Core 1 - Better Health for Individuals Flashcards
What is epidemiology and who uses it?
Epidemiology is the study of patterns and causes of health and disease in a population. This is used by researchers, medical practitioners, health care manufacturers and the government.
What are the limitation of epidemiology?
-Doesn’t measure overall quality of life
-Doesn’t show influence of determinants of health
-Results can be manipulated
What are the measures of epidemiology? List trends relating to this.
Mortality: death rate -> decreasing, leading cause is coronary heat disease
Infant mortality: deaths of children <1 -> 2.8/1000 NI, 5.2/1000 ATSI, has decreased
Morbidity: Disease and illness-> steadily decreasing
Life expectancy -> 83, lower around 8 years for ATSI
How does the government identify priority health issues?
SPPPC
* Social justice principles: equity, diversity support environments
* Priority population groups: particular groups with signficantly poorer health (ATSI, Low SES)
* Prevalence of the condition (extent of issues, increasing/decreasing)
* Potential for prevention or early intervention: health promotion, e.g. breast cancer screening
* Costs of the issue for individuals and the community: financial or social burden
What are social justice principles?
-Equity: resources are allocated in accordance with the needs of individuals and populations. The desired goal of equality
of outcomes.
-Diversity: Refers to differences that exist between individuals and people groups.
-Supportive environments: environments that promote positive behaviour to improve health
Why is it important to prioritise health issues and population groups?
-Productive use of resources (they can make a difference)
-Reduce costs to individuals and the community
-Reduce the prevalence by reducing the incidence of disease
-Help particular population groups, while being equitable in the process by utilising the social justice principles
What are the priority population groups?
-ATSI
-Rural and remote communities
-Low socioeconomic status
-Elderly
-Disabled people
-Overseas people
Explain the nature, extent and determinants around ATSI health inequities.
The ATSI community experiences significantly worse health in multiple area in comparison to non-Indigenous.
* Lower life expectancy of around 8 years
* Infant mortality rate 2x higher
* More likely to develop CVD, cancer and diabetes as well as experience low SES.
Sociocultural: language barrier, generational trauma, domestic violence, cultural medicine preference
Socioeconomic: 2.5 x lowest income bracket, poor education (1/2 likely finish yr12), limited job opportunity, low health literacy
Environmental: rural and remote locations, low access to facilities and services, inadequate housing
What are the roles of individuals and communities in addressing health inequities for ATSI?
**Individual: **promoting their own health, educating themselves/ health literacy to make proactive and protective choices, participating in initiatives and accepting support
Community: Support groups, involving people in decision making, collaborating with health professionals, participate in policy development
What are the roles of the government in addressing health inequities for ATSI?
-Funding for health (chronic disease package, improving treatment and management)
-Increasing access (having more services and facilities in these areas, royal flying doctor)
-Long term initiatives and health promotion -> Close the gap campaign establishes clear goals and providing support and resources to minmise inequities in their health.
Explain the nature, extent and determinants around Low SES health inequities.
Individuals with low SES experience significantly decreased health in comparison to the rest of Australia.
* Lower life expectancy and are at greater risk of developing chronic illness and disease
* 3.6x more likely to engage in daily smoking
Sociocultural: Domestic violence, poor upbringing with smoking and substance abuse, food choice, attitudes towards exercise and mental health
Socioeconomic: lower education, limited job opportunity, low health literacy, low income, homelessness
Environmental: rural and remote locations, low access to health services and technologies, greater levels of homelessness, limited access to benefits (Centrelink),
What are the roles of individuals and communities in addressing health inequities for low SES?
**Individual: ** promoting their own health, educating themselves/ health literacy to make proactive and protective choices, participating in initiatives and accepting support
Community: Raising awareness of health issues, holding support groups, getting involved in community decisions
What are the roles of the government in addressing health inequities for low SES?
- Larger health promotion and funding to improve inequities being experienced
- Reducing risk factors such as smoking, binge drinking by implementing educational programs
Explain the nature, extent, determinants, risk afactors and groups at risk for CVD
-Coronary heart disease: not enough blood going to the heart due to blocked arteries
-Stroke: not enough blood getting to the brain
-Peripheral vascular disease: limbs not receiving enough blood
Sociocultural: family history, lifestyle choices, drinking and smoking, inactivity
Socioeconomic: income limiting food and exercise options, education and health literacy
Environmental: low access for early detection and treatment, smoking and obesity in rural and remote
Risk: family history, age, males, obesity, smoking, inactivity
Protective: early testing, exercise, diet, BP
Groups: males, ATSI, low SES, elderly
Outline health care expenditure vs expenditure on early intervention and prevention
160 billion is being spent per year on health care, mainly at hospitals and primary health care.
Yet only 2.2 billion is being spent per year on early intervention such as cancer screening for breast, prostate and skin and preventative measures includes immunisation and health promotion.
Focusing on early intervention and prevention is much more effective as it reduces the need for health care expenditure and is less costly
