NMC Health Promotion and Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A midwife is planning a community education session on preconception care. Which intervention is MOST effective at reducing neural tube defects?
- Recommending daily folic acid supplementation of 400 mcg before conception (Correct answer)
- Advising increased iron intake three months before conception
- Encouraging daily calcium supplementation starting at conception
- Promoting vitamin D testing prior to pregnancy
Correct answer: Recommending daily folic acid supplementation of 400 mcg before conception
400 mcg of folic acid daily starting before conception significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Question 2: When applying the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, which action best exemplifies 'building healthy public policy'?
- Providing one-on-one health education to a patient about smoking cessation
- Advocating for legislation that bans smoking in all public buildings (Correct answer)
- Organizing a community walking group to increase physical activity
- Distributing leaflets about healthy eating in a GP surgery
Correct answer: Advocating for legislation that bans smoking in all public buildings
Advocating for smoke-free legislation directly reflects the Ottawa Charter's principle of building healthy public policy to create supportive environments.
Question 3: A nurse conducts a breast self-examination education session. At which point in the menstrual cycle should premenopausal women be advised to perform self-examination?
- On the first day of menstruation
- Three to five days after menstruation ends (Correct answer)
- At mid-cycle when estrogen peaks
- At the same time each month regardless of cycle
Correct answer: Three to five days after menstruation ends
Breast self-examination is most accurate 3–5 days after menstruation when breast tissue is least tender and swollen.
Question 4: A community nurse identifies a neighborhood with high rates of childhood obesity. Using a population-based approach, which strategy should be prioritized FIRST?
- Refer each overweight child individually to a dietitian
- Assess community-level factors such as food access and safe play areas (Correct answer)
- Prescribe weight management programs for identified families
- Screen all children in the neighborhood using BMI charts
Correct answer: Assess community-level factors such as food access and safe play areas
A population-based approach requires first understanding the social determinants and environmental factors driving the issue before designing interventions.
Question 5: Which immunization is specifically recommended for all healthcare workers in the US to protect both staff and vulnerable patients?
- Hepatitis A vaccine
- Annual influenza vaccine (Correct answer)
- Typhoid vaccine
- Rabies pre-exposure vaccine
Correct answer: Annual influenza vaccine
Annual influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for all healthcare workers to reduce transmission to vulnerable patients and prevent staff illness.
Question 6: A nurse is using motivational interviewing to support a patient's behavior change. Which statement BEST reflects the spirit of motivational interviewing?
- 'You really need to stop smoking before your next appointment or your health will deteriorate.'
- 'Tell me what concerns you about making changes to your diet.' (Correct answer)
- 'I'll give you a leaflet about exercise that you must read before we meet again.'
- 'Most patients in your situation have already made this change — why haven't you?'
Correct answer: 'Tell me what concerns you about making changes to your diet.'
Motivational interviewing uses open-ended questions and empathic listening to explore a patient's own reasons for change without coercion.
Question 7: Secondary prevention differs from primary prevention in that it focuses on:
- Eliminating risk factors before disease occurs
- Early detection and treatment to halt disease progression (Correct answer)
- Reducing complications and disability after disease is established
- Educating communities about healthy lifestyle choices
Correct answer: Early detection and treatment to halt disease progression
Secondary prevention involves screening and early diagnosis to detect disease at an early stage and prevent it from progressing.
NMC Health Promotion and Prevention 2
A midwife is planning a community education session on preconception care.
Which intervention is MOST effective at reducing neural tube defects?