MDC Licensing Examination — Medicine

Sample Medicine practice questions

Try these 12 questions from different topics. Open "Show answer" to check yourself and read the explanation.

1. Question 1 · Emergency Assessment

   A patient arrives with noisy breathing and cannot speak. Which problem must be addressed first?

   1. A.A chronic skin lesion
   2. B.A threatened airway
   3. C.Routine vaccination status
   4. D.Long-term dietary preferences
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A threatened airway

   The ABCDE approach prioritizes immediately life-threatening airway and breathing problems.

2. Question 2 · Diagnosis & Patient Safety

   A laboratory result is inconsistent with the patient’s condition and previous results. What is the safest next step?

   1. A.Ignore the clinical findings
   2. B.Change the result to the expected value
   3. C.Reassess the patient and verify the result and specimen before acting on it
   4. D.Discharge the patient without review
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Reassess the patient and verify the result and specimen before acting on it

   Clinical-laboratory mismatch should trigger verification because diagnostic and identification errors can harm patients.

3. Question 3 · Medication & Communication Safety

   A medicine order is ambiguous and two interpretations would produce very different doses. What should the clinician do?

   1. A.Choose the larger dose
   2. B.Ask the patient to guess
   3. C.Administer both doses
   4. D.Clarify and document the intended order before administration
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Clarify and document the intended order before administration

   Resolving ambiguity before medication use is a direct barrier against preventable medication harm.

4. Question 4 · Common Primary-Care Problems

   An uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in a non-pregnant woman is appropriately treated with:

   1. A.Gentamicin injections for two weeks
   2. B.Metronidazole for one day
   3. C.Ciprofloxacin for one month
   4. D.Nitrofurantoin for about 5 days
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Nitrofurantoin for about 5 days

   Nitrofurantoin achieves high urinary levels and preserves broader drugs; follow local resistance patterns and treatment guidelines.

5. Question 5 · Malaria, Typhoid & Febrile Illness

   Before treating a febrile patient for malaria in Ghana, national policy requires:

   1. A.A full blood count showing a low platelet count
   2. B.A positive Widal test result in the same week
   3. C.Parasitological confirmation by RDT or microscopy
   4. D.Treatment trial with paracetamol for three days
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Parasitological confirmation by RDT or microscopy

   "Test, treat, track": every suspected case is tested; only confirmed cases get antimalarials, which avoids missing other causes of fever.

6. Question 6 · HIV, TB & Opportunistic Infections

   The preferred first-line antiretroviral regimen for adults in Ghana is:

   1. A.Zidovudine and nevirapine without a third drug
   2. B.Lopinavir-ritonavir as a single agent
   3. C.Tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir (TLD)
   4. D.Stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir (TLD)

   TLD, a once-daily fixed-dose combination, is recommended first-line for adults and adolescents by WHO and Ghana's guidelines.

7. Question 7 · Cardiovascular & Respiratory Medicine

   Hypertension is diagnosed in an adult when the blood pressure is:

   1. A.120/80 mmHg or higher on one reading at a routine visit
   2. B.130/85 mmHg or higher when the patient feels stressed
   3. C.160/100 mmHg or higher on one reading taken straight after exercise
   4. D.140/90 mmHg or higher on repeated measurements on separate occasions
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 140/90 mmHg or higher on repeated measurements on separate occasions

   One high reading is not enough; confirm with repeated readings (or home/ambulatory monitoring) before labelling.

8. Question 8 · Diabetes, Renal & Gastrointestinal Medicine

   The first-line oral drug for most adults with type 2 diabetes is:

   1. A.Glibenclamide
   2. B.Metformin
   3. C.Insulin glargine
   4. D.Prednisolone
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Metformin

   Metformin lowers glucose without causing hypoglycaemia or weight gain; sulfonylureas are added if needed.

9. Question 9 · Neurology, Haematology & Sickle Cell Disease

   A patient opens eyes to pain, makes incomprehensible sounds and withdraws from pain. The Glasgow Coma Scale score is:

   1. A.6
   2. B.10
   3. C.12
   4. D.8
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 8

   Eyes to pain = 2, incomprehensible sounds = 2, withdraws = 4; total 8. GCS ≤8 suggests the airway may need protecting.

10. Question 10 · Cardiology

    A 58-year-old has 2 hours of central crushing chest pain and ST elevation in leads II, III and aVF. The affected territory is:

    1. A.Inferior wall (RCA)
    2. B.Anterior wall (LAD)
    3. C.Lateral wall (circumflex)
    4. D.Posterior wall (true posterior)
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Inferior wall (RCA)

    Check right-sided leads for right ventricular involvement.

11. Question 11 · Respiratory Medicine

    A woman on the combined pill develops sudden pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia and hypoxia with a clear chest X-ray. The investigation of choice is:

    1. A.Spirometry with reversibility
    2. B.Sputum culture
    3. C.CT pulmonary angiography
    4. D.Bronchoscopy and lavage
    Show answer

    Answer: C. CT pulmonary angiography

    Suspected pulmonary embolism; start anticoagulation if suspicion is high.

12. Question 12 · Endocrinology

    Diabetic ketoacidosis is diagnosed when there is hyperglycaemia (or known diabetes), ketonaemia above 3 mmol/L and:

    1. A.pH above 7.45
    2. B.A normal anion gap acidosis
    3. C.pH <7.3 or bicarbonate <15 mmol/L
    4. D.A low blood glucose level
    Show answer

    Answer: C. pH <7.3 or bicarbonate <15 mmol/L

    Treat with IV fluids, fixed-rate insulin and potassium replacement.