Final answer:
The statement is true; incidence measures the occurrence of new disease cases in at-risk populations over time, while prevalence estimates the total disease burden in a population at a single point in time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that incidence reflects the likelihood of developing a disease among a group of participants free from the disease who are at risk of developing the disease over a specified observation period is true. Incidence measures the number of new cases of a disease that occur in a defined population within a specific time frame. It is used to understand the risk factors for disease spread.
On the other hand, prevalence involves estimating the proportion of individuals in a population who have the disease at a given point in time, including both new and existing cases. This statistic provides an indication of the overall health burden of the disease on a population. The prevalence of a chronic disease often increases over time as cases accrue, being a measure of both new and lingering cases.
The relationship between incidence and prevalence can sometimes be estimated using the formula: Prevalence rate = Incidence x duration of the disease. Conversely, Incidence rate = Prevalence / duration of the disease.