If you’ve been studying public health, you know the basic definitions: incidence, prevalence, and the “Epidemiologic Triad.” But Applied Epidemiology is a different beast. It isn’t just about knowing what a virus is; it’s about being the person who tracks it down in a crowded city or identifies a contaminated food source at a local festival.
Below is the exam paper download link
Past Paper On Applied Epidemiology For Revision
Above is the exam paper download link
In an exam, the questions aren’t just “Define an outbreak.” Instead, they give you a table of 50 sick people and ask you to draw an Epicurve. They want to see if you can think like a “Disease Detective.” This is exactly why you need to download our Applied Epidemiology past paper for revision. It moves you away from the textbook and into the field.
High-Yield Revision Q&A: Thinking Like an Epidetective
Before you dive into the full paper, test your analytical skills with these three “bread and butter” epidemiology topics.
Q1: What are the 10 steps of an ‘Outbreak Investigation’?
A: You should be able to recite these in your sleep. While different models exist, the core steps are:
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Prepare for fieldwork.
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Establish the existence of an outbreak.
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Verify the diagnosis.
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Construct a working case definition.
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Find cases systematically and record information.
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Perform descriptive epidemiology (Time, Place, Person).
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Develop hypotheses.
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Evaluate hypotheses analytically (Case-control or Cohort).
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Reconsider, refine, and re-evaluate hypotheses.
Q2: When do I use an ‘Odds Ratio’ (OR) versus a ‘Relative Risk’ (RR)?
A: This is a classic “calculation trap” in exams.
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Relative Risk (RR): Used in Cohort Studies. It compares the incidence of disease in an exposed group to the incidence in an unexposed group.
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Odds Ratio (OR): Used in Case-Control Studies. Since you start with sick people (cases) and healthy people (controls), you can’t calculate incidence, so you calculate the odds of exposure instead.
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Exam Tip: If the disease is rare, the OR is a good estimate of the RR.
Q3: What does an ‘Epidemic Curve’ (Epicurve) tell us about the source of an outbreak?
A: The shape of the curve is a visual story of the disease:
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Point Source: A sharp upward spike and a gradual decline (e.g., everyone ate the same bad potato salad at 2:00 PM).
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Propagated (Person-to-Person): A series of progressively taller peaks, usually one incubation period apart (e.g., Measles or Flu).
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Continuous Common Source: A plateau-like shape where cases stay high because the source hasn’t been removed (e.g., a contaminated well).
How to Use This Past Paper for a Distinction
Don’t just read the questions—solve them. Use this “Data-First” Strategy:
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The Attack Rate Drill: Use the data in the download to calculate the Attack Rate for different food items in a food-poisoning scenario. The item with the highest attack rate (and the highest risk ratio) is your culprit.
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The Case Definition Challenge: Practice writing a “Strict” vs. a “Sensitive” case definition. If you make it too broad, you get too many false positives. If it’s too narrow, you miss the outbreak.
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The 90-Minute Mock: Applied Epi papers are usually long and involve math. Sit down and do the whole PDF in one sitting. It’ll help you spot which formulas you’ve actually memorized and which ones you’re “faking.”
Final Thoughts: Data is Your Compass
In an Applied Epidemiology exam, always focus on the Public Health Action. After you find the source and calculate the risk, what is the next step? Whether it’s a vaccination drive, a food recall, or a public health alert, the goal of epidemiology is always to save lives through data.
