M1 Topic 3: What are health conditions?

Question 1

Health conditions

Answer 1

Anything that disrupts us physically, mentally or socially

Question 2

Studies of “normal” health conditions

Answer 2

Typical, common, expected

Anatomy = parts of body
Physiology = function of body
Psychology = cognition and behaviour
Genetics = instructions on how body is built and functions

Question 3

Studies of “disruption”

Answer 3

Deviation from the norm

Pathology = study of conditions that disrupt normal anatomical structure, physiological functions, cognition and behaviour

• Pathogenesis = how conditions are caused
• Pathophysiology = how bodily function is disrupted
• Psychopathology = how cognition is disrupted

Question 4

Categories of health conditions

Answer 4

Acute = less than 6 months, rapid onset, usual resolve

Chronic = greater than 6 months, slower onset, ongoing or intermittent

Question 5

Terms used to describe health conditions

Answer 5

Disorder = disruption to normal functioning

Disease = physiological cause (infection, condition (genetic, environmental))
Trauma = external cause (injury)

Illness = how individuals experience their disorder

Question 6

What is epidemiology?

Answer 6

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems

Simply…
Who gets what, where, and when?

Question 7

Mortality

Answer 7

Number of deaths from health conditions

Question 8

Morbidity

Answer 8

Occurrence of health conditions (includes side effects of treatments)

Question 9

Incidence

Answer 9

Number of new cases of a specific conditions

Question 10

Prevalence

Answer 10

Total number of cases of a specific condition

Question 11

Survival

Answer 11

How many people survive having health conditions (commonly described in cancer)

Question 12

Aetiology (etiology)

Answer 12

Risk factors which are informed by stats gathered through epidemiology studies

Risk = possibility, doesn’t guarantee outcome or event

Risk profile for every individual is different

Factors be multiple and synergistic

Question 13

Modifiable risk factors

Answer 13

Exercise, diet, smoking, drinking

Question 14

Fixed risk factors

Answer 14

Age, biological sex at birth, genetics

Question 15

Biomedical risk factors

Answer 15

measurable body states that can increase risk of developing particular health conditions (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, glucose levels, etc.)

Question 16

What are vulnerable populations?

Answer 16

Groups in a society that disproportionally develop health conditions and/or experience worse health outcomes

Question 17

Examples of underserved populations

Answer 17

• ATSI people
• LBGTIQ+ people
• Aging or frail people (particularly aged care)
• Rural and remote areas
• Refugees
• Veterans

Question 18

Different types of vulnerability in individuals

Answer 18

• Prisoners
• Homelessness
• Disability
• Mental health concerns
• Social isolation
• Economic disadvantage
• Trauma

Question 19

What is the medical radiation patient pathway?

Answer 19

1. Development of health condition
2. Access to care
3. Diagnostic procedures
4. Management options
5. Therapeutic procedures

Question 20

Access to care in patient pathway

Answer 20

Gather presenting features (signs and symptoms) to help diagnose.

Clinical signs = objective, observable and measurable

Clinical symptoms = subjective, descriptive, experiential

Question 21

Diagnostic procedures (patient pathway)

Answer 21

Provides more clinical signs to aid diagnosis

Question 22

Objectives of a diagnostic test

Answer 22

• Screening - early detection
• Identify risk factors
• Exclude particular conditions
• Gather information about presenting features
• Confirm suspected health condition
• Inform treatment of known health condition
• Monitor progress of known health condition

Question 23

Differential diagnoses

Answer 23

List of all possible health conditions that might cause the clinical signs and symptoms

Question 24

Prognosis

Answer 24

Anticipated course the health condition may take and how any treatment options may influence that trajectory

Question 25

Possible outcomes of health conditions

Answer 25

- Resolution = 'normal' health - Partial resolution = some improvement - Stable = condition remains the same - Chronic condition - Progression - Palliation - Terminal

Question 26

Chronic condition

Answer 26

Ongoing management required to control signs and symptoms and/or to prevent progression

Question 27

Progression

Answer 27

Signs and symptoms increase and become more severe over time

Question 28

Palliation

Answer 28

Curative treatment options have been exhausted or have become ineffective - Focus becomes symptom relief and quality of life

Question 29

Terminal

Answer 29

Condition leads to end of life

Question 30

Risks of treatment

Answer 30

- Side effects - Complications (unexpected issue arising during or after treatment)

Question 31

Comprehensive care plan

Answer 31

Patients with more complex diagnoses and health care needs - Set of agreed health goals patient would like to achieve - Health activities and treatments planning to assist patient achieving goals

Question 32

Multi-disciplinary team (MDT)

Answer 32

Entire care team of doctors, nurses and other allied health practitioners

Question 33

Multi-disciplinary meeting (MDM)

Answer 33

More complex care plan for chronic health conditions with the MDT - Develop care plan for how case would be best managed which is then proposed to the patient

Question 34

Advance care plan/directive

Answer 34

Focused on future care needs, generally associated with end-of-life care - Living will outlining what treatments patient does/doesn't want - Preferences for life sustaining treatments - Power of medical attorney - Organ donation