Health Care and Public Policy Exam 1 Questions

Which of the following is a key characteristic of the U.S. healthcare system? a. Universal insurance coverage b. Market-oriented system c. All hospitals are government owned d. One central agency controls healthcare

b. Market-oriented system

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of the U.S. health system? a. Fragmented care b. Multiple providers in different settings c. Universal health insurance coverage d. A market-oriented system

c. Universal health insurance coverage

What is one major role of the government in the U.S. healthcare system? a. Owning all hospitals b. Employing all physicians c. Financing Medicare and Medicaid d. Eliminating private insurance

c. Financing Medicare and Medicaid

In a fee-for-service payment system, providers are generally paid based on: a. Patient satisfaction only b. The quantity of services provided c. The patient's income d. Population health outcomes

b. The quantity of services provided

One concern with the fee-for-service model is that it may encourage: a. Fewer medical services b. Shorter hospital stays c. More services and longer hospital stays d. Greater focus on prevention

c. More services and longer hospital stays

Fee-for-service models are increasingly being replaced by: a. Cash-only healthcare b. Government-owned hospitals c. Value-based payment models and managed care d. Charity care

c. Value-based payment models and managed care

Approximately how much did the United States spend on healthcare according to the 2024 estimates in the lecture? a. $500 billion b. $1.5 trillion c. $3 trillion d. $5.3 trillion

d. $5.3 trillion

Approximately what percentage of U.S. GDP was represented by national health expenditures in the lecture? a. 5% b. 10% c. 18% d. 30%

c. 18%

Which is an important current priority of the U.S. health system? a. Increasing medical errors b. Increasing the uninsured population c. Improving access and coverage d. Eliminating preventive services

c. Improving access and coverage

Which of the following are considered healthcare stakeholders? Select all that apply. a. Physicians and nurses b. Hospitals c. Insurers d. Health policymakers e. The public

a. Physicians and nurses, b. Hospitals, c. Insurers, d. Health policymakers, e. The public

Which type of healthcare service focuses on preventing disease and maintaining good health? a. Preventive care b. Acute care c. Palliative care d. Hospice care

a. Preventive care

Which is an example of primary prevention? a. Immunization b. Cancer screening c. Cardiac rehabilitation d. Treatment after a heart attack

a. Immunization

Which is an example of secondary prevention? a. Vaccination b. Screening for early detection of disease c. Hospice care d. Rehabilitation after a stroke

b. Screening for early detection of disease

Which is an example of tertiary prevention? a. Preventing smoking initiation b. Immunizations c. Blood pressure screening d. Education on wound care for a person with diabetes

d. Education on wound care for a person with diabetes

Acute care is best described as: a. Lifelong assistance with daily activities b. Short-term, intense medical care for illness or injury c. Care provided only in nursing homes d. Care focused only on prevention

b. Short-term, intense medical care for illness or injury

Which provider typically provides both primary and preventive services? a. Cardiologist b. Neurologist c. Primary care provider d. Hospice provider

c. Primary care provider

Which level of care involves trained specialists such as cardiologists and neurologists? a. Primary care b. Specialty care c. Hospice care d. Home health

b. Specialty care

Which level of care involves hospitalization and more complex therapeutic interventions? a. Primary b. Preventive c. Tertiary d. Home health

c. Tertiary

The most complex medical or surgical care, including experimental procedures, is considered: a. Primary care b. Secondary care c. Tertiary care d. Quaternary care

d. Quaternary care

Rehabilitation hospitals commonly provide which services? Select all that apply. a. Physical therapy b. Occupational therapy c. Speech/language pathology d. Restaurant inspections

a. Physical therapy, b. Occupational therapy, c. Speech/language pathology

Community health centers primarily focus on: a. Experimental surgery b. Hospice care c. Preventive and primary care d. Quaternary care

c. Preventive and primary care

Rural hospitals are at greater risk of: a. Having too many specialists b. Shutting down c. Receiving too many patients d. Becoming academic medical centers

b. Shutting down

An integrated delivery system where organizations at the same level of care consolidate is called: a. Horizontal integration b. Vertical integration c. Primary integration d. Preventive integration

a. Horizontal integration

A merger between two hospitals is an example of: a. Horizontal integration b. Vertical integration c. Quaternary integration d. Public health integration

a. Horizontal integration

A hospital acquiring a physician practice, nursing home, and hospice center is an example of: a. Horizontal integration b. Vertical integration c. Primary prevention d. Managed competition

b. Vertical integration

Public health is best described as: a. Treating one patient at a time b. Providing hospital services c. What society does collectively to assure conditions for people to be healthy d. Providing health insurance

