Screening: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

PSM · Screening

Sample item

What is overdiagnosis in a screening programme?

AA positive test caused by laboratory contaminationBDelayed treatment after diagnosisCDetection of disease that would never cause symptoms or harmDFailure to detect a true case

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Detection of disease that would never cause symptoms or harm

Overdiagnosis identifies abnormalities that meet disease definitions but would not have become clinically important during the person's lifetime.

Option by option

A. A positive test caused by laboratory contamination
Contamination produces false-positive testing error.
B. Delayed treatment after diagnosis
Treatment delay is not overdiagnosis.
C. Detection of disease that would never cause symptoms or harm (correct)
Correct: harmless detected disease is the core concept.
D. Failure to detect a true case
Missing disease is a false-negative problem.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Detection of disease that would never cause symptoms or harm. Overdiagnosis identifies abnormalities that meet disease definitions but would not have become clinically important during the person's lifetime.

Why is "A positive test caused by laboratory contamination" not the answer?

Contamination produces false-positive testing error.

Why is "Delayed treatment after diagnosis" not the answer?

Treatment delay is not overdiagnosis.

Why is "Failure to detect a true case" not the answer?

Missing disease is a false-negative problem.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Screening in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct: harmless detected disease is the core concept.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Screening?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.