Concept of health and disease: impairment, disability and handicap: 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.

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PSM · Concept of health and disease: impairment, disability and handicap

Sample item

A postman loses his leg below the knee in a road accident. He can no longer walk long distances, and because of this he loses his job and his place in village social life. In the WHO sequence of impairment, disability and handicap, how is the loss of his job and social role classified?

AHandicapBDisabilityCPathologyDImpairment

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Handicap

In the older WHO classification, impairment is the loss of structure or function, disability is the resulting restriction of activity, and handicap is the social or economic disadvantage that follows. The later ICF reframed these as body functions, activity limitation and participation restriction.

Option by option

A. Handicap (correct)
Correct. Handicap is the social and economic disadvantage that results from impairment or disability.
B. Disability
Disability is the restriction in an activity, which here is the inability to walk far.
C. Pathology
Pathology is the disease process that leads to the impairment, not its social consequence.
D. Impairment
Impairment is the anatomical loss itself, which here is the missing limb.

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 A, Handicap. In the older WHO classification, impairment is the loss of structure or function, disability is the resulting restriction of activity, and handicap is the social or economic disadvantage that follows.

Why is "Disability" not the answer?

Disability is the restriction in an activity, which here is the inability to walk far.

Why is "Pathology" not the answer?

Pathology is the disease process that leads to the impairment, not its social consequence.

Why is "Impairment" not the answer?

Impairment is the anatomical loss itself, which here is the missing limb.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Concept of health and disease: impairment, disability and handicap in PSM. The later ICF reframed these as body functions, activity limitation and participation restriction.

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 Concept of health and disease: impairment, disability and handicap?

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.