Case Study 1

Question 1

Hannah is a 17 year old who is working part time and attending college two days a week. She has a regular boyfriend and is on the oral contraceptive pill. She often drinks more alcohol than recommended.
She attends her GP for a routine appointment.
List four aspects of lifestyle you may cover in a consultation with any patient when giving advice to promote a healthier lifestyle

Answer 1

• diet
• exercise
• alcohol
• smoking
• illicit drug use
• sexual health

Question 2

List four aspects of health which are likely to be worse for children of all ages living in the most deprived areas compared to those living in the less deprived areas

Answer 2

• higher rates of teenage pregnancy
• low birth weight
• less likely to benefit from breast feeding in infancy
• poorer dental health
• higher rates of obesity and/or poor nutrition
• more likely to take up smoking/alcohol misuse/ substance misuse
• greater risk of admission to hospital
• greater risk of infant mortality
• less likely to benefit from health promotion and prevention programme e.g. immunisation

Question 3

Alcohol is one of several well-recognised risks to foetal well-being. List six other recognised risks to foetal well being

Answer 3

• smoking
• illicit drugs
• prescription drugs
• OTC medication, internet sourced remedies, herbal medication
• X-rays
• diet e.g. poor nutrition, lack of dietary folic acid, soft cheese, pate
• infections diseases e.g. Toxoplasm, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes
• maternal disease e.g. diabetes, epilepsy

Question 4

If a mother is to stop drinking alcohol while pregnant, she must be motivated to change. Knowledge from psychology has identified several factors related to an individual’s motivation to change.
List four factors which would make a pregnant woman more likely to stop drinking alcohol while pregnant.
For each, give an example relating to Hannah during pregnancy.

Answer 4

The advantages of not drinking e.g. having a healthy baby outweigh the disadvantages

• Hannah anticipates a positive response from others to her behaviour change e.g. Hannah’s boyfriend/family also wants the unborn child to be healthy
• There is social pressure to change e.g. very socially unacceptable to drink when obviously pregnant
• Hannah perceives the new behaviour to be consistent with her self-image e.g. perceives herself as an “earth mother”
• Hannah believes she is able to carry out the behaviour in a range of circumstances e.g. at home and at parties