c. What society does collectively to assure conditions for people to be healthy

Population health primarily focuses on: a. One individual patient b. Health status and outcomes of specific populations c. Hospital finances d. Medical licensing

b. Health status and outcomes of specific populations

Which of the following are the three core functions of public health? a. Prevention, diagnosis, treatment b. Assessment, policy development, assurance c. Federal, state, local d. Primary, secondary, tertiary

b. Assessment, policy development, assurance

A health department reviewing local data to determine hypertension rates is an example of: a. Assessment b. Assurance c. Policy development d. Tertiary prevention

a. Assessment

Developing a plan to increase blood pressure screening is an example of: a. Assessment b. Policy development c. Assurance d. Diagnosis

b. Policy development

Making sure blood pressure screening and follow-up services are actually available is an example of: a. Assessment b. Policy development c. Assurance d. Surveillance

c. Assurance

Monitoring health status to identify community health problems falls under: a. Assessment b. Assurance c. Treatment d. Financing

a. Assessment

Informing and educating people about health issues falls primarily under: a. Assessment b. Policy development c. Acute care d. Tertiary care

b. Policy development

Enforcing laws and regulations related to health is part of: a. Assessment b. Policy development c. Assurance d. Diagnosis

c. Assurance

Who has primary authority for public health in the United States? a. Local governments b. Federal government c. State governments d. Hospitals

c. State governments

Why do public health agencies often need to collaborate with other organizations? a. They have unlimited legal authority b. They have unlimited funding c. They may lack the legal authority and financial resources to address problems alone d. Collaboration is prohibited by law

c. They may lack the legal authority and financial resources to address problems alone

Public health agencies may collaborate with medical providers during assessment in order to obtain: a. Restaurant menus b. Data on births, deaths, and health hazards c. Insurance premiums d. Hospital advertisements

b. Data on births, deaths, and health hazards

Primary prevention occurs: a. Before the onset of disease b. After complications occur c. Only after hospitalization d. At the end of life

a. Before the onset of disease

Which is a population-level example of primary prevention? a. One patient quitting smoking b. Establishing bike and walking paths c. Treating a heart attack d. Cardiac rehabilitation

b. Establishing bike and walking paths

Screening and identifying disease before complications occur is: a. Primary prevention b. Secondary prevention c. Tertiary prevention d. Palliative prevention

b. Secondary prevention

Treating established disease to restore function and prevent complications is: a. Primary prevention b. Secondary prevention c. Tertiary prevention d. Universal prevention

c. Tertiary prevention

A universal prevention program: a. Only targets people with diagnosed disease b. Provides the intervention to the entire population c. Only targets high-risk individuals d. Only occurs in hospitals

b. Provides the intervention to the entire population

A targeted prevention program focuses on: a. Everyone equally b. Higher-risk populations c. Only healthcare providers d. Only children

b. Higher-risk populations

Which is an example of a universal traffic-safety intervention? a. Targeting repeat drunk drivers b. Seat belts and airbags c. Alcohol treatment for one person d. DUI counseling

b. Seat belts and airbags

Which is an example of targeted prevention? a. Airbags in every vehicle b. Seat belt requirements c. Programs specifically addressing drunk driving d. Clean drinking water standards

c. Programs specifically addressing drunk driving

Floor preemption establishes: a. A maximum standard that lower governments cannot exceed b. Minimum protections that lower levels of government may make stricter c. No government standards d. Local control only

b. Minimum protections that lower levels of government may make stricter

Which is an example of floor preemption from the lecture? a. The Clean Water Act establishing minimum standards b. A state preventing cities from taxing sugary drinks c. A city eliminating state regulations d. A hospital setting insurance requirements

a. The Clean Water Act establishing minimum standards

Ceiling preemption occurs when: a. Local governments are required to establish stricter laws b. Higher-level laws prevent lower governments from adopting stricter regulations c. The federal government has no authority d. Public health laws are eliminated

b. Higher-level laws prevent lower governments from adopting stricter regulations

A state prevents cities from adopting stricter regulations on sugar-sweetened beverages. This is an example of: a. Floor preemption b. Ceiling preemption c. Secondary prevention d. Local autonomy

b. Ceiling preemption

In a decentralized public health system: a. The federal government makes all staffing decisions b. Local governments make staffing and budgeting decisions c. The state controls every local employee d. Private hospitals control public health departments

b. Local governments make staffing and budgeting decisions

Population health focuses on: a. Only individual diagnoses b. Health outcomes within a defined group of people c. Only hospital patients d. Only infectious diseases

b. Health outcomes within a defined group of people

A population can be defined based on: a. Geography b. Health diagnosis c. Healthcare provider d. All of the above

d. All of the above

The population health model places particular emphasis on: a. Emergency surgery b. Individual treatment only c. Upstream causes of health d. Hospital billing

