Consumer Health IQ Test

Consumer Health I.Q. Test

Do you know which of the following statements are true and which are false? After you judge the entire list, click on the "Answers to Quiz" hyperlink.

1. Everyone should have a complete physical every year or two.
2. Fluoride toothpaste works so well that water fluoridation is no longer important.
3. It is difficult for busy people to eat a balanced diet.
4. People intelligent enough to graduate from college are unlikely to be victimized by quackery.
5. Accreditation of a school indicates that a regulatory agency considers its teachings sound.
6. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
7. Sugar is a major cause of hyperactivity and other childhood behavioral problems.
8. No special training is legally required to offer counseling to the public.
9. Taking antioxidant vitamins has been proved to protect against heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
10. Homeopathic remedies are a safe and effective alternative to many drugs that doctors prescribe.
11. Taking large daily doses of vitamin C can cut the incidence of colds in half.
12. People over age 21 should have their blood cholesterol level checked every year.
13. The Postal Service screens many ads for mail-order health products before they are published.
14. The American Medical Association can revoke the license of a doctor who is practicing improperly.
15. Recent government reports indicate that the best person to consult for back pain is a chiropractor.
16. Most health-food retailers are well informed about the products they sell.
17. Protein or amino acid supplements help bodybuilders and other athletes improve their performance.
18. The emergency room of a nonprofit hospital is a relatively inexpensive place to get medical care.
19. Natural cancer cures are being suppressed because drug companies don't want competition.
20. Most health-related books and magazine articles undergo expert prepublication review.

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From: Barrett S et al. Consumer Health: A Guide to Intelligent Decisions, sixth edition, Brown & Benchmark (McGraw-Hill) 1997. Additional questions will be posted from time to time.

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