Levels of prevention: 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 · Levels of prevention

Sample item

Which activity is the best example of secondary prevention?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Screening to detect disease before symptoms

Secondary prevention identifies disease or its precursors early and treats them promptly to reduce progression, complications, and mortality; screening programs are a common example when they meet quality criteria.

Option by option

  • A. Physiotherapy after spinal injury

    Physiotherapy after injury is rehabilitation and tertiary prevention.

  • B. Palliative care for terminal cancer

    Palliative care focuses on comfort in advanced illness.

  • C. Legislation banning tobacco advertising

    Tobacco advertising restrictions are primary prevention.

  • D. Screening to detect disease before symptoms (correct)

    Correct: screening aims at early detection and treatment.

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.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Screening to detect disease before symptoms. Secondary prevention identifies disease or its precursors early and treats them promptly to reduce progression, complications, and mortality; screening programs are a common example when they meet quality criteria.

Why is "Physiotherapy after spinal injury" not the answer?

Physiotherapy after injury is rehabilitation and tertiary prevention.

Why is "Palliative care for terminal cancer" not the answer?

Palliative care focuses on comfort in advanced illness.

Why is "Legislation banning tobacco advertising" not the answer?

Tobacco advertising restrictions are primary prevention.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Levels of prevention in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: screening aims at early detection and treatment.

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 Levels of prevention?

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.