NUR 601 Exam 4: Health Promotion and Disease
Prevention - St. Thomas University Updated and
Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. Which of the following actions represents primary prevention in nursing practice?
A. Conducting a mammogram screening.
B. Providing physical therapy after a hip replacement.
C. Teaching a diabetic patient about foot care.
D. Administering the annual influenza vaccine.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it occurs by
eliminating causes or increasing resistance. Administering an influenza vaccine is a
hallmark example of primary prevention as it targets the healthy population to prevent
infection. In contrast, mammograms are secondary prevention because they focus on early
detection of existing disease. Diabetic foot care and physical therapy are tertiary
prevention aimed at managing long-term health problems. Understanding these levels of
prevention is crucial for effective public health planning.
2. A community health nurse is calculating the number of new cases of COVID-19 in a city
during the month of October. What epidemiological measure is being used?
A. Prevalence rate.
B. Mortality rate.
C. Incidence rate.
D. Attack rate.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease that develop in a
population over a specific period. This measure is essential for understanding the risk and
spread of an acute condition like COVID-19. Prevalence differs by including all existing
cases, both new and old, at a specific point in time. Mortality rates focus solely on deaths
rather than the occurrence of new illness. Accurately tracking incidence allows public
health officials to allocate resources and implement timely interventions.
3. When evaluating a screening tool, the nurse understands that ‘sensitivity’ refers to the
tool’s ability to do what?
A. Correctly identify those without the disease.
,B. Correctly identify those with the disease.
C. Consistently produce the same results over time.
D. Predict the severity of the disease.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sensitivity is the probability that a test will indicate ‘positive’ among those who
actually have the disease. High sensitivity is desirable in screening to ensure that few cases
are missed, even if some false positives occur. Specificity, on the other hand, measures the
ability to correctly identify those who are truly healthy. Reliability refers to the consistency
of the test results rather than its accuracy in detection. Clinicians must balance sensitivity
and specificity when choosing appropriate screening protocols for various populations.
4. Which factor is considered a social determinant of health (SDOH) according to the Healthy
People 2030 framework?
A. Genetic predisposition to breast cancer.
B. Individual choice to consume a high-fat diet.
C. Access to safe housing and clean water.
D. Cellular response to viral pathogens.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments where
people are born, live, learn, work, and age. Access to safe housing and clean water are
environmental factors that significantly influence health outcomes and life expectancy.
Genetic factors and biological responses are considered innate physical traits rather than
social determinants. Individual dietary choices are behaviors often influenced by the social
environment but are not the environment itself. Addressing SDOH is a primary goal for
reducing health disparities across diverse populations.
5. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), what does a ‘Grade A’
recommendation signify?
A. The service is recommended because there is high certainty of a substantial net benefit.
B. The service is recommended only for high-risk individuals.
C. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the service.
D. The service should be discouraged because the harms outweigh the benefits.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A Grade A recommendation indicates that the USPSTF recommends the service
with high certainty of a substantial clinical benefit. This grade suggests that clinicians
should offer or provide this service as a standard of care for eligible patients. Grade B also
, recommends services but with a moderate net benefit or moderate certainty of benefit.
Grade D is used when there is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit
or that harms outweigh benefits. These ratings help practitioners implement evidence-
based approaches to disease prevention in primary care settings.
6. Which level of prevention is focused on reducing the impact of a long-term disease by
helping people manage complicated, chronic health problems?
A. Primary prevention.
B. Tertiary prevention.
C. Secondary prevention.
D. Primordial prevention.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on people who are already symptomatic and have a
permanent or chronic condition. The goal is to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms,
and prevent further physical or functional decline. Examples include cardiac rehabilitation
programs or chronic pain management clinics. Primary and secondary prevention focus on
preventing onset and early detection, respectively. Effective tertiary care requires a
multidisciplinary approach to ensure the patient achieves the highest possible level of
functioning.
7. What is the primary purpose of ‘Healthy People 2030’?
A. To provide a mandatory national healthcare system.
B. To offer health insurance to all low-income individuals.
C. To set data-driven national objectives to improve health and well-being.
D. To regulate the pharmaceutical industry and drug pricing.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Healthy People 2030 is a national initiative that sets measurable objectives to
improve the health of all Americans over a decade. It focuses on addressing public health
priorities and social determinants of health to eliminate disparities. Unlike a mandatory
healthcare system, it provides a framework for health promotion and disease prevention
activities. It is not an insurance program like Medicaid or a regulatory body like the FDA.
Success is measured through the tracking of specific health indicators across the lifespan of
the population.
8. A nurse is using the ‘Ask Me 3’ program to improve health literacy. What is one of the
three questions patients are encouraged to ask?
