Health indicators: standardised mortality ratio: 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 · Health indicators: standardised mortality ratio

Sample item

A factory population experienced 90 deaths in a year. Applying the age-specific death rates of the general population to the factory's age structure gives an expected 60 deaths. What is the standardised mortality ratio?

A67B150C90D30

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. 150

The standardised mortality ratio (indirect standardisation) is the observed deaths divided by expected deaths, multiplied by 100. Here 90 / 60 x 100 = 150. This means mortality in the factory is 50% higher than expected for a population of the same age structure.

Option by option

A. 67
67 comes from dividing expected by observed deaths, which inverts the ratio.
B. 150 (correct)
Observed divided by expected, 90 / 60 x 100, gives 150.
C. 90
90 is the observed number of deaths without comparison to the expected number.
D. 30
30 is the difference between observed and expected deaths, not a ratio.

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 B, 150. The standardised mortality ratio (indirect standardisation) is the observed deaths divided by expected deaths, multiplied by 100.

Why is "67" not the answer?

67 comes from dividing expected by observed deaths, which inverts the ratio.

Why is "90" not the answer?

90 is the observed number of deaths without comparison to the expected number.

Why is "30" not the answer?

30 is the difference between observed and expected deaths, not a ratio.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Health indicators: standardised mortality ratio in PSM. Here 90 / 60 x 100 = 150. This means mortality in the factory is 50% higher than expected for a population of the same age structure.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Health indicators: standardised mortality ratio?

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.