Below are some hints on how to complete the Hepatitis case study. Remember, case studies take time and you should plan for spending AT LEAST 3-5 hours on this assignment. If you haven’t looked at the assignment yet, please view the PowerPoint and then answer the questions on the Word document. Both of these are found under Module 2. Let me know if you have any questions. For the Hep Outbreak Case Study: Use the PP document for information as you progress through the questions on the word document. The word document also has important tables and figures (located on last few pages). ***Please remember to include an Epi Curve AND calculated attack rates in your answers.
These are requested in the Powerpoint, not in the word document with the questions. You will only calculate Attack Rates for the Total of each age group. You can’t do ARs by gender b/c the populations of males/females are not given. You should end up with 13 ARs (for each age group and the Total). Example AR% equation and answer for 5-9 age group: 4 / 1000 x 100 = 0.4% You will complete the Epi Curve using Excel. First thing you need to do is list the dates in Column A (x-axis) and the # of cases in Column B (y-axis). You do not need to do a lead or end incubation period. You can start the curve with the first date of onset and end with the last date. Make sure the lag time between each mark on the x-axis is consistent (ie, 2 days, 4 days, 7 days), but don’t go above 7 day intervals. The x-axis labels should be even date increments (ex, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, etc). You do not need to do a histogram (as mentioned in the CDC Module). Just use a column/bar chart (which is the first choice given when you go to Insert -> Chart). The x-axis label should read “Date of Onset” and the y-axis should read “Cases.”
If you’ve never completed a chart using Excel, please give yourself enough time. That way, you’ll have time to ask me for assistance if need be. There is an article posted in Canvas on how to create a chart, entitled “Field of Epidemiology.” Make sure to read that carefully and if you have trouble, please consult the Help menu to Excel or contact the computer lab for assistance. You can either type your answers on the Hep Outbreak Word document or you can copy and paste the questions into your own Word document.
