A. Subjects do not remember their past exposure B. Subjects do not adhere to the prescribed regimen C. Confounding variables D. Random variation
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D
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In an intervention study to determine whether a vegetarian diet can help college women to lose weight, 500 residents of a women's dormitory were divided into two groups: one that ate in a vegetarian dining hall and one that ate a normal diet. Women were allowed to choose which group they wished to be in. After three months, the vegetarian group had lost an average of 10 pounds while the control group had not lost weight. What is the most likely source of error in this study? A. Random variation B. Selection bias C. The placebo effect D. Reporting bias
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B
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Which of the following is a common source of error in a large cohort study? A. Confounding variables B. Subjects do not adhere to the prescribed regimen C. Random variation D. Subjects do not remember their past exposure
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A
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What is an Institutional Review Board (IRB)? A. A group of researchers who independently verify study results. B. A consumer advocacy group who translates scientific results into consumer-friendly language. C. A branch of the Food and Drug Administration. D. A committee that ensures studies are well designed and ethical.
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D
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Which of the following is a common source of error in a large randomized controlled trial? A. Random variation B. Subjects do not remember their past exposure C. Confounding variables D. Subjects do not adhere to the prescribed regimen
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D
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It is hard to conduct studies with human participants because: A. It is hard to control human behavior B. People may not have the motivation to adhere to the study protocols C. People may lie about their behavior during the study D. All of the above are reasons why it is hard to conduct studies with human participants
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D
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Which of the following is a common source of error in a large case-control study? A. Subjects do not remember their past exposure B. Subjects do not adhere to the prescribed regimen C. Random variation D. Confounding variables
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A
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In a cohort study that found an association between alcohol consumption and bladder cancer, 20,000 middle-aged men were asked about their drinking habits and then tracked for five years to watch for the development of cancer. Researchers asked the men about their diet and exercise habits, but not about smoking. What is the most likely source of error in this study? A. The placebo effect B. Selection bias C. Reporting bias D. Confounding variables
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D
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In a case-control study that found an association between breast cancer and air pollution, 500 women who had recently been diagnosed were asked what industries were within a mile of their home twenty years ago. The controls were 500 healthy women. What is the most likely source of error in this study? A. Random variation B. The placebo effect C. Selection bias D. Reporting bias
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D
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A concept used as a measure of premature mortality is: A. Life expectancy B. Age-adjusted mortality rate C. YPLL D. The p value
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C
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Which of the following statements is true about risk assessment? A. It includes a judgment of the probability that a harmful event will occur. B. It can always be estimated on the basis of historical data. C. It is the intuitive judgment of the risk of a harmful event or exposure. D. It has found that nuclear power ranks highest of all risks.
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A
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Which of the following causes of death has the greatest impact on YPLL? A. Cerebrovascular disease B. Suicide C. Chronic lower respiratory disease D. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
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B
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A low p-value means: A. There is a low probability that the result is real B. Cause and effect has been established C. There is a low probability that the result occurred by chance D. The test has a high power
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C
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The death rate in Florida is higher than the death rate in Alaska because: A. Florida has more pollution B. Florida has more crime C. The Florida population is older D. The Florida climate is less healthy
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C
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The birth rate of a population in the U.S. will be affected by all of the following except: A. Crude death rates B. Cause-specific death rates C. Age adjusted death rates D. None of the above; useful comparisons cannot be made
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C
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To avoid false positives in a screening program to detect pregnancy, a test must be: A. Highly prevalent B. Highly specific C. Highly sensitive D. Double blind
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B
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To avoid false negatives in a screening program to detect breast cancer among women over 50 years of age, the test must be: A. Highly prevalent B. Highly sensitive C. Highly specific D. Double blind
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B
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Which of the following is the definition of the birth rate? A. The number of live births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 44 B. The total number of births, live or dead, per 1,000 females C. The number of live births per 1,000 females D. The number of live births per 1,000 people
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D
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Which of the following pieces of data is not part of the vital statistics system? A. Deaths B. Dissolutions of marriage C. Cancer diagnoses D. Births
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C
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The National Center for Health Statistics is part of which of the following agencies: A. Census Bureau B. National Institutes of Health C. House of Representatives D. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
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D
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Which of the following statements is true of the BRFSS? B. It is a source of information on subjects' income and education. C. It is conducted by interviewers from the CDC. D. The data is self-reported by the individuals who are interviewed.
