Class 6: Communicable disease and harm reduction

Question 1

communicable disease

Answer 1

examples: c diff., TB, strep throat

how do nurses prevent the spread of communicable disease? handwashing, medical asepsis, precautions, cover wounds

Question 2

outbreak

Answer 2

sudden rise in the incidence of disease

Question 3

endemic

Answer 3

disease is present at levels that are expected

Question 4

epidemic

Answer 4

more cases of the disease than expected

Question 5

pandemic

Answer 5

outbreak across the world

Question 6

communicable disease reporting

Answer 6

-if known or suspected that an animal or person is suffering from or has died from a communicable disease it must be reported to the medical health officer if the disease:
is listed in schedule A (immediate report)
is listed in schedule B (within 7 days) or,
becomes epidemic or shows unusual features

Question 7

what is harm reduction

Answer 7

• taking action through policy and programming to reduce the harmful effects of behaviour
• a range of nonjudgemental approaches and strategies aimed at providing and enhancing the knowledge, skill resources and supports for an individuals, their families and communities to make informed decisions to be safer and healthier

Question 8

harm reduction guiding principles

Answer 8

• pragmatism - being realistic
• human rights - right to choose
• focus on harms - decrease negative consequences
• maximize interventions options - different ways to help
• priority of immediate goals - focus on goals that are needed in this step

Question 9

what policies and programs do we have in canada to help reduce the potentially harmful effects of behaviour?

Answer 9

drinking/legal age

designated smoking areas

Question 10

pragmatism (harm reduction)

Answer 10

acknowledges that drugs carry risks but drug use also provides the user and society with benefits that must be taken into account

Question 11

human rights (harm reduction)

Answer 11

acknowledges an individuals right to self determination and supports informed decision making in the context of active drug use. emphasis is placed on personal choice, responsibility and management

Question 12

focus on harms (harm reduction)

Answer 12

decreasing negative consequences of drug use to the users and others, rather than decrease the drug use itself. while harm reduction emphasizes a change to safer practices and patterns of drug use, it recognizes the need for strategies at all stages along the continuum of drug use

Question 13

maximize intervention options (harm reduction)

Answer 13

recognizes that people who use drugs benefit from a variety of different approaches. providing options and prompt access to a broad range of interventions that helps keep people alive and safe.

Question 14

Priority of immediate goals (harm reduction)

Answer 14

immediate focus on their most pressing needs. established a hierarchy of achievable interventions that taken one at a time can lead to a fuller, healthier life for drug users and a safer, healthier community.