A principal comments to the school nurse that it seems there are a lot more problems with asthma among the students than there were before the school was remodeled a couple of years ago.The nurse investigates the principal's observation by reviewing all the school records to determine visits to the health office because of asthma by week and month for the past 5 years.Which of the following best describes the type of study the nurse is conducting?
A) Descriptive epidemiological study
B) Ecological study
C) Prospective cohort study
D) Retrospective cohort study

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Retrospective cohort studies rely on existing records to define a cohort that is classified as having been exposed or unexposed at some time in the past.In this case,the issue is whether there is some health risk in the new building addition that is increasing frequency of visits to the school nurse because of asthma.In a descriptive epidemiological study,the disease is investigated in terms of person,place,and time.An ecological study is a bridge between descriptive and analytic epidemiolgy,looking at variations in disease rates by person,place,or time and trying to determine if there is a relation of disease rates to variations in rates for possible risk factors.A prospective cohort study,subjects who do not have the outcome under investigation are classified on the basis of the exposure of interest at the beginning of the follow-up period.

A Principal Comments to the School Nurse That It Seems