c. Upstream causes of health

Treating a patient who already has diabetes is considered: a. Downstream b. Midstream c. Upstream d. Primary prevention

a. Downstream

A community program providing free exercise and nutrition programs to people at high risk for diabetes is: a. Downstream b. Midstream c. Upstream d. Quaternary

b. Midstream

Changing neighborhood policies to make communities more walkable is an example of: a. Downstream intervention b. Midstream intervention c. Upstream intervention d. Clinical treatment

c. Upstream intervention

Which of the following is a determinant of health? Select all that apply. a. Social and economic environment b. Physical environment c. Access to healthcare d. Genetics and epigenetics e. Health-related behaviors

a. Social and economic environment, b. Physical environment, c. Access to healthcare, d. Genetics and epigenetics, e. Health-related behaviors

Economic stability refers to: a. Having reliable income and financial resources to meet basic needs b. Having private insurance only c. Living close to a hospital d. Having a college degree

a. Having reliable income and financial resources to meet basic needs

Lack of economic stability may make it difficult to afford which of the following? Select all that apply. a. Healthy foods b. Healthcare c. Housing d. None of the above

a. Healthy foods, b. Healthcare, c. Housing

Lack of economic stability may contribute to: a. Reduced stress in all cases b. Chronic stress c. Guaranteed healthcare access d. Higher educational attainment

b. Chronic stress

Which measures could be used to examine economic stability in a community? Select all that apply. a. Unemployment rate b. Median household income c. Percentage of the population below the federal poverty line d. Number of surgical procedures performed

a. Unemployment rate, b. Median household income, c. Percentage of the population below the federal poverty line

Education can influence health through: a. Employment opportunities b. Income stability c. Health literacy and decision making d. All of the above

d. All of the above

Which is a possible local policy response to lower educational attainment? a. Reduce school enrollment b. Offer free or low-cost GED programs c. Close tutoring programs d. Reduce workforce training

b. Offer free or low-cost GED programs

Healthcare access and quality includes which of the following? Select all that apply. a. Health insurance coverage b. Availability of primary care and specialists c. Affordability of services d. Quality and continuity of care

a. Health insurance coverage, b. Availability of primary care and specialists, c. Affordability of services, d. Quality and continuity of care

Neighborhood and built environment includes: a. Housing b. Transportation c. Parks and sidewalks d. Neighborhood safety e. All of the above

e. All of the above

Which could indicate problems with the neighborhood and built environment? a. Housing cost burden b. Lack of public transportation c. Poor walkability d. High violent crime rates e. All of the above

e. All of the above

Which is a possible local policy intervention addressing the built environment? a. Eliminating parks b. Installing sidewalks and street lighting c. Increasing housing instability d. Reducing pedestrian crossings

b. Installing sidewalks and street lighting

Social and community context refers to: a. Only healthcare insurance b. Relationships, social support, and civic life c. Genetics d. Medical technology

b. Relationships, social support, and civic life

Social and community context includes which of the following? Select all that apply. a. Family networks b. Social support c. Civic participation d. Discrimination and social exclusion

a. Family networks, b. Social support, c. Civic participation, d. Discrimination and social exclusion

Poor social and community conditions may be associated with: a. Better mental health in every population b. Depression and loneliness c. Guaranteed healthcare access d. No health effects

b. Depression and loneliness

Which is an example of a community-level response to social isolation? a. Increasing hospital prices b. Developing senior or community centers c. Eliminating neighborhood organizations d. Closing public spaces

b. Developing senior or community centers

The medical model primarily focuses on: a. Individuals, diagnosis, and treatment b. Population resource allocation only c. Built environment d. Community policy

a. Individuals, diagnosis, and treatment

A medical model approach to obesity would be MOST likely to focus on which of the following? Select all that apply. a. Number of sidewalks in the neighborhood b. Access to grocery stores c. Hormonal causes of obesity d. Medical or surgical treatment

c. Hormonal causes of obesity, d. Medical or surgical treatment

A population health approach to obesity would be MOST likely to examine which of the following? Select all that apply. a. Food deserts b. Neighborhood walkability c. Access to healthy foods d. Availability of parks and recreation

a. Food deserts, b. Neighborhood walkability, c. Access to healthy foods, d. Availability of parks and recreation

Health equity may require: a. Giving every person the exact same resources regardless of barriers b. Removing preexisting barriers to health for some populations c. Focusing only on individual behavior d. Eliminating community interventions

b. Removing preexisting barriers to health for some populations

Which of the following is a major modifiable behavioral risk factor for chronic disease? a. Genetics b. Tobacco use c. Age d. Family history

b. Tobacco use

Which are major modifiable behavioral risk factors for chronic disease? Select all that apply. a. Tobacco use b. Unhealthy diet c. Physical inactivity d. Excessive alcohol use

a. Tobacco use, b. Unhealthy diet, c. Physical inactivity, d. Excessive alcohol use

