Role of pharmacists in preventive and social health programs MCQs With Answer

Role of pharmacists in preventive and social health programs MCQs With Answer

Pharmacists are essential partners in preventive and social health programs, contributing to public health through medication safety, health promotion, immunization, screening, and community outreach. For B. Pharm students, understanding the role of pharmacists in preventive health, disease prevention, vaccination services, pharmacovigilance, rational use of medicines, and social welfare initiatives is critical. This collection of MCQs with answers emphasizes community pharmacy practice, health education, program planning, cold chain management, DOTS and TB control, NCD screening, family planning support, and adverse drug reaction reporting. These questions deepen clinical knowledge, public health responsibilities, communication skills, and ethical practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is a primary public health role of a pharmacist in preventive and social health programs?

• Medication therapy management and health education
• Only dispensing prescriptions
• Manufacturing medicines
• Performing medical diagnoses

Correct Answer: Medication therapy management and health education

Q2. Which program is specifically designed for adverse drug reaction monitoring in India?

• National Drug Control Programme
• Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI)
• Essential Medicines Initiative
• Immunization Cold Chain Program

Correct Answer: Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI)

Q3. Cold chain management in preventive programs is primarily required for which items?

• Antibiotics
• Analgesics
• Vaccines
• Herbal supplements

Correct Answer: Vaccines

Q4. DOTS strategy is associated with the control of which disease?

• Malaria
• Tuberculosis
• HIV/AIDS
• Diabetes

Correct Answer: Tuberculosis

Q5. Which simple screening method is commonly used by pharmacists to detect hypertension in the community?

• Urine dipstick test
• Random blood glucose
• Blood pressure measurement
• Pulse oximetry

Correct Answer: Blood pressure measurement

Q6. Which pharmacist activity directly supports successful immunization programs?

• Vaccine storage and patient counselling for immunization
• Only issuing prescriptions
• Manufacturing cold chain equipment
• Conducting radiology tests

Correct Answer: Vaccine storage and patient counselling for immunization

Q7. Where should serious adverse drug reactions be reported for national safety monitoring?

• Local newspaper
• Manufacturer only
• National pharmacovigilance centre
• Hospital cafeteria

Correct Answer: National pharmacovigilance centre

Q8. Which national health initiative focuses on providing health insurance and primary care services in India?

• Ayushman Bharat
• Green Revolution
• Make in India
• Digital India

Correct Answer: Ayushman Bharat

Q9. Which practice by pharmacists helps reduce antimicrobial resistance in the community?

• Dispensing antibiotics without prescription
• Prescribing high-dose antibiotics routinely
• Rational use of antibiotics and patient counseling
• Discarding expired antibiotics in general waste

Correct Answer: Rational use of antibiotics and patient counseling

Q10. What does DOTS stand for in tuberculosis control?

• Directly Observed Therapy, Short-course
• Drug-Oriented Treatment Strategy
• Direct Observation Treatment Schedule
• Department Of Tuberculosis Services

Correct Answer: Directly Observed Therapy, Short-course

Q11. Which community activity is a key responsibility of pharmacists in social health programs?

• Organizing health education camps and screening camps
• Designing hospital architecture
• Conducting surgical operations
• Operating X-ray machines

Correct Answer: Organizing health education camps and screening camps

Q12. Which personal skill is most important for pharmacists working in preventive and social health programs?

• Advanced surgical techniques
• Strong communication and counseling skills
• Only formulation chemistry
• Genetic engineering

Correct Answer: Strong communication and counseling skills

Q13. Which laboratory test is commonly used in community screening to detect diabetes risk?

• Fasting plasma glucose
• Chest X-ray
• Skin prick test
• Electrocardiogram

Correct Answer: Fasting plasma glucose

Q14. In family planning programs, pharmacists are expected to provide which service?

• Surgical sterilization
• Contraceptive counselling and supply
• Performing deliveries
• Laboratory culturing of pathogens

Correct Answer: Contraceptive counselling and supply

Q15. How should sharp wastes from vaccination sessions be categorized for disposal?

