Determinants of health shape the conditions in which people live, grow, and age. For pharmacists, understanding these factors is crucial in addressing population health issues and promoting health equity. This quiz contains 50 multiple-choice questions tailored for Pharm.D. students to master the biological, social, environmental, and economic factors influencing health outcomes.
1. Which of the following is a social determinant of health?
- A. DNA sequence
- B. Blood pressure
- C. Educational attainment
- D. Serum cholesterol
Correct answer: C. Educational attainment
2. Which category includes air and water quality as health influencers?
- A. Genetic
- B. Behavioral
- C. Environmental
- D. Economic
Correct answer: C. Environmental
3. Health disparities are closely related to which determinant of health?
- A. Microbial exposure
- B. Socioeconomic status
- C. Digestive enzymes
- D. Body temperature
Correct answer: B. Socioeconomic status
4. Which of these best describes health literacy?
- A. The ability to write health policy
- B. The understanding of insurance premiums
- C. The ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information
- D. The number of books in a health library
Correct answer: C. The ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information
5. Which of the following is a behavioral determinant of health?
- A. Blood type
- B. Smoking status
- C. Genetic mutation
- D. Age
Correct answer: B. Smoking status
6. Which determinant most directly influences risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
- A. DNA profile
- B. Physical activity level
- C. Eye color
- D. Liver enzyme levels
Correct answer: B. Physical activity level
7. Income, occupation, and education are classified as:
- A. Environmental factors
- B. Economic determinants
- C. Clinical metrics
- D. Genetic traits
Correct answer: B. Economic determinants
8. The presence of fast-food restaurants and lack of grocery stores in a neighborhood is an example of:
- A. Behavioral risk
- B. Environmental determinant
- C. Clinical policy issue
- D. Genetic factor
Correct answer: B. Environmental determinant
9. Which factor is least likely to be a social determinant of health?
- A. Social support
- B. Housing quality
- C. BMI score
- D. Employment status
Correct answer: C. BMI score
10. Which determinant of health is directly influenced by policy changes?
- A. Genetic predisposition
- B. Personal values
- C. Access to healthcare
- D. Skin pigmentation
Correct answer: C. Access to healthcare
11. Cultural beliefs most strongly influence which type of health determinant?
- A. Biological
- B. Behavioral
- C. Genetic
- D. Environmental
Correct answer: B. Behavioral
12. Which factor can impact both behavioral and social health determinants?
- A. Health insurance
- B. DNA replication
- C. Public transportation
- D. Peer influence
Correct answer: D. Peer influence
13. Which is a biological determinant of health?
- A. Alcohol consumption
- B. Access to parks
- C. Age
- D. Health policy
Correct answer: C. Age
14. Which of the following is a modifiable determinant of health?
- A. Ethnicity
- B. Literacy level
- C. Age
- D. Genetic inheritance
Correct answer: B. Literacy level
15. Childhood poverty is linked to:
- A. Lower rates of heart disease
- B. Improved immune responses
- C. Higher risk of chronic conditions in adulthood
- D. Enhanced brain development
Correct answer: C. Higher risk of chronic conditions in adulthood
16. Health behavior interventions primarily target:
- A. Environmental pollutants
- B. Dietary and lifestyle choices
- C. Hospital architecture
- D. Genetic mutations
Correct answer: B. Dietary and lifestyle choices
17. Access to recreational facilities influences which health determinant?
- A. Behavioral
- B. Genetic
- C. Clinical
- D. Legal
Correct answer: A. Behavioral
18. Unsafe housing is categorized under:
- A. Clinical determinants
- B. Environmental determinants
- C. Genetic risks
- D. Behavioral choices
Correct answer: B. Environmental determinants
19. Living in a food desert most affects:
- A. Genetic diversity
- B. Access to nutritious food
- C. Exercise options
- D. Health insurance coverage
Correct answer: B. Access to nutritious food
20. The effect of neighborhood crime rates on stress is a:
- A. Biological issue
- B. Clinical complication
- C. Social determinant of health
- D. Pharmacological outcome
Correct answer: C. Social determinant of health
21. Which determinant includes healthcare coverage and proximity to providers?
- A. Genetic
- B. Clinical access
- C. Environmental
- D. Health system
Correct answer: D. Health system
22. Which factor is non-modifiable?
- A. Smoking
- B. Diet
- C. Age
- D. Physical activity
Correct answer: C. Age
23. Which group is considered a vulnerable population due to social determinants?
- A. Adults with graduate degrees
- B. Children in low-income households
- C. Retirees with private insurance
- D. Physicians in urban settings
Correct answer: B. Children in low-income households
24. Which example shows an economic barrier to healthcare?
- A. Strong cultural beliefs
- B. Lack of community support
- C. High medication costs
- D. Living near a hospital
Correct answer: C. High medication costs
25. Access to transportation affects:
- A. Genetics
- B. Environmental health
- C. Healthcare accessibility
- D. Age-specific diseases
Correct answer: C. Healthcare accessibility
26. Health promotion campaigns aim to influence:
- A. Genetic predispositions
- B. Behavioral determinants
- C. Molecular pathways
- D. Surgical outcomes
Correct answer: B. Behavioral determinants
27. Which determinant of health is targeted by increasing minimum wage laws?
- A. Behavioral
- B. Environmental
- C. Economic
- D. Genetic
