10/22/22, 1:37 AM Statistical Concepts in Public Health 2 - Review Questions

Lecture 3 Review Questions

Instructions:

This review exercise consists of several multiple choice questions highlighting some of the main concepts
from lecture set 3.  You may access this exercise multiple times before submitting your answer choices.  You
will receive a "grade" for this exercise via email so that you may evaluate your performance; however, this
grade will not be recorded or utilized in the computation of course grades. The grade only exists to give you
individualized feedback.

1. 1 point
With Cox PH regression what is being estimated as a linear function of x (i.e. what is on the left
hand side of the equation)?

a. The probabilty that the outcome variable,y, is equal to 1.

b. The mean of the outcome variable y.

c. The log (ln) odds of the outcome variable y being equal to 1.

d. The log (ln) of the mean of the outcome variable y.

e. The log (ln) of the hazard (risk) of the outcome at a given time.

2. 1 point
What is different about the "intercept" in a Cox regression model as compared to intercepts from
linear and logistic regression models?

a. The only difference is the Greek letter used to represent the intercepts.

b. The "intercept" in Cox regression is not a single quantity, but a function that depends on time.

c. The "intercept" in Cox regression estimates the ln(hazard) for the group whose x value is 1.

d. The "intercept" in Cox regression is not a single quantity, but a function that depends on the
value of x.

3. 1 point
A Cox regression model is used to estimate the hazard ratio of relapse for former heroin users
who were randomized to either  a 10-day inpatient treatment program (Group A) or a 20 session
outpatient program (Group B.  The follow-up period started for each participant upon completion
of their respective program , and participants were followed for up to one year.  What does the
assumption of proportional hazards mean in this situation?

a. There is no difference in the hazard (incidence) of relapse between Group A and Group B.

b. The hazard (incidence) of relapse was constant over the follow-up period for both groups (A
and B).

c. The hazard (incidence rate) ratio of relapse for Group A compared to Group B was constant
over the follow-up period

d. The log (ln) hazard (incidence) of relapse was constant over the follow-up period for both
groups (A and B)

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10/22/22, 1:37 AM Statistical Concepts in Public Health 2 - Review Questions

4. 1 point
A Cox regression model is used to estimate the hazard ratio of relapse for former heroin users
who were randomized to either  a 10-day inpatient treatment program (Group A) or a 20 session
outpatient program (Group B).  The predictor x is coded as 1 for participants in Group A. and 0
for participants in group B.  What is the "intercept" for this model estimating?

a. The log (ln) hazard ratio of relapse for Group A to Group B at any time point across the entire
follow-up period.

b. The hazard (incidence) of relapse at time 0 for subjects in Group B.

c. The ln(hazard) of relapse for a specific time in the follow-up period for subjects in Group B.

d. The hazard of relaspe for a specific time in the follow-up period for subjects in Group B.

5. 1 point
A Cox regression model is used to estimate the hazard ratio of relapse for former heroin users
who were randomized to either  a 10-day inpatient treatment program (Group A) or a 20 session
outpatient program (Group B).  The predictor x is coded as 1 for participants in Group A. and 0
for participants in group B.  What is the slope for x in this model estimating?

a. The hazard ratio of relapse for Group A to Group B for the first month of follow-up.

b. The log (ln) hazard ratio of relapse for Group A to Group B at any time point across the entire
follow-up period.

c. The hazard (incidence) of relapse at time 0 for subjects in Group B.

d. The mean time to relapse for subject in Group B.

6. 1 point
Recall the Cox regression results relating the risk of infant mortality in the 180 days after birth to
gestational age, when gestational age in weeks is modeled as a continuous predictor x.

ln(hazard of mortaility at t) = lambda[t] + -0.13x

Based on this model, what is the estimated ln(hazard ratio) of mortality for infants born at 40
weeks compared to infants born at 35 weeks, at any time in the 180 day follow-up period?

a. 0.65

b. -0.65

c. 1.92

d. 0.52

7. 1 point
Recall the Cox regression results relating the risk of infant mortality in the 180 days after birth to
gestational age, when gestational age in weeks is modelled as a continous predictor x.

ln(hazard of mortaility at t) = lambda[t] + -0.13x

Based on this model, what is the estimated hazard ratio of mortality for infants born at 40 weeks
compared to infants born at 35 weeks, at any time in the 180 day follow-up period?

a. 4.4
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10/22/22, 1:37 AM Statistical Concepts in Public Health 2 - Review Questions

b. -0.65

c. 1.92

d. 0.52

8. 1 point
Recall the Cox regression results relating the risk of infant mortality in the 180 days after birth to
gestational age, when gestational age in weeks is modeled as a continuous predictor x.

ln(hazard of mortality at t) = lambda[t] + -0.13x.  The standard error of the slope estimate is
0.01.

Based on this model, what is the estimated hazard ratio of mortality , and 95% CI, for two
groups of infants who differ by 1 week in gestational age?

a. -0.13 (0.86, 0.90)

b. 0.88 (-0.15, -0.11)

c. -0.13 (-0.15, -0.11)

d. 0.88 (0.86, 0.90)

9. 1 point
Recall the Cox regression results relating the risk of infant mortality in the 180 days after birth to
gestational age, when gestational age in weeks is modelled as a continous predictor x.

ln(hazard of mortality at t) = lambda[t] + -0.13x.  The standard error of the slope estimate is
0.01.

Based on this model, what is the estimated hazard ratio of mortality , and 95% CI, for two
groups of infants who differ by 5 weeks in gestational age?

a. 4.4 (4.3, 4.5)

b. 0.52 (0.47, 0.59)

c. 0.88 (0.47, 0.45)

d. 0.52 (0.86, 0.89)

10. 1 point
True or False:  The results from a Cox Regression Model can be transformed into Survival Curve
Estimates.

a. True

b. False

11. 1 point
What is the best way for a researcher to assess whether the relationship between the ln(hazard)
of a time-to-event outcome and a continuous predictor is linear in nature?

a. Look at a scatterplot of the event and censoring times versus x.

b. Look at a lowess plot of the log (ln) of the event indicator versus x.

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10/22/22, 1:37 AM Statistical Concepts in Public Health 2 - Review Questions

c. Create categories of x, and see when the ln(hazard) increases/decreases similarly across the
ascending ordinal categories of x.

           
 

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