Economic Evaluation of Health Programs — MCQs
Based on healthcare utility values and life expectancy, which of the following measures can be calculated? Consider a scenario where the average life expectancy for a woman in Japan is 87 years, and there is an increase in life expectancy due to healthcare advancements.
In implementation of a health programme, best thing to do is -
The disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to neuropsychiatric disorders are highest in -
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) measure the burden of disease by accounting for both:
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)?
Which of the following is not considered a participatory approach to health education?
Which of the following is NOT considered an element of primary healthcare?
In a programme, analysis of results in comparison to cost is known as
The most comprehensive indicator of cost-effectiveness analysis is
Identify the index?
Economic Evaluation of Health Programs Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 1: Based on healthcare utility values and life expectancy, which of the following measures can be calculated? Consider a scenario where the average life expectancy for a woman in Japan is 87 years, and there is an increase in life expectancy due to healthcare advancements.
- A. HALE
- B. DALY
- C. DFLE
- D. QALY (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***QALY*** - **Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)** combine the length of life with the **quality of life** lived, taking into account healthcare utility values (e.g., from 0 for dead to 1 for perfect health). - An increase in life expectancy due to healthcare advancements, coupled with assumed utility values, directly enables the calculation of QALYs gained or lost. *HALE* - **Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE)** is a measure of the average number of years that a person can expect to live in "**full health**" by adjusting for years lived in less than full health due to disease or injury. - While it incorporates health status, it specifically focuses on time lived in full health rather than the utility-weighted quality of life over the entire lifespan as QALYs do. *DALY* - **Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)** measure the total number of healthy years lost due to disease, disability, or premature death. - DALYs are a measure of disease burden, quantifying years lost, whereas QALYs are a measure of health gains or health states. *DFLE* - **Disability-Free Life Expectancy (DFLE)** measures the expected number of years an individual will live without disability. - While it considers the absence of disability, it does not incorporate the concept of "utility values" or varying degrees of health-related quality of life beyond a binary disabled/non-disabled state, as QALYs do.
Question 2: In implementation of a health programme, best thing to do is -
- A. Discussion with leaders in community and implement accordingly
- B. Discussion with people in community and decide according to it
- C. Discussion and decision taken by the health ministry regarding implementation
- D. Discussion with doctors in PHC and implement accordingly (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Discussion with doctors in PHC and implement accordingly*** - **Primary Healthcare (PHC) doctors** possess critical hands-on knowledge of common health issues, local demographics, and daily health challenges faced by the community. - Their involvement ensures the program is **practically viable** and tailored to the specific needs and resources available at the grassroots level for effective implementation. *Discussion with leaders in community and implement accordingly* - While engaging community leaders is important for acceptance and dissemination, they may lack the **medical expertise** required to design effective and clinically sound health interventions. - Relying solely on leaders might lead to programs that are **socially acceptable but not medically optimal** or comprehensive. *Discussion with people in community and decide according to it* - Involving the community is crucial for program adherence and understanding local needs, but **laypersons** may not have the necessary medical knowledge to make informed decisions about complex health interventions. - Their input is valuable for relevance and acceptance, but medical and public health expertise is required for program design and implementation to ensure **efficacy and safety**. *Discussion and decision taken by the health ministry regarding implementation* - The health ministry sets policies and provides overall strategic direction, but they often lack direct, **on-the-ground understanding** of specific local health issues and implementation challenges. - A top-down approach without involving local healthcare providers can lead to programs that are **not feasible** or effective in the local context.
Question 3: The disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to neuropsychiatric disorders are highest in -
- A. Panic disorders
- B. Obsessive compulsive disorder
- C. Bipolar affective disorders
- D. Unipolar depressive disorders (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Unipolar depressive disorders*** - **Unipolar depressive disorders** are the leading cause of DALYs lost among neuropsychiatric conditions globally. - This is due to their **high prevalence**, **early age of onset**, and significant impact on **functional capacity** and quality of life. *Panic disorders* - While panic disorders significantly impair an individual's quality of life, their **prevalence** and **disability burden** are generally lower than that of unipolar depressive disorders. - They tend to cause episodic, intense distress rather than chronic, pervasive functional impairment to the same extent as severe depression. *Obsessive compulsive disorder* - **OCD** can be severely disabling, but its **prevalence** is lower than that of unipolar depressive disorders. - The impact on DALYs, while substantial for affected individuals, does not reach the global burden attributed to depression. *Bipolar affective disorders* - **Bipolar affective disorders** contribute significantly to DALYs due to their chronic nature and severe episodes of mood disturbance. - However, their **prevalence** is lower compared to unipolar depressive disorders, resulting in a lower overall DALY burden globally.
