Skip to Content
Interactive Textbook on Clinical Symptom Research Logo


Home Button

Text Only

Epidemiological Methods in Studies of Symptoms in Advanced Disease
Author Bios
Why Study Advanced Disease?
Why Epidemiology?
Currently selected selection: Incidence and Prevalence
Using Incidence and Prevalence
Definition of a Case
Defining Time, Place, Person
Types of Study Design
Cross-Sectional Studies
Longitudinal Studies
Measurement
Bias
Selection Bias
Measurement Bias
Presenting and Interpreting Results
Practical Example
Calculating Prevalence
Conclusion


Chapter 19: Epidemiological Methods in Studies of Symptoms in Advanced Disease: Incidence and Prevalence
         

 

Problem 3.1

Estimate incidence and prevalence rates of breathlessness among the patients below.

In this study five patients free from breathlessness were followed for 6 days before and after admission in a palliative care program. Patients were admitted to the palliative care program on day 2. Breathlessness was measured throughout this period. The lines in the table below show, for each patient, when breathlessness (B) occurred.

Figure 3.1: Breathlessness Journal
Graphic depiction of breathlessness journal

 

Question 3.1

What is the incidence of breathlessness in the first two days (days 0-2)?
Selection A20%
Selection B40%
Selection C60%
Selection D80%

Question 3.2

What is the point prevalence of breathlessness at the beginning of day two?
Selection A20%
Selection B40%
Selection C60%
Selection D80%

Question 3.3

What is the period prevalence of severe breathlessness in the first two days (days 0-2)?
Selection A20%
Selection B40%
Selection C60%
Selection D80%

Question 3.4

What is the incidence of new breathlessness between days three and five?
Selection A20%
Selection B40%
Selection C60%
Selection D80%

Question 3.5

What is the period prevalence of breathlessness between days three and five?
Selection A20%
Selection B40%
Selection C60%
Selection D80%

Question 3.6

What is the point prevalence of breathlessness at the beginning of day five?
Selection A20%
Selection B40%
Selection C60%
Selection D80%

 

Page 5 of 26
Previous Page