Disease surveillance: 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 · Disease surveillance

Sample item

What is the main purpose of public-health surveillance?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Systematically collect and use data for timely public-health action

Surveillance systematically collects, analyses, interprets, and disseminates health data to detect problems and guide preventive public-health action.

Option by option

  • A. Publish unverified rumours about outbreaks

    Unverified rumours undermine outbreak response.

  • B. Systematically collect and use data for timely public-health action (correct)

    Correct: data are gathered specifically to guide action.

  • C. Replace laboratory and clinical reporting systems

    Surveillance integrates rather than replaces reporting sources.

  • D. Provide individual treatment without population data

    Individual treatment alone is not surveillance.

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 B, Systematically collect and use data for timely public-health action. Surveillance systematically collects, analyses, interprets, and disseminates health data to detect problems and guide preventive public-health action.

Why is "Publish unverified rumours about outbreaks" not the answer?

Unverified rumours undermine outbreak response.

Why is "Replace laboratory and clinical reporting systems" not the answer?

Surveillance integrates rather than replaces reporting sources.

Why is "Provide individual treatment without population data" not the answer?

Individual treatment alone is not surveillance.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Disease surveillance in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: data are gathered specifically to guide action.

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 Disease surveillance?

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.