Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What does the term "incidence" primarily refer to?

1. Consideration and moderation

2. Angling towards the future

3. Frequency of occurrence

4. Act of flattering

The correct answer is: Frequency of occurrence

The term "incidence" primarily refers to the frequency of occurrence of a particular event, typically used in a statistical or epidemiological context. This definition suggests that it measures how often a specific outcome, such as a disease or condition, happens within a defined population over a set period of time. When discussing health statistics, understanding incidence is crucial for determining the risk of disease in a population and for planning public health interventions. In contrast, while consideration and moderation may relate to thoughtful decision-making, they don't align with the specific meaning of "incidence." Angling towards the future suggests a focus on future events rather than counting occurrences, and the act of flattering has no relevancy to the concept of frequency within any context of incidence. Thus, the correct choice emphasizes the quantitative aspect that defines the term in its relevant fields.