Question

If the prevalence of a disease has been more or less constant for the past ten years, what would be the effect of a treatment that prolongs the life of people suffering from the disease? (increase, decrease, stays the same, fluctuates) Thoroughly explain your response.

If the prevalence of a disease has been more or less constant for the past ten years, what would be the effect if a large number of healthy people immigrated into the population? (increase, decrease, stays the same, fluctuates) Thoroughly explain your response.

There has been a measles outbreak in two cities in Texas, Arlington and Dallas. Health officials reported that there were 90 existing cases in Arlington, which has a total population of 50,000 people. Dallas has a total population of 12,000 people and 25 cases of measles. Your friend heard this report on the news but does not understand what it means. He called you to explain which city as the highest prevalence and then ask how do you know. Answer your friend’s question, provide the calculations AND an explanation of which prevalence is higher.

Dr. Jackson took a trip to a remote island that has 750 residents because she was interested in studying kidney disease within the population. She took a blood tests on all residents to determine if they had kidney disease. If 50 of the residents tested positive for kidney disease, what would be the prevalence of kidney disease?

Heat Disease Person-Years of Disease-Free Observation Used HRT 30 54,308.7

Competing Alternative 60 51,477.5

5) Data collected from Albert Einstein Hospital was used to compare rates of heart disease in post-menopausal women. The participants were divided into two groups. Some of the participants were prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and the other group had the competing alternative. The data was summarized in the table above. What it the competing alternative? What is the incidence rate for both groups?

6) A researcher wants to find out the association between hospitalizations and infections while in the hospital. He found that people who had longer stay in the hospital tend to have more infections at a rate of 3.0 per 35 days of hospitalization. People who did who discharged relatively quickly had infections at 1.2 per 35 days. Calculate the rate difference associated with hospital stay. Briefly explain your results.

7) In your own words explain the difference between random error and non-random error and provide an example for each.

8) Explain why adjustments are needed in determining risk and rates.

Answer 1

Technology has brought a number of remarkable changes to the health industry throughout the years. It has allowed a number of cures to be created and beneficial changes to be made in treatment and care. With the constant state of improvements and upgrades, it is important to consider where we are today in terms of beneficial healthcare technology.

1. Through the technological improvement in the health care industry, there is a probability of early diagnosis and conforming of disease. When compared with the health data of the past ten years the prevalence of the disease has been decreased. Through the early detection of the disease, they are getting access for the treatment as early as possible to minimize the complications and suffering.

By getting the early treatment and the effect of the treatment for the particular disease that results in prolongation of life of people. Any way life expectancy of the population has been increased we cannot prevent the elderly as they were easily prone to get the disease and results in the stay in the hospital.

2.what would be the effect if a large number of healthy people immigrated into the population? (increase, decrease, stays the same, fluctuates) Thoroughly explain your response.

Through the early diagnosis and getting access to the care, there is an increase in the number of healthy people and thus results in a decrease in the number of sufferings and an increase in the number of active, and a decrease in the number of hospitals stays.

It is no secret that as we move further into the age of technology, a number of benefits emerging. Many would consider that improved healthcare is the greatest result to come from technology. Better equipment has allowed doctors to provide more comprehensive care. Better treatments have increased the quality of life of a number of different people suffering from long-term illnesses. And better medicine has completely wiped out the fear of some life-threatening illnesses of the past. It has also helped speed up research, as well as connect medical researchers from around the world. This has allowed the focus to be narrowed and the manpower to multiplied in finding answers to certain medical mysteries. Procedures have been improved as well.  The scope of qualified technicians and physicians has largely increased, allowing more options with safe results. All of these things are due to improved technology.

3. Here in the present statistics, the health officials have reported that there were 90 existing cases in Arlington, which has a total population of 50,000 people. That means that the prevalence of disease among the population is: 0.18%

Dallas has a total population of 12,000 people and 25 cases of measles, that means that the prevalence of disease among the population is: 0.20%

The prevalence rate is higher among Arlington when compare with Dallas

4. Dr. Jackson took a trip to a remote island that has 750 residents because she was interested in studying kidney disease within the population. She took a blood test on all residents to determine if they had kidney disease. If 50 of the residents tested positive for kidney disease, Thus we can say that the prevalence of kidney disease is 6.6%

5  Competing  Alternative behavior is defined as; When one is trying to stop a bad habit, one can engage in a competing alternative behavior, which is an activity that inhibits the ability of the person with OCD to engage in the habit that s/he is trying to break.

The incidence rate of heart disease in Used HRT is 0.05%

The incidence rate of heart disease in competing behavior is 0.11%

6. A researcher wants to find out the association between hospitalizations and infections while in the hospital. He found that people who had longer stay in the hospital tend to have more infections at a rate of 3.0 per 35 days of hospitalization. People who did who discharged relatively quickly had infections at 1.2 per 35 days.

Here we can calculate the rate difference as :

3.2 - 1.2

= 1.8

Thus we can say the rate difference as 1.8

7.Random errors are statistical fluctuations (in either direction) in the measured data due to the precision limitations of the measurement device.

Systematic errors are often due to a problem which persists throughout the entire experiment.

Example for random error :

For example, a spring balance might show some variation in measurement due to fluctuations in temperature, conditions of loading and unloading, etc.

Example for systematic error: if your stopwatch shows 100 seconds for the actual time of 99 seconds, everything you measure with this stopwatch will be dilated, and a systematic error is induced in your measurements.

8. A common tool used to calculate a risk-adjusted discount rate is the capital asset pricing model. Under this model, the risk-free interest rate is adjusted by a risk premium based upon the beta of the project.