Biomedical Conditions Among the Homeless
Post-Test
80% (8 out of 10 Qs, each Q worth 10%) suggested to pass
1. Which statement regarding pulmonary tuberculosis is correct?
a. Material incentives (e.g. cash, vouchers, tokens) improve adherence to
TB diagnostic testing and treatment.
b. Homelessness is an independent risk factor for being a member of a
large cluster TB outbreak. [Correct]
c. Alcohol ingestion reduces risk of TB transmission.
d. QuantiFERON-TB Gold screening is mandatory at federally funded
homeless shelters.
2. In which homeless patient should symptoms suggest a diagnosis of “Trench
Fever”?
a. Nightly fevers with rigors, inflammatory arthritis, oral ulcerations.
b. Cyclic fever, malaise, headache, and bone aches. [Correct]
c. Persistent high fever, hypotension, kidney failure.
d. Low-grade fever, atypical pneumonia, and rash.
3. A homeless man presents with fever, lymphadenopathy, sore throat and a
maculopapular rash. You check him for mononucleosis, and he is heterophile
negative. What other infection should you consider?
a. HIV. [Correct]
b. Bartonella quintana.
c. Hepatitis B.
d. Hepatitis C.
4. In counseling a homeless smoker, which statement is correct?
a. Tobacco use reduction, rather than cessation, is an appropriate goal.
[Correct]
b. Homeless smokers are just as likely to quit smoking as other smokers.
c. Smokers with major depression report improved mood with smoking
cessation.
d. Smokers with schizophrenia are more likely than other mentally ill
smokers to successfully quit smoking.
5. For patients with mental illness, which medication has been shown effective
for reduction of coexisting alcohol, cocaine, tobacco or cannabis use?
a. Fluoxetine
b. Amitriptyline
c. Olanzapine
d. Clozapine [Correct]
6. Which statement regarding food insecurity is correct?
a. If a homeless person is obese, he or she is not experiencing food
insecurity.
b. Due to federal food stamp programs, food insecurity is now rare in
U.S. families with children.
c. Adults with food insecurity are less likely to be diabetic.
d. Persons with chronic food insufficiency may benefit from a
multivitamin with minerals. [Correct]
7. A homeless woman presents with painful feet after sleeping in wet socks.
The area that was covered by her socks is white, cool to touch, diffusely
wrinkled, and diffusely tender. What do you recommend?
a. Apply topical antifungal cream over the affected area.
b. Air dry and elevate her feet at room temperature. [Correct]
c. Administer oral quinolone.
d. Administer oral clindamycin.
8. What are symptoms of hypothermia?
a. Confusion, slurred speech, poor coordination, sleepiness. [Correct]
b. Agitation, headache, myalgias, and palpitations.
c. Psychosis, agitation, insomnia, and tremor.
d. Confusion, tremor, nausea, abdominal pain.
9. Which of the following is recommended in managing a homeless patient with
a chronic disease?
a. Prescribe medications that are taken with food, as a memory aid to
prompt use.
b. Prescribe twice daily medications, to establish a regular daily
behavioral schedule.
c. Prescribe insulin pens, to reduce the risk of syringe theft. [Correct]
d. Prescribe thiazides as first line agents for hypertension.
10. When devising a treatment strategy for a homeless person with a chronic
illness, which of the following is the LAST (least important) to consider?
a. Access to toilet facilities.
b. National care standards for the chronic illness. [Correct]
c. Food access and sufficiency, including access to potable water.
d. Mental health and substance use behaviors.