1|Page
,2|Page
MHA 708 EXAM A Healthcare
Policy | Complete 150+ Q&A with
Rationales | LSUS 2026 Edition
Table 1: Determinants of Health Comparison
Determinant Category Examples Modifiable?
Genetics/Epigenetics BRCA1 gene, family history of diabetes No
Health Behaviors Smoking, diet, exercise Yes
Social/Economic Income, education, social support Partially
Physical Environment Air quality, housing, green spaces Yes
Medical Care Access Insurance status, primary care availability Yes
1. A 45-year-old male patient with a family history of colorectal cancer presents
for a routine physical. He has a BMI of 32, smokes one pack per day, and lives in
a neighborhood with limited access to fresh produce. When considering the
determinants of health that affect this patient's overall health status, his
smoking and dietary habits are best classified as:
A) Fixed factors
B) Genetic and epigenetic factors
C) Health-related behaviors
D) Physical environment factors
Correct Answer: C) Health-related behaviors [CORRECT]
Rationale: Smoking and diet are individual lifestyle choices and behaviors, making
them health-related behaviors. Genetics are fixed factors, and physical environment
refers to external conditions like air quality or housing.
,3|Page
2. A 72-year-old female patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) is admitted to the hospital for the third time this year. She lives in
public housing with mold issues and cannot afford her prescribed inhalers. A
health policy analyst reviewing her case would identify her living conditions
and medication affordability as examples of which two determinants of health,
respectively?
A) Physical environment and social/economic factors
B) Genetics and health behaviors
C) Medical care access and genetics
D) Health behaviors and physical environment
Correct Answer: A) Physical environment and social/economic factors
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Housing conditions (mold) are part of the physical environment. Medication
affordability relates to income and economic resources, which fall under
social/economic factors. Genetics and health behaviors are not the primary issues here.
3. A 28-year-old woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and tested positive for
the BRCA1 mutation. Her sister is now considering genetic testing. From a
health policy perspective, the BRCA1 gene mutation is classified as which type
of determinant?
A) Modifiable factor
B) Health behavior
C) Fixed factor
D) Environmental factor
Correct Answer: C) Fixed factor [CORRECT]
Rationale: Genetic makeup is a fixed, non-modifiable determinant of health. Unlike
behaviors or environmental conditions, genetics cannot be changed through individual
or policy interventions.
4. A 60-year-old male with hypertension and diabetes lives in a rural area with
no nearby primary care clinic. He has Medicare Part A and B but struggles to
find transportation to appointments. According to the five categories of health
determinants, the lack of transportation and distance to care fall under:
A) Physical environment
B) Medical care access
C) Social and economic factors
, 4|Page
D) Health-related behaviors
Correct Answer: B) Medical care access [CORRECT]
Rationale: Medical care access encompasses availability, affordability, and accessibility
of healthcare services. Transportation and geographic proximity are key components of
access. Physical environment refers to air, water, and housing quality.
5. A 55-year-old female with a history of depression and anxiety lives alone
with limited social support. She has a stable income and good insurance
coverage. A community health worker identifies her social isolation as a
significant health risk. This risk factor falls under which determinant category?
A) Genetics and epigenetics
B) Physical environment
C) Social and economic factors
D) Medical care access
Correct Answer: C) Social and economic factors [CORRECT]
Rationale: Social support and social networks are key components of social and
economic factors. While she has good income (economic) and insurance (access), her
social isolation is a social determinant that negatively impacts health.
6. A 50-year-old male patient with newly diagnosed hypertension asks his
physician why he developed this condition since he exercises regularly and eats
well. The physician explains that his father and both brothers also have
hypertension. The physician is referring to which determinant of health?
A) Health-related behaviors
B) Physical environment
C) Social and economic factors
D) Genetics and epigenetics
Correct Answer: D) Genetics and epigenetics [CORRECT]
Rationale: Family history of a condition indicates a genetic predisposition. Genetics is a
fixed determinant that cannot be modified through lifestyle or policy interventions,
though its effects can sometimes be mitigated.
