INI-CET EXAM -2026
Community Health Nursing
Medium

Calculate the Odds Ratio with the following data:    Cancer No Cancer  Smoking 80 20  No Smoking 40 60

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2026

Explanation

  • The Odds Ratio (OR) is a key measure in case-control studies to quantify the strength of association between an exposure and an outcome.
  • The data is first organized into a 2x2 table: Exposed cases (a=80), Exposed controls (b=20), Unexposed cases (c=40), and Unexposed controls (d=60).
  • The formula for the Odds Ratio is the cross-product: (a × d) / (b × c).
  • Substituting the values gives: (80 × 60) / (20 × 40).
  • The calculation simplifies to 4800 / 800, which equals 6.
  • An OR of 6 indicates that smokers have 6 times the odds of developing cancer compared to non-smokers, suggesting a strong association.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option B: This value is incorrect. It may result from a calculation error, such as incorrectly dividing the products, for example, 4800 / 600 instead of 4800 / 800.
  • Option C: This value is incorrect. It does not follow from the standard (ad)/(bc) formula. It might arise from an arithmetic mistake.
  • Option D: This value is incorrect. It could be the result of a calculation error, such as dividing the product of 'a' and 'd' (4800) by an incorrect denominator, like 400 instead of 800.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Calculation and interpretation of Odds Ratio from a 2x2 contingency table as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • The Odds Ratio is a fundamental concept in epidemiology and evidence-based practice, allowing nurses and public health professionals to understand the strength of risk factors for diseases.
  • Understanding OR helps in interpreting research findings from case-control studies, which are common for investigating causes of rare diseases or outbreaks.
  • This knowledge is crucial for patient education. A nurse can explain that an OR of 6 for smoking and cancer signifies a very high risk, reinforcing the importance of smoking cessation.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify that the question asks for the calculation of an Odds Ratio, a common measure in biostatistics.
  • Recall the standard 2x2 table structure for case-control data: Cases vs. Controls and Exposed vs. Unexposed.
  • Assign the given numbers to the correct cells in the table: a (exposed cases), b (exposed controls), c (unexposed cases), and d (unexposed controls).
  • Remember the formula for the Odds Ratio: OR = (a × d) / (b × c).
  • Carefully substitute the numbers into the formula: (80 × 60) / (20 × 40).
  • Perform the multiplication for the numerator (4800) and the denominator (800), then divide to find the final answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Calculation and interpretation of Odds Ratio from a 2x2 contingency table.
  • Stem keywords: Odds Ratio, Calculate, Cancer, Smoking
  • Lead-in keywords: Calculate

Question ID

Q5DoRuK_qwZdoKUqIrF8SQ

Reference Book

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 66-68

E6 NursingResearch Suresh Sharma 5e Part 2 p. 140-142

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