Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Certified in Public Health Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

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Which statement regarding disease measures is incorrect?

Prevalence is a measure of disease occurrence.
Prevalence equals duration times incidence.
Cumulative incidence is a proportion.
Incidence density is a proportion.

The correct answer is: Incidence density is a proportion.

Incidence density, while used to measure the occurrence of new cases of a disease in a particular population over time, is not a proportion. Instead, incidence density is expressed as a rate, usually per person-time units. This means it examines the number of new cases that occur in a population at risk during each moment in time, adjusting for the varying amount of time each individual is at risk. In contrast, cumulative incidence reflects a proportion by measuring the total number of new cases in a specified time period divided by the population at risk at the start of the time period. Prevalence, which combines incidence and duration, also serves as a measure of disease occurrence but is not a rate. Overall, understanding the definitions and calculations associated with these different epidemiological measures is crucial for interpreting public health data accurately.