CORE 1 Flashcards
What is Epidemiology?
the study of rates and patterns of illness, disease and injury amongst specific population groups.
Purposes of epidemiology?
monitor major causes of sickness/death, identify priority population groups, evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and treatment.
Who uses epidemiology?
researchers, health department officials, government, health practitioners
measures of epidemiology
mortality, infant mortality, morbidity, life expectancy
Mortality
number of deaths for a given cause in a population over a set period
Morbidity
patterns of illness, disease and injury that do not result in death
Infant mortality
number of deaths in the first year of life
Life expectancy
average number of years a person can expect to live at any given age
limitations of epidemiology
can be manipulated, focuses on negative aspects of health, does not focus on the quality of life, little data on impact of disease, does not say why health inequities persist
what are priority population groups
groups that do not achieve the same health outcomes in any area as the rest of the population (e.g. ATSI)
social justice principles
Equity, diversity, supportive environments
Potential for prevention and early intervention
prevention = ability to avoid the condition from occurring
early intervention = greater success of treatment if condition is identified early
Prevalence of a condition
the number of cases in the population at a given time
higher prevalence = higher priority
Costs to individual and community
money, time, mental health, independence, time off work
example: cancer is a high-cost disease, where arthritis is not
healthy ageing
the process that involves various behaviours and choices that affect health. the goal of healthy ageing is to maintain health into old age allowing contribution to workforce and society for longer
availability of carers and volunteers
a carer is someone who provides assistance in a formal paid it informal unpaid role. most informal carers are family and charities
demand for health services and workforce shortages
concern ageing population will place an unsustainable strain on the health system. there is a need for increased training in aged care and chronic diseases/disability.
range and types of health facilities and services
Institutional = Hospitals (Public + Private), Nursing homes
Non-Institutional = GP’s, Allied health (physio, chiro), Dentists, Pharmaceuticals
equity of access to health services and facilities
Australian population distribution makes equity of access difficult (metropolitan areas and rural areas).
Medicare and PBS based on SJP aim to provide equity
Impact of emerging new technologies on health care
- benefits to health outcomes and improve early detection and prevention e.g keyhole surgery, MRI’s, ultrasound. This improves the quality of life and increases life expectancy.
- negatives include increase expenses and not all Australians willing to pay/afford
health care expenditure versus expenditure on early intervention and prevention
early intervention and prevention can help reduce health care costs.
Major prevention strategies include good hygiene, sanitation, clean water.
Early intervention strategies include cancer screening programs (breast, prostate, skin)
Health insurance: Medicare and Private
MEDICARE = funded through the tax system and provides free hospital care and free or subsidised treatment by GP’s or specialists.
PRIVATE = no need to pay medicare levy, provides greater choice in doctors/hospitals, covers some ancillary costs, faster access to elective surgery.
complementary and alternative health services/products
Complementary health services/products are used in conjunction with conventional western medicine. e.g. yoga with cancer treatment
Alternative health services/products are used instead of conventional western medicine e.g. herbal medicine
Reasons for growth of complementary and alternative health services/products
promotion of holistic view of health, increased credibility, PHI fund cover, growing multiculturalism in AUS