Correct answer: C. Economic
28. Inconsistent employment most directly impacts:
- A. Environmental exposures
- B. Access to social networks
- C. Economic stability
- D. Genetic health risks
Correct answer: C. Economic stability
29. Ethnicity and race are associated with health disparities mainly due to:
- A. Genetic similarity
- B. Cultural heritage
- C. Social and structural inequalities
- D. Environmental proximity
Correct answer: C. Social and structural inequalities
30. The presence of green space in a community supports:
- A. Increased prescription rates
- B. Social isolation
- C. Physical activity and mental well-being
- D. Higher utility costs
Correct answer: C. Physical activity and mental well-being
31. Which statement is TRUE about health determinants?
- A. Only biological factors influence health
- B. Environmental factors are unchangeable
- C. Health is influenced by multiple, interrelated determinants
- D. Genetic factors are the only modifiable risks
Correct answer: C. Health is influenced by multiple, interrelated determinants
32. Which public health effort addresses behavioral health determinants?
- A. Genetic testing
- B. Smoking cessation programs
- C. Sewer system upgrades
- D. Antibiotic stewardship
Correct answer: B. Smoking cessation programs
33. Which is considered a structural determinant of health?
- A. Health behaviors
- B. Local policies
- C. Enzyme deficiencies
- D. Prescription labeling
Correct answer: B. Local policies
34. Health education primarily targets:
- A. Environmental factors
- B. Healthcare access
- C. Behavioral changes
- D. Genetic mutations
Correct answer: C. Behavioral changes
35. Pharmacists can help address health determinants by:
- A. Ignoring social history
- B. Dispensing without counseling
- C. Identifying and addressing barriers to care
- D. Selling high-cost drugs
Correct answer: C. Identifying and addressing barriers to care
36. Lead exposure in drinking water is an example of:
- A. Genetic factor
- B. Environmental hazard
- C. Dietary choice
- D. Economic preference
Correct answer: B. Environmental hazard
37. Policies that fund urban parks primarily support which determinant?
- A. Genetic diversity
- B. Clinical interventions
- C. Environmental wellness
- D. Pharmacological innovation
Correct answer: C. Environmental wellness
38. Which is NOT a determinant of health?
- A. Insurance coverage
- B. Cultural competency
- C. Traffic patterns
- D. Skin pigmentation
Correct answer: D. Skin pigmentation
39. Rural communities may face health challenges primarily due to:
- A. High healthcare density
- B. Overuse of technology
- C. Limited healthcare access and infrastructure
- D. High medical tourism
Correct answer: C. Limited healthcare access and infrastructure
40. Which determinant is most impacted by public policy?
- A. Race
- B. Gender
- C. Income inequality
- D. Blood type
Correct answer: C. Income inequality
41. The chronic stress of poverty contributes to poor health by affecting:
- A. Respiratory enzymes
- B. Stress hormone levels and immune response
- C. Hair growth
- D. Nail strength
Correct answer: B. Stress hormone levels and immune response
42. Pharmacists can support behavioral change by:
- A. Enforcing curfews
- B. Conducting motivational interviews
- C. Avoiding patient contact
- D. Focusing on marketing
Correct answer: B. Conducting motivational interviews
43. Which is most associated with the built environment?
- A. DNA testing
- B. Social capital
- C. Sidewalk availability
- D. Health insurance
Correct answer: C. Sidewalk availability
44. Which factor is most associated with reproductive health outcomes?
- A. Cultural identity
- B. Health literacy and access to services
- C. DNA base pair count
- D. Medication color
Correct answer: B. Health literacy and access to services
45. A population health assessment should include:
- A. Prescription logs only
- B. Behavioral, environmental, and social factors
- C. Cost per pill analysis
- D. Surgical procedure rates only
Correct answer: B. Behavioral, environmental, and social factors
46. In which way do pharmacists act as community health advocates?
- A. Ignoring cultural differences
- B. Counseling only insured patients
- C. Participating in health fairs and education
- D. Avoiding outreach efforts
Correct answer: C. Participating in health fairs and education
47. Job security affects health primarily through:
- A. Prescription refills
- B. Stress and access to care
- C. Vitamin intake
- D. Hand hygiene
Correct answer: B. Stress and access to care
48. Which determinant is least likely to be addressed through pharmacy practice?
- A. Healthcare access
- B. Medication safety
- C. Water sanitation
- D. Health education
Correct answer: C. Water sanitation
49. Effective interventions for improving health determinants are typically:
- A. Industry-led
- B. Focused on one factor only
- C. Multi-sector and collaborative
- D. Solely clinical
Correct answer: C. Multi-sector and collaborative
50. Determinants of health should be assessed by pharmacists to:
- A. Increase sales
- B. Avoid patient interaction
- C. Improve health outcomes and reduce disparities
- D. Reduce time with patients
Correct answer: C. Improve health outcomes and reduce disparities
Reference
- World Health Organization (WHO). Social Determinants of Health.
- Healthy People 2030. Determinants of Health Framework. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- University of Florida College of Pharmacy. PHA5007 Syllabus – Topics on Biological, Social, Environmental, and Economic Determinants of Health.
- Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: It’s time to consider the causes of the causes. Public Health Reports.
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