A. How much will my insurance cover?
B. Why did my previous doctor prescribe this?
Prevention - St. Thomas University Updated and
Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. Which of the following actions represents primary prevention in nursing practice?
A. Conducting a mammogram screening.
B. Providing physical therapy after a hip replacement.
C. Teaching a diabetic patient about foot care.
D. Administering the annual influenza vaccine.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it occurs by
eliminating causes or increasing resistance. Administering an influenza vaccine is a
hallmark example of primary prevention as it targets the healthy population to prevent
infection. In contrast, mammograms are secondary prevention because they focus on early
detection of existing disease. Diabetic foot care and physical therapy are tertiary
prevention aimed at managing long-term health problems. Understanding these levels of
prevention is crucial for effective public health planning.
2. A community health nurse is calculating the number of new cases of COVID-19 in a city
during the month of October. What epidemiological measure is being used?
A. Prevalence rate.
B. Mortality rate.
C. Incidence rate.
D. Attack rate.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease that develop in a
population over a specific period. This measure is essential for understanding the risk and
spread of an acute condition like COVID-19. Prevalence differs by including all existing
cases, both new and old, at a specific point in time. Mortality rates focus solely on deaths
rather than the occurrence of new illness. Accurately tracking incidence allows public
health officials to allocate resources and implement timely interventions.
3. When evaluating a screening tool, the nurse understands that ‘sensitivity’ refers to the
tool’s ability to do what?
A. Correctly identify those without the disease.
,B. Correctly identify those with the disease.
C. Consistently produce the same results over time.
D. Predict the severity of the disease.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sensitivity is the probability that a test will indicate ‘positive’ among those who
actually have the disease. High sensitivity is desirable in screening to ensure that few cases
are missed, even if some false positives occur. Specificity, on the other hand, measures the
ability to correctly identify those who are truly healthy. Reliability refers to the consistency
of the test results rather than its accuracy in detection. Clinicians must balance sensitivity
and specificity when choosing appropriate screening protocols for various populations.
4. Which factor is considered a social determinant of health (SDOH) according to the Healthy
People 2030 framework?
A. Genetic predisposition to breast cancer.
B. Individual choice to consume a high-fat diet.
C. Access to safe housing and clean water.
D. Cellular response to viral pathogens.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments where
people are born, live, learn, work, and age. Access to safe housing and clean water are
environmental factors that significantly influence health outcomes and life expectancy.
Genetic factors and biological responses are considered innate physical traits rather than
social determinants. Individual dietary choices are behaviors often influenced by the social
environment but are not the environment itself. Addressing SDOH is a primary goal for
reducing health disparities across diverse populations.
5. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), what does a ‘Grade A’
recommendation signify?
A. The service is recommended because there is high certainty of a substantial net benefit.
B. The service is recommended only for high-risk individuals.
C. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the service.
D. The service should be discouraged because the harms outweigh the benefits.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A Grade A recommendation indicates that the USPSTF recommends the service
with high certainty of a substantial clinical benefit. This grade suggests that clinicians
should offer or provide this service as a standard of care for eligible patients. Grade B also
, recommends services but with a moderate net benefit or moderate certainty of benefit.
Grade D is used when there is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit
or that harms outweigh benefits. These ratings help practitioners implement evidence-
based approaches to disease prevention in primary care settings.
6. Which level of prevention is focused on reducing the impact of a long-term disease by
helping people manage complicated, chronic health problems?
A. Primary prevention.
B. Tertiary prevention.
C. Secondary prevention.
D. Primordial prevention.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on people who are already symptomatic and have a
permanent or chronic condition. The goal is to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms,
and prevent further physical or functional decline. Examples include cardiac rehabilitation
programs or chronic pain management clinics. Primary and secondary prevention focus on
preventing onset and early detection, respectively. Effective tertiary care requires a
multidisciplinary approach to ensure the patient achieves the highest possible level of
functioning.
7. What is the primary purpose of ‘Healthy People 2030’?
A. To provide a mandatory national healthcare system.
B. To offer health insurance to all low-income individuals.
C. To set data-driven national objectives to improve health and well-being.
D. To regulate the pharmaceutical industry and drug pricing.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Healthy People 2030 is a national initiative that sets measurable objectives to
improve the health of all Americans over a decade. It focuses on addressing public health
priorities and social determinants of health to eliminate disparities. Unlike a mandatory
healthcare system, it provides a framework for health promotion and disease prevention
activities. It is not an insurance program like Medicaid or a regulatory body like the FDA.
Success is measured through the tracking of specific health indicators across the lifespan of
the population.
8. A nurse is using the ‘Ask Me 3’ program to improve health literacy. What is one of the
three questions patients are encouraged to ask?
A. How much will my insurance cover?
B. Why did my previous doctor prescribe this?