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D
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Which of the following vital statistics records are linked to give additional public health information? A. Abortions and births B. Marriages and births C. Tobacco use and deaths D. Births and infant deaths
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D
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Which of the following population health surveys does not rely on people to report their own health? A. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey B. Behavioral Risk Factor Survey C. National Health Interview Survey D. Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Survey
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A
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Which of the following statements is not true of the U.S. Census? A. The Census has ways of checking on the accuracy of the individual forms filed. B. The Census Bureau obtains more details about the population by conducting the American Community Survey. C. Starting in the 2000 Census, people were allowed to check more than one race. D. In the 2010 Census, everyone was sent the same, short form.
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A
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All of the following categories of people are likely to be missed in the Census except: A. Lawyers B. Poor minorities C. Homeless D. Illegal aliens
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A
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Which of the following statements is not true about data relevant to infant mortality? A. Birth certificates contain information on when the mother first received prenatal care. B. The information on birth certificates is used mainly for public health research. C. Infant mortality is defined as the death of an infant less than six months old. D. Birth certificates contain information that may help to explain why an infant dies.
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C
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Census data can be used for all of the following purposes except: A. To determine sex specific rates or race specific rates B. To track trends in illegal immigration C. To track trends in interracial marriage D. To determine age-adjusted and age-specific rates
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B
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Data is collected on all of the following events as part of vital statistics except: A. Hospitalizations B. Abortions C. Births D. Deaths
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A
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Which of the following diseases is caused by a virus? A. Smallpox B. Plague C. Malaria D. Tuberculosis
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A
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Which of the following diseases is transmitted by a vector? A. AIDS B. Typhoid C. Malaria D. Tuberculosis
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C
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Which of the following statements about measles is not true? A. Measles can be fatal. B. Wild animals are a reservoir for measles. C. Measles is caused by a virus. D. Measles requires a repeat vaccination to be effective.
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B
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Smallpox is the only virus to be eradicated worldwide. T or F
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T
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Herd immunity works by emphasizing the philosophy that vaccination of the___________ provides protection to __________ individuals. A. Minority; Unvaccinated B. Minority; Vaccinated C. Majority; Vaccinated D. Majority; Unvaccinated
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D
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Which of the following diseases is not considered eradicable A. Smallpox B. Rabies C. Polio D. Measles
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B
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hich of the following diseases can be successfully treated with antibiotics? A. Smallpox B. Typhoid C. Rabies D. Malaria
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B
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Which of the following is a method of interrupting the chain of infection? A. Immunization B. Hand-washing C. Quarantine D. All of the above
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D
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Which of the following diseases is caused by bacteria? A. Smallpox B. Malaria C. AIDS D. Typhoid
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D
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Which of the following statements about infectious diseases is true? A. Most infectious diseases can be cured by antibiotics. B. Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States. C. Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens. D. Infectious diseases cannot be transmitted from animals to humans.
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C
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All of the following viruses that originated in animals spreads readily among humans except: A. Hantavirus B. Monkeypox C. SARS D. West Nile virus
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B
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In an HIV positive person, exposure to which of the following can lead to HIV transmission? A. Mucus B. Sweat C. Breast milk D. Mosquito bite
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C
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HIV cannot be transmitted by which of the following routes? A. Being pricked by a contaminated hypodermic needle B. Donating blood C. Heterosexual intercourse with an infected person D. Homosexual intercourse with an infected male
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B
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Scientists believe that all of the following are responsible for the emergence of new infections except: A. Immunization campaigns B. Inappropriate use of antibiotics C. Changing social conditions D. Ecological change
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A
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Which of the following practices does not contribute to widespread antibiotic resistance? A. Routine use of antibiotics in animal feed. B. Physicians prescribing antibiotics for viral infections. C. Patients taking a full course of antibiotics. D. Easy spread of hospital-acquired infections.
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C
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Which of the following practices is not effective in preventing HIV transmission? A. Use of clean needles for injections B. Use of condoms for sex C. Treating pregnant women with antiretroviral drugs D. Immunization
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D
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The flu vaccine must be changed every year based on specific strains that are circulating worldwide. T or F
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T
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Which of the following bacteria has a reservoir in water towers used for air conditioning? A. Group A streptococci B. Lyme disease C. E coli O157:H7 D. Legionnaire's disease
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D
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With which of the following diseases would you be most likely to be infected if you were stuck in an elevator for several hours with a patient suffering from the disease? A. AIDS B. Malaria C. Tuberculosis D. Cholera
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C
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People infected with a prion can be easily treated. T or F
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F
