Concept of health and disease: health field concept: 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 · Concept of health and disease: health field concept

Sample item

A health planner finds that most premature deaths in her state follow tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. She proposes moving part of the budget from hospital building to behaviour-change programmes. Which element of the Lalonde health field concept is she emphasising?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Lifestyle

The Lalonde health field concept groups determinants into human biology, environment, lifestyle and the organisation of health care. Self-imposed risks such as smoking, diet and inactivity belong to lifestyle. Planners who see these as the main cause of avoidable deaths argue for health promotion over more hospital capacity.

Option by option

  • A. Environment

    Environment covers physical, biological and social surroundings such as water and housing, not personal habits.

  • B. Human biology

    Human biology covers genetic make-up, ageing and inherited disorders, which are not the focus here.

  • C. Organisation of health care

    Organisation of health care covers hospitals, workforce and services, the very area she wants to spend less on.

  • D. Lifestyle (correct)

    Correct. Tobacco, diet and inactivity are behavioural risks that fall under lifestyle.

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.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Lifestyle. The Lalonde health field concept groups determinants into human biology, environment, lifestyle and the organisation of health care.

Why is "Environment" not the answer?

Environment covers physical, biological and social surroundings such as water and housing, not personal habits.

Why is "Human biology" not the answer?

Human biology covers genetic make-up, ageing and inherited disorders, which are not the focus here.

Why is "Organisation of health care" not the answer?

Organisation of health care covers hospitals, workforce and services, the very area she wants to spend less on.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Concept of health and disease: health field concept in PSM. Self-imposed risks such as smoking, diet and inactivity belong to lifestyle. Planners who see these as the main cause of avoidable deaths argue for health promotion over more hospital capacity.

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 Concept of health and disease: health field concept?

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.