Measuring Population Health

Question 1

What does individual perspective focus on?

Answer 1

Health
Risk factors
Exposures

Question 2

What does population perspective focus on?

Answer 2

Disorders - mass disease

Exposures

Question 3

Give examples of: health-related demographic events + processes

Answer 3

Birth
Marriage
Migration
Ageing 
Death

Question 4

Describe: Populations

Answer 4

Dynamic
Diverse
Heterogenous

Question 5

How do you calculate the birth rate for a particular year?

Answer 5

Live births in year x/mid-year population

Question 6

How do you calculate the fertility rate?

Answer 6

Live births/women of reproductive age per unit time

Question 7

Why is mid-year population used?

Answer 7

Populations are constantly increasing so it is an approximate average (median)

Question 8

Define: period life expectancy

Answer 8

At a given age for an area is the average age a person would live.

Question 9

Limitations of using period life expectancy

Answer 9

It does not allow for:

• Later changes in mortality
• People living in different areas for some part of their life

Question 10

Define: cohort life expectancy

Answer 10

Life expectancy calculated using age-specific mortality rates

Question 11

Benefits of using cohort life expectancy

Answer 11

Allows for projected changes in mortality in later years

Question 12

What would a population pyramid showing rapidly growing population look like?

Answer 12

Widening base

Narrowing middle and top

Question 13

What would a population pyramid showing a slowly growing population look like? And why?

Answer 13

• The bands at the base would be narrower than those in the middle
• Due to lower fertility rate

Question 14

What would a population pyramid showing a decreasing population look like?

Answer 14

• Widest in the middle
• Top would be wider than in a slowly growing population
• Very narrow base

Question 15

Define: demographic transition

Answer 15

A general pattern of changes in death rates, population growth + birth rates that appear during modernisation

Question 16

Describe the 4 steps of demographic transition.

Answer 16

Stage 1 - high birth + death rates so population size is stable

Stage 2 - decreased death rates, high birth rates so population grows rapidly

Stage 3 - decreased birth rates so population grows slower

Stage 4 - end of transition - birth rate = death rate so population is stable

Question 17

What are the benefits of a lower birth rate for a country?

Answer 17

It produces a demographic dividend - fewer dependents per working adult
More investment into:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Economic development
- Infrastructure

Question 18

Define: sex ratio

Answer 18

Number of males per 100 females born

Question 19

Describe: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need

Answer 19

1. Self-actualisation - morality/creativity/problem solving/lack of prejudice
2. Esteem - confidence/achievement/respect of others
3. Love/Belonging - friends/family/partners
4. Safety - security of employment, resources, family, health, property
5. Physiological - breathing/water/food

Question 20

Define: Normative need

Answer 20

Identified according to a norm/set standard that is set by experts

Question 21

Define: Comparative need

Answer 21

Problems that emerge by comparison with others who are not in need

Question 22

Define: Felt need

Answer 22

Need which people feel from their perspective

Question 23

Define: Expressed need

Answer 23

Need which they say they have

Question 24

Define: Demand (in the context of expressed need)

Answer 24

Expressing needs they do not feel

Question 25

What factors constitute: need

Answer 25

Cultural determinants Genetics Research agenda Lifestyle

Question 26

What factors constitute: demand

Answer 26

Media Medical influences Social, cultural, educational influences

Question 27

What factors constitute: supply

Answer 27

Public + political pressure | Historical patterns, inertia, momentum

Question 28

Give an example of: need, but no demand or supply

Answer 28

Family planning + contraceptive services are needed in low income countries to improve women's reproductive health

Question 29

Give an example of: demand, but no need or supply

Answer 29

Patients demanding expectorants for coughs/colds

Question 30

Give an example of: supply, but no need or demand

Answer 30

Routine health checks in people 75+ years are not usually requested but some GPs provide them, even though the benefits are not effective

Question 31

Give an example of: demand + supply, but no need

Answer 31

People request + are prescribed sleeping tablets for insomnia, but long-term is not effective (no need)

Question 32

Give an example of: need + supply, but no demand

Answer 32

Not all healthcare staff have the Hep B vaccine (supply but no demand) even though it is an effective preventative measure (need)

Question 33

Give an example of: need + demand + supply

Answer 33

People with insulin-dependent diabetes demand insulin, it is effective (need) and it is supplied

Question 34

Define: health needs assessment

Answer 34

A systematic method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities + resource allocation that will improve + reduce inequalities

Question 35

Why is assessment needed?

Answer 35

It is the 1st step to improve population's health It can identify causes of health inequalities It raises understanding of local health problems

Question 36

What is the 1st step in process for a health needs assessment?

Answer 36

Define population of whose needs you wish to assess Usually geographical Can include gender, age, ethnicity

Question 37

What is another step in process for health needs assessment?

Answer 37

``` Identify stakeholders Examples: - Public/patients - patient support groups - NHS England - Local government - NHS providers - GPs, hospitals ```

Question 38

Why is identifying stakeholders in a health needs assessment important?

Answer 38

Brings expertise + resources

Question 39

What are the 3 types of health needs assessment?

Answer 39

1. Epidemiological - measure health status of population 2. Comparative - compare with service provision in similar populations 3. Corporate - ask experts