Question 4: Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) measure the burden of disease by accounting for both:
- A. None of the options
- B. Morbidity and disability
- C. Mortality and disability (Correct Answer)
- D. Morbidity and mortality
Explanation: ***Mortality and disability*** - **DALYs** quantify the overall burden of disease by combining years of life lost due to **premature mortality** and years lived with disability. - This metric provides a comprehensive measure of disease impact, reflecting both the fatal and non-fatal consequences of illness. *Morbidity and disability* - While both **morbidity** (illness) and **disability** contribute to disease burden, DALYs specifically quantify the years lived with disability, not just the general state of morbidity. - **Morbidity** is a broader term encompassing any illness or disease, which doesn't fully capture the "years lost" component of DALYs. *None of the options* - This option is incorrect because **DALYs** are explicitly defined by the combination of mortality and disability. - The definition of **DALYs** is standard in public health and epidemiology. *Morbidity and mortality* - Although both **morbidity** and **mortality** are crucial aspects of population health, DALYs use **disability** (specifically "years lived with disability" or YLDs) in conjunction with **mortality** ("years of life lost" or YLLs). - Simply using "morbidity" is less precise than "disability" when defining the components of DALYs.
Question 5: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)?
- A. Years lost due to disability (YLD) are not considered in DALY.
- B. DALY only measures mortality and does not include morbidity.
- C. DALY does not account for both YLD and YLL.
- D. DALY includes both Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Years Lived with Disability (YLD). (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***DALY includes both Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Years Lived with Disability (YLD).*** - This statement is **correct**. The fundamental formula is **DALY = YLL + YLD**. - **YLL (Years of Life Lost)** quantifies the burden of premature mortality by measuring years of potential life lost due to early death. - **YLD (Years Lived with Disability)** quantifies the burden of morbidity by measuring time lived in states of less than full health. - **DALY** is a comprehensive health metric designed to capture the total burden of disease by integrating both mortality and morbidity components. - This unified metric allows comparison of disease burden across different conditions and populations. *Years of Life Lost (YLL) is not included in DALY calculations.* - This is **incorrect**. YLL is a core component of DALY calculations, representing the mortality burden. *Years lost due to disability (YLD) are not considered in DALY.* - This is **incorrect**. YLD is an essential component of DALY, representing the morbidity burden. *DALY only measures mortality and does not include morbidity.* - This is **incorrect**. DALY explicitly measures both mortality (through YLL) and morbidity (through YLD), making it a comprehensive burden of disease measure.
Question 6: Which of the following is not considered a participatory approach to health education?
- A. Community engagement approach
- B. Lecture-based teaching approach
- C. Health promotion approach
- D. Mass media dissemination (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Mass media dissemination*** - This approach primarily involves a **one-way transfer of information** from health authorities to the public without direct, active involvement of the target audience in the creation or tailoring of the messages. - While it can raise awareness on a large scale, it generally **lacks the interactive and collaborative elements** that define participatory methods in health education. - There is **no feedback mechanism** or dialogue between the educator and the audience. *Community engagement approach* - This is a **highly participatory method** where community members are actively involved in identifying health issues, planning interventions, and implementing solutions relevant to their specific needs. - It emphasizes **shared decision-making** and ownership, ensuring that programs are culturally appropriate and sustainable. *Lecture-based teaching approach* - While this allows for some **question-answer interaction**, it is primarily a **didactic, teacher-centered method** where information flows from the educator to the learners. - It involves **limited active participation** from the audience in content creation or decision-making, though it may include some discussion. - More participatory than mass media, but less so than community engagement or health promotion approaches. *Health promotion approach* - This is an **umbrella term** that often encompasses participatory methods, focusing on empowering individuals and communities to take control over factors influencing their health. - It involves educating and enabling people to increase control over their own health and its determinants, often through **collaborative efforts** and community involvement.
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT considered an element of primary healthcare?
