Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

What statistical method is used to compare the prevalence of two diseases in a given population?

1. T-test

2. Frequency distribution

3. Measure of association

4. Chi-square test

The correct answer is: Measure of association

The appropriate statistical method to compare the prevalence of two diseases in a given population is the Chi-square test. This test is specifically designed for categorical data, allowing researchers to analyze whether there is a significant association between the presence of two diseases and certain characteristics within a population. When comparing prevalence rates, the Chi-square test evaluates the differences in the distribution of cases across different groups or categories. It assesses whether the observed frequencies of the diseases differ from what would be expected under the null hypothesis, which states that there is no association between the two diseases. In contrast, a T-test is used for comparing means between two groups, which is not applicable here since prevalence refers to proportions rather than means. Frequency distribution provides a summary of how often different values occur but does not compare diseases directly. A measure of association typically refers to statistical tools that quantify the strength of the relationship between two or more variables, but it does not provide a direct test for differences in prevalence rates like the Chi-square test does. Thus, the Chi-square test is the most suitable method for comparing the prevalence of two diseases within a population.