Burden of disease: 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 · Burden of disease

Sample item

What does the population attributable fraction estimate for a modifiable exposure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Proportion of population disease burden avoidable if the exposure were removed

The population attributable fraction estimates the share of disease occurrence in the whole population that could theoretically be prevented if a causal exposure were eliminated, assuming other conditions remain unchanged.

Option by option

  • A. Proportion of population disease burden avoidable if the exposure were removed (correct)

    Correct: population attributable fraction estimates potentially avoidable population burden from an exposure.

  • B. Average hospital length of stay

    Length of stay is a service-utilization metric.

  • C. Number of laboratory samples required

    Laboratory sample number is not an epidemiologic attributable-fraction measure.

  • D. Probability that an individual diagnostic test is positive

    Test positivity is a diagnostic measure, not an exposure-attributable burden measure.

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 A, Proportion of population disease burden avoidable if the exposure were removed. The population attributable fraction estimates the share of disease occurrence in the whole population that could theoretically be prevented if a causal exposure were eliminated, assuming other conditions remain unchanged.

Why is "Average hospital length of stay" not the answer?

Length of stay is a service-utilization metric.

Why is "Number of laboratory samples required" not the answer?

Laboratory sample number is not an epidemiologic attributable-fraction measure.

Why is "Probability that an individual diagnostic test is positive" not the answer?

Test positivity is a diagnostic measure, not an exposure-attributable burden measure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Burden of disease in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: population attributable fraction estimates potentially avoidable population burden from an exposure.

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 Burden of disease?

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.