MDC Licensing Examination — Physician Assistantship (Medical)

Sample Physician Assistantship (Medical) practice questions

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

1. Question 1 · Acute Assessment & Stabilization

   During the primary survey, a patient has severe respiratory distress. What should be prioritized?

   1. A.A detailed diet history before vital signs
   2. B.Routine discharge counselling
   3. C.Immediate airway and breathing assessment with appropriate support
   4. D.An elective skin examination
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Immediate airway and breathing assessment with appropriate support

   ABCDE prioritizes conditions likely to cause death within minutes.

2. Question 2 · Common Primary-Care Problems

   A conscious patient is sweating and confused with a confirmed low capillary glucose. What is the immediate treatment priority?

   1. A.Withhold all carbohydrate
   2. B.Give a sedative
   3. C.Wait until the next clinic day
   4. D.Give a fast-acting oral carbohydrate according to protocol and reassess
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Give a fast-acting oral carbohydrate according to protocol and reassess

   Prompt glucose treatment is required for conscious patients with symptomatic hypoglycaemia, followed by reassessment.

3. Question 3 · Ethics & Medication Safety

   A prescription is illegible and the intended dose cannot be determined safely. What should the physician assistant do?

   1. A.Clarify the order with the prescriber before administering it
   2. B.Select the highest dose
   3. C.Ask a relative to interpret it
   4. D.Administer a random dose and correct it later
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Clarify the order with the prescriber before administering it

   Medication ambiguity must be resolved before use to prevent avoidable harm.

4. Question 4 · 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.

5. Question 5 · 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.

6. Question 6 · 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.

7. Question 7 · 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.

8. Question 8 · 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.

9. Question 9 · Trauma, Burns & Resuscitation

   In the primary survey of an injured patient, the airway is managed together with:

   1. A.A detailed neurological examination of all limbs
   2. B.Cervical spine protection
   3. C.Taking a full past medical history from relatives
   4. D.Ordering a full set of X-rays of the chest and pelvis
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Cervical spine protection

   ABCDE starts with airway plus C-spine control; catastrophic external bleeding is controlled even before that.

10. Question 10 · Acute Abdomen & General Surgery

    Central abdominal pain that moves to the right iliac fossa with fever and anorexia is typical of:

    1. A.Acute cholecystitis
    2. B.Renal colic
    3. C.Acute appendicitis
    4. D.Sigmoid volvulus
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Acute appendicitis

    Visceral periumbilical pain shifts to the RIF when the parietal peritoneum is irritated; tenderness at McBurney's point follows.

11. Question 11 · Antenatal & Intrapartum Care

    Routine antenatal supplements for a pregnant woman in Ghana include:

    1. A.Vitamin A in high doses
    2. B.Calcium-free antacids daily
    3. C.Antibiotics every month
    4. D.Iron and folic acid
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Iron and folic acid

    Iron–folic acid prevents anaemia and neural tube defects; high-dose vitamin A is avoided in pregnancy (teratogenic).

12. Question 12 · Obstetric Emergencies

    The drug of choice to prevent and treat eclamptic convulsions is:

    1. A.Magnesium sulphate
    2. B.Diazepam alone
    3. C.Phenytoin
    4. D.Phenobarbital
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Magnesium sulphate

    MgSO4 is more effective than diazepam or phenytoin for eclampsia and halves the risk in severe pre-eclampsia.