- A. Health education
- B. Provision of essential drugs
- C. Intersectoral coordination
- D. Cost effectiveness (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Cost effectiveness*** - While an important consideration in healthcare policy and management, **cost-effectiveness** is an outcome or an evaluation criterion rather than a direct, inherent element or principle of primary healthcare delivery itself. - Primary healthcare focuses on access, equity, comprehensiveness, and community participation rather than solely on economic efficiency as a foundational element. *Health education* - **Health education** is a core component of primary healthcare, empowering individuals and communities to make informed decisions about their health and adopt healthy behaviors. - It plays a crucial role in **disease prevention** and promoting self-care. *Intersectoral coordination* - **Intersectoral coordination** involves collaborating with other sectors (e.g., education, agriculture, housing) to address the broader determinants of health, which is a key principle of primary healthcare. - It recognizes that health outcomes are influenced by factors beyond the healthcare system alone. *Provision of essential drugs* - The **provision of essential drugs** is a fundamental element of primary healthcare, ensuring access to necessary medications at an affordable cost for effective treatment and management of common health problems. - This accessibility is crucial for achieving **universal health coverage**.
Question 8: In a programme, analysis of results in comparison to cost is known as
- A. Cost effective analysis
- B. Cost benefit analysis (Correct Answer)
- C. Management by objectives
- D. Cost utility study
Explanation: ***Cost benefit analysis*** - In **cost-benefit analysis**, the **benefits of a program** are quantified in monetary terms and then compared directly with the **monetary cost** of the program. - This method is used to determine if the **monetary gain (or benefit)** from a program outweighs its monetary expenditure. *Cost effective analysis* - **Cost-effectiveness analysis** compares the **costs of alternative programs** with their effectiveness, usually measured in natural units suitable for the health outcome (e.g., lives saved, cases cured). - It does not assign a monetary value to the health outcome but rather identifies the intervention that achieves the **desired outcome at the lowest cost** or the maximum outcome for a given cost. *Management by objectives* - **Management by objectives (MBO)** is a strategic management model that aims to improve organizational performance by clearly defining objectives that are agreed to by both management and employees. - This concept is primarily about **setting goals and tracking performance** within an organization, not about analyzing program costs versus outcomes. *Cost utility study* - A **cost-utility analysis (CUA)** is a type of cost-effectiveness analysis where the health outcome is measured in **quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)** or disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). - It accounts for both the **quantity and quality of life**, but it still does not express benefits in direct monetary terms.
Question 9: The most comprehensive indicator of cost-effectiveness analysis is
- A. Number of heart attacks avoided
- B. Cost per life year gained
- C. Number of life years gained
- D. QALYs gained (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***QALYs gained*** - **Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)** is the most comprehensive measure in cost-effectiveness analysis as it accounts for both the quantity and quality of life - Combines years of life added with a utility score reflecting health-related quality of life during those years - Provides a holistic view that captures both mortality and morbidity benefits of interventions *Number of heart attacks avoided* - Specific to a single clinical outcome and does not account for other health benefits or adverse effects - While important for cardiovascular interventions, it is too narrow to serve as a comprehensive cost-effectiveness indicator - Does not capture broader impact on overall health, quality of life, or longevity *Cost per life year gained* - Focuses on the quantity (length) of life gained but does not consider the quality of those gained years - An intervention might add years of life that are of poor quality, which this measure cannot differentiate - Less comprehensive than QALYs as it misses the health status dimension *Number of life years gained* - Only considers the extension of life without incorporating health status or quality of life during additional years - Provides an incomplete picture as it treats all life years equally regardless of health state - A longer life with significant disability would be valued the same as healthy years
Question 10: Identify the index?
- A. Human developmental index (Correct Answer)
- B. POLI
- C. Human poverty index
- D. Multidimensional poverty index
Explanation: ***Human developmental index*** - The **Human Development Index (HDI)** is the correct answer as the diagram exactly represents its three core dimensions - HDI measures overall achievement in: **Health** (life expectancy at birth), **Education** (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), and **Living standards** (GNI per capita) - These are the standard components published by UNDP for calculating HDI - HDI is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development *Human poverty index* - The Human Poverty Index (HPI) was an older measure that has been discontinued - HPI focused on deprivations rather than overall development achievements - The diagram shows development indicators (positive achievements), not deprivation indicators - HPI has been replaced by the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) *POLI* - **POLI** (Physical Quality of Life Index) is a different index that uses infant mortality, life expectancy at age one, and literacy rate - The components shown in the diagram (mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, GNI per capita) are not part of POLI - This is not a recognized standard index in current use *Multidimensional poverty index* - The **Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)** measures acute multidimensional poverty across health, education, and living standards - However, MPI uses **different specific indicators**: nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, and assets - The diagram shows HDI components (life expectancy, mean/expected years of schooling, GNI per capita), which are NOT the MPI indicators - MPI focuses on deprivations at the household level, while the diagram shows aggregate development measures
Want unlimited practice?
Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.
Start For Free