• General municipal waste
• Recyclable plastics
• Biohazardous sharp waste
• Compostable organic waste

Correct Answer: Biohazardous sharp waste

Q16. What is a pharmacist’s role in supporting TB patients under national programs?

• Ensuring adherence through DOTS supervision and counseling
• Performing bronchoscopies
• Prescribing antiretroviral therapy for all patients
• Administering chemotherapy for cancers

Correct Answer: Ensuring adherence through DOTS supervision and counseling

Q17. Which is a valid contraindication to giving a vaccine to a patient?

• Mild local pain at injection site
• History of severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the same vaccine
• Controlled type 2 diabetes
• Recent travel history

Correct Answer: History of severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the same vaccine

Q18. The process of monitoring drug safety after a product is marketed is called what?

• Preclinical testing
• Pharmacovigilance
• Formulation development
• Good Manufacturing Practice

Correct Answer: Pharmacovigilance

Q19. To prevent non-communicable diseases, pharmacists commonly advise which intervention?

• Immediate antibiotic therapy
• Lifestyle modification counselling (diet, exercise, smoking cessation)
• Excessive vitamin supplementation
• Avoiding all vaccinations

Correct Answer: Lifestyle modification counselling (diet, exercise, smoking cessation)

Q20. Which indicator best measures the performance of an immunization program?

• Number of pharmacies in a town
• Vaccine coverage rate in the target population
• Number of cold boxes purchased
• Total outpatient visits

Correct Answer: Vaccine coverage rate in the target population

Q21. Which activity is outside the typical scope of a pharmacist in emergency public health response?

• Managing mass dispensing of medicines
• Providing health education and triage
• Performing emergency surgical procedures
• Coordinating logistics for medical supplies

Correct Answer: Performing emergency surgical procedures

Q22. Which vaccines may require ultra-cold chain storage?

• Oral polio vaccine
• Some mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
• Measles vaccine stored at room temperature
• Tetanus toxoid in simple refrigeration

Correct Answer: Some mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

Q23. Which document helps public health programs ensure access to essential medicines?

• Essential Medicines List
• Hospital staffing chart
• Patient identity card
• Pharmacy aesthetic manual

Correct Answer: Essential Medicines List

Q24. Which strategy improves patient medication adherence in community programs?

• Complex dosing schedules without explanation
• Use of adherence aids and counseling
• Discouraging follow-up visits
• Providing medicines only in bulk without instructions

Correct Answer: Use of adherence aids and counseling

Q25. In maternal and child health programs, pharmacists often support which intervention?

• Distribution of iron and folic acid supplements
• Conducting surgical deliveries
• Performing pediatric surgeries
• Designing hospital wings

Correct Answer: Distribution of iron and folic acid supplements

Q26. Which factor is considered a social determinant of health relevant to preventive programs?

• Education level
• Lot number of a batch of tablets
• Tablet dissolution time
• Ambient pharmacy lighting color

Correct Answer: Education level

Q27. Which type of adverse drug reaction should be reported urgently to pharmacovigilance centers?

• Mild transient headache
• Non-specific fatigue
• Serious and unexpected adverse reactions
• Common predictable side effects

Correct Answer: Serious and unexpected adverse reactions

Q28. Who should be prioritized for targeted screening in community health programs?

• Random visitors to a pharmacy
• High-risk groups based on age, exposure, or comorbidities
• Only healthy athletic individuals
• Only newborns irrespective of context

Correct Answer: High-risk groups based on age, exposure, or comorbidities

Q29. Which source outlines the professional responsibilities and scope for pharmacists in public health initiatives?

• Pharmacy practice guidelines and national public health policies
• Patient forum chat threads
• Unofficial social media posts
• Retail store promotional flyers

Correct Answer: Pharmacy practice guidelines and national public health policies

Q30. What practice most strengthens community trust in preventive and social health programs?

• Top-down directives without local input
• Community engagement and participation
• Charging high fees for basic services
• Frequent changes in service locations without notice

Correct Answer: Community engagement and participation

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