Which is considered a metabolic risk factor for chronic disease? a. Tobacco use b. Physical inactivity c. High blood pressure d. Excessive alcohol use

c. High blood pressure

According to the lecture, health behaviors are influenced by: a. Motivation only b. Genetics only c. Social determinants of health as well as individual factors d. Healthcare providers only

c. Social determinants of health as well as individual factors

Which behavior causes more preventable deaths than any other risky health behavior according to the lecture? a. Tobacco use b. Lack of sleep c. Poor diet d. Alcohol use

a. Tobacco use

Alcohol misuse is described as being most common among: a. Infants b. Older adults c. Young adults d. Children

c. Young adults

Physical activity can have positive effects on: a. Physical health only b. Mental health only c. Both physical and mental health d. Neither

c. Both physical and mental health

Why is physical activity NOT simply an individual responsibility? a. Exercise has no health benefits b. Opportunities to exercise may not be equally accessible to vulnerable populations c. Everyone has equal access to safe parks d. Motivation is the only influence

b. Opportunities to exercise may not be equally accessible to vulnerable populations

A food desert is generally a low-income area where: a. Everyone has easy supermarket access b. A significant number or share of residents live far from the nearest supermarket c. Restaurants are prohibited d. Only organic food is sold

b. A significant number or share of residents live far from the nearest supermarket

According to the lecture, healthy sleep is approximately: a. 3–4 hours per 24-hour cycle b. 5–6 hours per 24-hour cycle c. 7–8 hours per 24-hour cycle d. 10–12 hours per 24-hour cycle

c. 7–8 hours per 24-hour cycle

Chronic stress is linked to: a. Better physical health b. Better health behaviors c. Poor physical health, mental health, and health behaviors d. No health effects

c. Poor physical health, mental health, and health behaviors

The Health Belief Model primarily focuses on: a. What people believe about risks and benefits b. Government regulation c. Hospital consolidation d. Social networks only

a. What people believe about risks and benefits

“I'm likely to catch the flu” is an example of: a. Perceived susceptibility b. Perceived severity c. Perceived benefits d. Perceived barriers

a. Perceived susceptibility

“The flu can make me really sick” is an example of: a. Perceived susceptibility b. Perceived severity c. Perceived benefits d. Perceived barriers

b. Perceived severity

“Flu shots keep me healthy” is an example of: a. Perceived susceptibility b. Perceived severity c. Perceived benefits d. Perceived barriers

c. Perceived benefits

“The clinic is too far away” is an example of: a. Perceived susceptibility b. Perceived severity c. Perceived benefits d. Perceived barriers

d. Perceived barriers

Social Learning Theory emphasizes: a. Only explaining why someone should change b. Teaching how behavior can be changed and changing the environment c. Medical treatment only d. Government regulation only

b. Teaching how behavior can be changed and changing the environment

Which is consistent with Social Learning Theory? Select all that apply. a. Increasing knowledge about risks and benefits b. Developing skills to overcome the behavior c. Developing a support system d. Reengineering the immediate environment

a. Increasing knowledge about risks and benefits, b. Developing skills to overcome the behavior, c. Developing a support system, d. Reengineering the immediate environment

A smoker says, “I don't want to quit smoking.” Which stage of change are they in? a. Pre-contemplation b. Contemplation c. Preparation d. Maintenance

a. Pre-contemplation

A smoker says, “Maybe I should quit.” Which stage of change are they in? a. Pre-contemplation b. Contemplation c. Action d. Maintenance

b. Contemplation

A smoker says, “I'll set a quit date for next month.” Which stage of change are they in? a. Contemplation b. Preparation c. Action d. Maintenance

b. Preparation

Someone who has quit smoking for three weeks is in which stage of change? a. Preparation b. Action c. Maintenance d. Pre-contemplation

b. Action

In the COM-B model, the presence of sidewalks, safe parks, and social encouragement represents: a. Capability b. Opportunity c. Motivation d. Susceptibility

b. Opportunity

In the COM-B model, knowing safe exercise techniques represents: a. Capability b. Opportunity c. Motivation d. Maintenance

a. Capability

a. Downstream = public policy; upstream = individual clinical treatment b. Midstream = individual clinical treatment only c. Downstream = individual clinical approaches; midstream = schools, worksites, and communities; upstream = public policy d. Upstream = hospital treatment only

c. Downstream = individual clinical approaches; midstream = schools, worksites, and communities; upstream = public policy