Demography and health indicators: average length of stay: 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 · Demography and health indicators: average length of stay

Sample item

A 100-bed district hospital recorded 1,800 inpatient days in a 30-day month. During the month 300 patients were discharged, including those who died. What was the average length of stay?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. 6 days

Average length of stay is the total inpatient days divided by the number of discharges, including deaths. Here 1,800 divided by 300 gives 6 days. Dividing by the number of beds instead gives a meaningless figure.

Option by option

  • A. 18 days

    This divides inpatient days by the 100 beds, which is not a length of stay.

  • B. 3 days

    This halves the correct figure and matches no hospital formula.

  • C. 6 days (correct)

    Correct. 1,800 inpatient days divided by 300 discharges is 6 days.

  • D. 12 days

    This doubles the correct figure and matches no hospital formula.

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 C, 6 days. Average length of stay is the total inpatient days divided by the number of discharges, including deaths.

Why is "18 days" not the answer?

This divides inpatient days by the 100 beds, which is not a length of stay.

Why is "3 days" not the answer?

This halves the correct figure and matches no hospital formula.

Why is "12 days" not the answer?

This doubles the correct figure and matches no hospital formula.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Demography and health indicators: average length of stay in PSM. Here 1,800 divided by 300 gives 6 days. Dividing by the number of beds instead gives a meaningless figure.

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 Demography and health indicators: average length of stay?

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.