Community Medicine - Short Answer / Essay Questions

SECTION 1: Concepts in Community Medicine & Public Health

1. Define "Community Medicine." How does it differ from preventive medicine and social medicine?
2. Write a short note on Primary Health Care (PHC). What are its essential elements as defined at Alma-Ata?
3. Explain the concept of "Health for All" and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health.
4. What are the levels of prevention? Give one example of each in the context of tuberculosis.
5. Describe the natural history of disease and its relevance to preventive medicine.
6. Write a note on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) vs. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SECTION 2: Epidemiology

1. Define epidemiology. What are its uses and objectives?
2. Describe the epidemiological triad (host, agent, environment) with an example.
3. Differentiate between incidence and prevalence. How are they related?
4. What is a cohort study? Describe its advantages and disadvantages.
5. Explain Relative Risk and Attributable Risk. How are they calculated?
6. What is Population-Attributable Risk? What is its public health significance?
7. Describe the different types of epidemiological study designs with one example each.
8. What is a case-control study? How does it differ from a cohort study?
9. Define epidemic, endemic, and pandemic with examples.
10. Describe the secular trend, periodic fluctuation, and short-term fluctuation in disease occurrence.
11. What is a screening test? Define sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value.
12. Write a short note on surveillance of communicable diseases.

SECTION 3: Biostatistics

1. Differentiate between mean, median, and mode. When is each measure preferred?
2. What is standard deviation? How is it different from standard error?
3. Define a p-value and confidence interval. What is their clinical significance?
4. Write a note on sampling methods used in community health research.
5. What is a null hypothesis? Explain Type I and Type II errors.
6. Describe the steps of a health interview/survey. What are probe questions used for?

SECTION 4: Communicable Diseases

1. Describe the epidemiology, prevention, and control of tuberculosis.
2. Write a note on the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP/RNTCP).
3. Describe the epidemiology, clinical features, and prevention of malaria.
4. Write a short note on Avian Influenza (H5N1) and Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009.
5. Describe the chain of infection in communicable diseases. How can each link be broken?
6. What is herd immunity? What is its significance in vaccination programmes?
7. Describe the epidemiology and control of cholera.
8. Write a note on the epidemiology and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
9. What is an Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)? Describe its classification for pneumonia.
10. Write a note on vector-borne disease control - anti-larval and anti-adult measures.
11. Describe the modes of transmission of enteric fever (typhoid) and its prevention.

SECTION 5: Immunisation

1. What is the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) of India? List vaccines included.
2. Differentiate between active and passive immunity with examples.
3. Write a note on the cold chain in immunisation.
4. What are the contraindications and side effects of BCG vaccine?
5. Describe the vaccines against influenza - inactivated vs. live attenuated.
6. Write a note on "Questions about all vaccines" - what parents commonly ask and how to address them.

SECTION 6: Nutrition & Food Safety

1. Define protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Describe kwashiorkor and marasmus.
2. What is the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) scheme? List its services.
3. Describe the epidemiology and prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.
4. Write a note on food adulteration - its types and the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
5. What is nutritional surveillance? Why is it important in community health?

SECTION 7: Environment & Occupational Health

1. Describe the sources of water pollution and methods of water purification.
2. What are the health effects of air pollution? Name the major air pollutants.
3. Define an occupational disease. Give two examples and describe their prevention.
4. Write a note on solid waste management - types of waste and their disposal methods.

SECTION 8: Health Programs & Administration

1. Describe the structure of health services in India at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
2. Write a note on the National Health Mission (NHM) - its components and financing (RCH flexi-pool and Health System Strengthening flexi-pool).
3. What is the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme? Describe its objectives.
4. Define health planning. What are the different types of health plans?
5. Describe the role of a Medical Officer of Health at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) level.

SECTION 9: Social & Behavioural Sciences

1. Describe the social determinants of health.
2. What is health education? Describe the principles and methods of health communication.
3. Define health behaviour and illness behaviour. How do they influence community health?
4. What are the barriers to health education? How can they be overcome?

Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, standard edition, by K. Park (Community Medicine specialty, 12 blocks/chapters in the library)