BDS5003: PHEBD

Question 1

Define health determinant

Answer 1

Underlying characteristics of societies that influence and shape health of individuals and communities

Question 2

5 broad classifications of health determinants

Answer 2

Genetics: age, sex, constitutional factors (non-modifiable)
Lifestyle: diet, exercise
Social and community: alcohol, smoking, drugs
Living and working conditions: unemployment, housing, health care access, education
General socioeconomic, cultural, environmental condition

Question 3

Define and discuss oral health risk factors

Answer 3

Personal characteristics/behaviours/environments that inc. chance of contracting disease
- inc. probability!, not necessarily causal

Modifiable: environmental, behavioural
Non-modifiable: intrinsic, not easily changed

Question 4

Define protective factor (DPH)

Answer 4

Factor inc. likelihood +ve health outcome, lessen likelihood -ve consequences of risk factors

Question 5

What is a causal factor? (DPH)

Answer 5

Event/exposure plays role in occurrence of disease

Question 6

Criteria for establishing causal relationship (PHEBD)

Answer 6

Bradford Hill criteria

Strength: v large difference b/w groups
Consistency: same affect seen by many researches different areas
Specificity: risk factor associated w/ just 1 disease (many less likely be causal)
Time sequence: exposure before disease occurs
Dose-response: greater exposure inc. disease
Plausibility: is association plausible

Question 7

3 preventive strategies and interventions

Answer 7

Whole popn.: target entire popn.; red. risk factors, improve OH everyone

High-risk popn.: high risk individuals identified through screening

Directed popn.: target groups within popn. who are at risk

Question 8

Examples, dis/advantages of whole popn. preventive strategy

Answer 8

Smoking ban: red. tobacco
Water fluoridation, school toothbrushing programmes: inc. F-
Reformulation of cereals: red. sugar

Advantages

• tackle determinants and causes
• enhances sustainability by changing societal norms
• produce large changes by affecting large no. people
• eliminate compliance problems

Disadvantages

• lack of motivation in low risk popn.
• difficult to change behaviours if only few people benefit
• initially costly
• inc. health differences (inequalities)

Question 9

Examples, dis/advantages high risk strategy

Answer 9

FV high risk children
Oral cancer screening SE Asia
Breast cancer screening F

Advantages

• tailored to high risk; avoid low risk
• conserves resources; targeted where benefits greatest
• more motivated

Disadvantages

• doesn’t address cause; more high risk individuals
• stigmatising for high risk individuals
• req. reliable predictors of disease
• low uptake of individuals at greatest risk

Question 10

Examples, dis/advantages directed popn.

Answer 10

Childsmile

Advantages

• when resources limited
• identifiable disadvantaged groups

Disadvantages

• doesn’t address underlying cause
• difficult to identify groups