Concept of health and disease: stages of change: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Concept of health and disease: stages of change

Sample item

A smoker states that he has bought nicotine gum and intends to quit within the next month. According to the Prochaska model, he is in which stage of change?

APreparationBContemplationCMaintenanceDAction

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Preparation

In the preparation stage the person intends to act soon, usually within a month, and has taken small steps. Contemplation is considering a change in the next six months, and action involves overt behaviour change.

Option by option

A. Preparation (correct)
Correct. Intent to act within a month with initial steps is preparation.
B. Contemplation
Contemplation involves thinking about change without a firm near-term plan.
C. Maintenance
Maintenance means sustained change for more than six months.
D. Action
Action means he has already stopped smoking for less than six months.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Preparation. In the preparation stage the person intends to act soon, usually within a month, and has taken small steps.

Why is "Contemplation" not the answer?

Contemplation involves thinking about change without a firm near-term plan.

Why is "Maintenance" not the answer?

Maintenance means sustained change for more than six months.

Why is "Action" not the answer?

Action means he has already stopped smoking for less than six months.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Concept of health and disease: stages of change in PSM. Contemplation is considering a change in the next six months, and action involves overt behaviour change.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Concept of health and disease: stages of change?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.