Outbreak investigation: 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 · Outbreak investigation

Sample item

In an outbreak among people who attended one meal, what measure best estimates risk among those who ate a particular food?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Attack rate

Attack rate is the proportion of an exposed group that becomes ill during an outbreak period; comparing food-specific attack rates helps identify exposures associated with illness in common-source events.

Option by option

  • A. Median survival time

    Median survival time is used in time-to-event analyses.

  • B. Case-fatality ratio only

    Case-fatality ratio describes severity among cases, not exposure-specific risk.

  • C. Attack rate (correct)

    Correct: attack rates compare illness risk among exposed and unexposed groups.

  • D. Specificity

    Specificity is a diagnostic-test property.

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 C, Attack rate. Attack rate is the proportion of an exposed group that becomes ill during an outbreak period; comparing food-specific attack rates helps identify exposures associated with illness in common-source events.

Why is "Median survival time" not the answer?

Median survival time is used in time-to-event analyses.

Why is "Case-fatality ratio only" not the answer?

Case-fatality ratio describes severity among cases, not exposure-specific risk.

Why is "Specificity" not the answer?

Specificity is a diagnostic-test property.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Outbreak investigation in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: attack rates compare illness risk among exposed and unexposed groups.

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 Outbreak investigation?

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.