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Free CPH Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified in Public Health (CPH) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CPH practice test to study every exam domain.

Question 1

A case-control study of lung cancer and asbestos exposure reports an odds ratio of 4.2. The BEST interpretation is:

  1. Asbestos exposure causes lung cancer with a relative risk of 4.2 compared to unexposed individuals
  2. The odds of asbestos exposure are 4.2 times higher among lung cancer cases compared to controls
  3. People exposed to asbestos have 4.2 times the incidence rate of lung cancer compared to controls
  4. The attributable risk of lung cancer due to asbestos exposure is 4.2 per 100 exposed persons
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - The odds of asbestos exposure are 4.2 times higher among lung cancer cases compared to controls

Question 2

Which of the following is the BEST method to confirm that a patient understood the health information provided?

  1. Asking the patient if they have any questions about the information provided to them
  2. Having the patient sign a detailed acknowledgment form confirming they received the information
  3. Using the teach-back method by asking the patient to explain the information in their own words
  4. Providing comprehensive written instructions and reviewing them briefly with the patient
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Using the teach-back method by asking the patient to explain the information in their own words

Question 3

A health department director wants to implement a new electronic reporting system. Staff are comfortable with the current paper-based system and resistant to change. According to Lewin's theory, the director should FIRST:

  1. Force immediate implementation of the new system
  2. Help staff understand why change is needed (unfreeze)
  3. Begin training staff on the new electronic system
  4. Maintain the current paper-based system indefinitely
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Help staff understand why change is needed (unfreeze)

Question 4

Under HIPAA, which of the following disclosures of PHI is permitted WITHOUT individual authorization?

  1. Sharing a patient's complete medical history with their employer for workplace safety assessments
  2. Reporting a notifiable disease to the state health department for public health surveillance
  3. Providing detailed patient information to pharmaceutical companies for targeted marketing campaigns
  4. Posting patient treatment outcomes on social media platforms for medical education purposes
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Reporting a notifiable disease to the state health department for public health surveillance

Question 5

Quarantine differs from isolation in that quarantine:

  1. Is applied to individuals who are confirmed to be ill
  2. Restricts movement of exposed but asymptomatic individuals
  3. Can only be imposed by federal authorities
  4. Requires a court order in every case
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Restricts movement of exposed but asymptomatic individuals

Question 6

A cardiac rehabilitation program for a patient who has had a heart attack is an example of:

  1. Primary prevention
  2. Secondary prevention
  3. Tertiary prevention
  4. Primordial prevention
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Tertiary prevention

Question 7

A health education program reports that 500 participants attended its workshops last year. In a logic model, this number is classified as a(n):

  1. Input
  2. Activity
  3. Output
  4. Outcome
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Output

Question 8

Scenario: A city council is considering three policy options to reduce childhood lead poisoning: (1) mandatory lead testing for all rental properties, (2) a voluntary landlord education program, and (3) increased funding for lead abatement in low-income housing. The health department has been asked to provide a policy analysis. When assessing the three alternatives, 'equity' as an evaluation criterion would consider:

  1. Whether each option maximizes overall cost-effectiveness
  2. Whether each option disproportionately benefits or burdens specific populations
  3. Whether each option has strong political support from stakeholders
  4. Whether each option follows established regulatory precedents
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Whether each option disproportionately benefits or burdens specific populations

Question 9

The socioeconomic gradient in health demonstrates that:

  1. Only the poorest individuals have worse health outcomes
  2. Health improves incrementally at each socioeconomic level
  3. Income has no relationship to health outcomes
  4. Only the wealthiest individuals have good health
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Health improves incrementally at each socioeconomic level

Question 10

The difference between health equity and health equality is:

  1. They mean the same thing
  2. Equality means giving everyone the same resources; equity means giving people what they need
  3. Equity means treating everyone identically; equality means targeting resources
  4. Equality focuses on individual responsibility; equity focuses on systemic barriers
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Equality means giving everyone the same resources; equity means giving people what they need

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