A nurse researcher wants to determine the prevalence of hypertension in a defined community and conducts a single survey to assess exposure and disease status simultaneously. What type of study design is this?

1. A

   Cross-sectional study

2. B

   Case-control study

3. C

   Cohort study

4. D

   Retrospective study

Appeared in: NORCET-11 Prelims

Explanation

• Cross-sectional studies measure both exposure and disease status at the same time.
• They are also called prevalence studies and are ideal for estimating how common a disease is in a population.
• This design uses a single survey or examination, providing a snapshot of the population.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: Case-control studies start with people who already have the disease (cases) and compare them to those without (controls), looking back in time for exposure. They do not measure prevalence and do not assess exposure and disease at the same time.
• Option C: Cohort studies follow groups over time to see who develops the disease, measuring incidence rather than prevalence. They do not assess exposure and disease status simultaneously in a single survey.
• Option D: Retrospective studies look back in time, often using existing records to assess exposure before the outcome occurred. They are not designed to measure prevalence at a single point in time.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Knowing Identification of the correct epidemiological study design for measuring prevalence using a single survey helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
• Nurses use cross-sectional studies to understand the burden of diseases like hypertension in their communities.
• Prevalence data helps in planning screening programs and allocating healthcare resources.
• What if? If the nurse wanted to study the incidence (new cases) of hypertension over time, a cohort study would be required instead of a cross-sectional study.

How to Approach the Question

• Identify the main goal: measuring prevalence in a defined population.
• Note the method: a single survey assessing both exposure and disease status at the same time.
• Recall that cross-sectional studies are also called prevalence studies.
• Eliminate options that involve following subjects over time or looking back into the past.
• Choose the design that matches a 'snapshot' approach.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Identification of the correct epidemiological study design for measuring prevalence using a single survey
• Stem keywords: prevalence, hypertension, defined community, single survey, exposure and disease status simultaneously
• Lead-in keywords: type of study design
• Clinical cues: Prevalence estimation is needed for public health planning

Question ID

QoY5mVeVrVHOmo8nsr_2Bo

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 NursingResearch Suresh Sharma 5e Part 1 p. 186-188

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 62-64