A rising number of fever cases: lab results, medicine doses, imaging and patient records all depend on the same six subjects.
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Bayview Regional Hospital (a fictional hospital) is seeing a steady rise in patients with high fever in the rainy season. The hospital director has asked for a fast, evidence-based plan covering:
The same ideas keep appearing. Each row shows one shared topic and where you meet it in your lessons.
Biology explains pathogens, mosquitoes and vaccines; Maths turns case counts into growth rates and risk.
Medicine leaves the body and a radioactive tracer decays by the same half-life pattern.
Ultrasound and X-rays are waves; their speed and absorption let us see inside the body.
Antacids neutralise stomach acid; the mole calculation from titration decides the dose.
Mean, median, standard deviation and tree diagrams are used to interpret test results and fevers.
The pharmacist works out a child’s dose, the public health officer summarises weekly cases, and the lab estimates how often a screening test is positive.
| Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases | 12 | 20 | 35 | 60 | 95 | 110 |
Dose = 5 × 24 = 120 mg. [1]
Volume = 120 ÷ 40 × 5 = 3 × 5 = 15 ml. [2]
(a) Total = 12 + 20 + 35 + 60 + 95 + 110 = 332; mean = 332 ÷ 6 = 55.3 (to 1 d.p.). [2]
(b) Middle two values are 35 and 60, so median = (35 + 60) ÷ 2 = 47.5. [2]
(c) Increase = 25; 25 ÷ 35 × 100 = 71.4%. [2]
First branches: disease 0.02, no disease 0.98. [1] Second branches: positive 0.95 (if diseased) and 0.05 (if not). [1]
P(positive) = 0.02 × 0.95 + 0.98 × 0.05 = 0.019 + 0.049 = 0.068. [2]
Task total: 13 marks
A drug’s concentration in the blood halves every 4 hours. The doctor needs to know when it is safe to give the next dose. A nurse also measures temperature spread.
(a) t/4 = 2, C = 100 × 0.25 = 25 mg/l. [1]
(b) C = 100 × 0.5^2.5 = 100 × 0.1768 = 17.7 mg/l. [2]
(c) 0.5^(t/4) = 0.1, so (t/4) log 0.5 = log 0.1 [1], t = 4 × (−1) ÷ (−0.3010) = 13.3 hours. [2]
Mean = 192.4 ÷ 5 = 38.48 °C. [1]
Deviations squared: 0.2304, 0.0144, 0.3844, 0.4624, 0.1764; sum = 1.268. [1]
Variance = 1.268 ÷ 5 = 0.2536. [1] Standard deviation = √0.2536 = 0.50 °C. [1]
Task total: 10 marks
The radiographer uses ultrasound and X-rays, and the nuclear medicine unit uses a radioactive tracer with a short half-life.
Total distance travelled = speed × time = 1500 × 0.00004 = 0.06 m. [1]
The pulse goes there and back, so depth = 0.06 ÷ 2 = 0.03 m = 3.0 cm. [2]
(a) 18 h = 3 half-lives: 80 → 40 → 20 → 10 MBq. [3]
(b) The tracer decays quickly, so the patient is exposed to radiation for a shorter time. [1]
(a) Bones absorb more X-rays than soft tissue, so fewer reach the film or detector behind them. [1]
(b) Any one: stand behind a lead screen; wear a lead apron; limit exposure time; wear a radiation badge. [1]
Task total: 9 marks
Night-shift staff are given antacid tablets containing magnesium hydroxide. The pharmacist checks that one tablet can neutralise the acid in the stomach.
(a) n = 0.10 × 100 ÷ 1000 = 0.010 mol. [1]
(b) Ratio Mg(OH)₂ : HCl = 1 : 2, so n = 0.0050 mol. [1]
(c) M(Mg(OH)₂) = 24 + 2(16 + 1) = 58 g/mol; mass = 0.0050 × 58 = 0.29 g. [2]
(d) Yes: the tablet contains 0.50 g, which is more than the 0.29 g needed. [1]
Sodium hydroxide is a strong, corrosive alkali [1] which would burn and damage the throat and stomach lining; antacids use weak, insoluble bases such as magnesium hydroxide that are safe. [1]
Chewing breaks it into smaller pieces, which increases the surface area exposed to the acid. [1] More acid particles can collide with the base each second, so the reaction rate is higher. [1]
Task total: 9 marks
The public health officer studies the outbreak, and the doctor explains how vaccines work and checks a patient’s heart output.
(a) Cases rise every week, slowly at first and then very quickly (35 → 60 → 95), and the increase slows at week 6 (110). [2]
(b) Any three: remove standing water and cover containers; use larvicide or biological control (fish); use insect repellent, nets and screens; fogging in outbreaks; public education; early treatment and isolation. [3]
A vaccine contains weakened or dead pathogens, or their antigens. [1] This stimulates the white blood cells (lymphocytes) to make antibodies and memory cells. [1] If the real pathogen later invades, the memory cells respond quickly with a large antibody response, so the person does not become ill. [1]
72 × 70 = 5040 cm³/min = 5.04 dm³/min. [2]
Task total: 10 marks
The records clerk builds a patient database, protects it, and sends reminder letters.
| PatientID | Name | Age | Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Ana | 8 | 38.6 |
| P2 | Ben | 35 | 37.0 |
| P3 | Cy | 10 | 39.1 |
| P4 | Dee | 6 | 37.8 |
| P5 | Eli | 41 | 38.9 |
(a) In the query design grid, Age: <12 and Temp: >38 on the same criteria row (AND). [2]
(b) Ana and Cy (Dee’s 37.8 is not above 38). [1]
(c) It is unique for every patient and never empty. [1]
(d) A range check, for example between 30 and 45 °C. [1]
Any two measures: passwords and access levels; encryption; firewall and antivirus; regular backups; locked server room. [2]
Risk: data may be hacked or accessed by unauthorised people, or lost if the provider fails; needs an internet connection. [1]
Mail merge. [1] The primary document is the letter with the fixed text; the data source is the patient table (name, address, appointment date). [1] Merge fields such as «Name» and «Date». [1]
Task total: 11 marks
Write a one- to two-page response plan or record a 3-minute briefing. Include a graph of the weekly cases, the dose calculation, the antacid check, the imaging and tracer results, and the privacy measures. Finish with a timeline of actions for the next four weeks.
| Criterion | What a top answer shows | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Correct calculations and units from all six tasks | 6 |
| Health reasoning | Links the numbers to disease, medicine and safety | 5 |
| Graph and data | Clear graph of cases; correct averages | 3 |
| Safety and ethics | Considers patient privacy and radiation safety | 4 |
| Communication | Clear and calm; suitable for a director | 2 |
Each of these people uses the subjects in this project every day.
Analyses blood and other samples to diagnose disease and track outbreaks.
Uses: Biology, Chemistry, IT (data), Maths (statistics)
Pathway: Degree in medical laboratory science.
Takes X-ray, ultrasound and other images and keeps patients and staff safe.
Uses: Physics (waves, radiation), Biology (anatomy)
Pathway: Degree or diploma in radiography or sonography.
Prepares and checks medicines, doses and interactions.
Uses: Chemistry (concentration, acids), Maths (dosage), Biology
Pathway: Degree in pharmacy.
Tracks diseases in the population and designs prevention.
Uses: Biology, Maths (statistics, probability), IT (data)
Pathway: Degree in public health, biology or medicine.
Designs and secures hospital databases and systems.
Uses: IT (databases, security), Maths
Pathway: Degree in IT or health informatics.