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Question 692
Statistics → Epidemiology
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
Statistics
Question Stem
An apparent association between an exposure and a disease is distorted by a third factor that is associated with both. Which term best describes this third factor?
Options
A
Reliability
B
Confounding factor
C
Sensitivity
D
Prevalence
E
Positive predictive value
Explanation
A confounding factor can distort an observed relationship between an exposure and an outcome because it is associated with the factors being examined. confounding as an important consideration when interpreting epidemiological associations and disease causation.
Option Validity
A) Reliability concerns consistency or reproducibility of measurement.
C) Sensitivity concerns correctly identifying people who have disease.
D) Prevalence measures the existing burden of disease in a population.
E) Positive predictive value describes the probability of disease following a positive test.
Further Reading
Saxena - MRCOG-1 Basic Sciences, Chapter 10: Epidemiology/Statistics, Printed p.288.