,2|Page
MHA 708 EXAM A Healthcare
Policy | Complete 150+ Q&A with
Rationales | LSUS 2026 Edition
Table 1: Determinants of Health Comparison
Determinant Category Examples Modifiable?
Genetics/Epigenetics BRCA1 gene, family history of diabetes No
Health Behaviors Smoking, diet, exercise Yes
Social/Economic Income, education, social support Partially
Physical Environment Air quality, housing, green spaces Yes
Medical Care Access Insurance status, primary care availability Yes
1. A 45-year-old male patient with a family history of colorectal cancer presents
for a routine physical. He has a BMI of 32, smokes one pack per day, and lives in
a neighborhood with limited access to fresh produce. When considering the
determinants of health that affect this patient's overall health status, his
smoking and dietary habits are best classified as:
A) Fixed factors
B) Genetic and epigenetic factors
C) Health-related behaviors
D) Physical environment factors
Correct Answer: C) Health-related behaviors [CORRECT]
Rationale: Smoking and diet are individual lifestyle choices and behaviors, making
them health-related behaviors. Genetics are fixed factors, and physical environment
refers to external conditions like air quality or housing.
,3|Page
2. A 72-year-old female patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) is admitted to the hospital for the third time this year. She lives in
public housing with mold issues and cannot afford her prescribed inhalers. A
health policy analyst reviewing her case would identify her living conditions
and medication affordability as examples of which two determinants of health,
respectively?
A) Physical environment and social/economic factors
B) Genetics and health behaviors
C) Medical care access and genetics
D) Health behaviors and physical environment
Correct Answer: A) Physical environment and social/economic factors
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Housing conditions (mold) are part of the physical environment. Medication
affordability relates to income and economic resources, which fall under
social/economic factors. Genetics and health behaviors are not the primary issues here.
3. A 28-year-old woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and tested positive for
the BRCA1 mutation. Her sister is now considering genetic testing. From a
health policy perspective, the BRCA1 gene mutation is classified as which type
of determinant?
A) Modifiable factor
B) Health behavior
C) Fixed factor
D) Environmental factor
Correct Answer: C) Fixed factor [CORRECT]
Rationale: Genetic makeup is a fixed, non-modifiable determinant of health. Unlike
behaviors or environmental conditions, genetics cannot be changed through individual
or policy interventions.
4. A 60-year-old male with hypertension and diabetes lives in a rural area with
no nearby primary care clinic. He has Medicare Part A and B but struggles to
find transportation to appointments. According to the five categories of health
determinants, the lack of transportation and distance to care fall under:
A) Physical environment
B) Medical care access
C) Social and economic factors
, 4|Page
D) Health-related behaviors
Correct Answer: B) Medical care access [CORRECT]
Rationale: Medical care access encompasses availability, affordability, and accessibility
of healthcare services. Transportation and geographic proximity are key components of
access. Physical environment refers to air, water, and housing quality.
5. A 55-year-old female with a history of depression and anxiety lives alone
with limited social support. She has a stable income and good insurance
coverage. A community health worker identifies her social isolation as a
significant health risk. This risk factor falls under which determinant category?
A) Genetics and epigenetics
B) Physical environment
C) Social and economic factors
D) Medical care access
Correct Answer: C) Social and economic factors [CORRECT]
Rationale: Social support and social networks are key components of social and
economic factors. While she has good income (economic) and insurance (access), her
social isolation is a social determinant that negatively impacts health.
6. A 50-year-old male patient with newly diagnosed hypertension asks his
physician why he developed this condition since he exercises regularly and eats
well. The physician explains that his father and both brothers also have
hypertension. The physician is referring to which determinant of health?
A) Health-related behaviors
B) Physical environment
C) Social and economic factors
D) Genetics and epigenetics
Correct Answer: D) Genetics and epigenetics [CORRECT]
Rationale: Family history of a condition indicates a genetic predisposition. Genetics is a
fixed determinant that cannot be modified through lifestyle or policy interventions,
though its effects can sometimes be mitigated.
