Core 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Mortality
A
Number of deaths over a specific time (usually a year) in a population.
2
Q
Infant Mortality
A
Number of deaths among children under 1 year in a given period per 1,000 live births in the same period
3
Q
Morbidity
A
A measure of the prevalence and incidence of illness and injury in a population
4
Q
Life expectancy
A
An indication of how long a person can expect to live, depending on the age they have already reached.
5
Q
Limitations of epidemiology
A
- Does not account for the health determinants
- Health workers in remote communities lack resources to conduct adequate data collection
- Does not always show the significant variations in the health status among population sub-groups
- depends on valid data
6
Q
Cardiovascular disease protective factors
A
- protective nature of oestrogen women experience pre-menopause
- managing stress effectively –> stress can trigger heart attacks
- participating in regular exercise –> strengthens heart and surrounding muscles, reduces cholesterol
- eating a balanced diet (low in salt and fat and alcohol) –> controls blood pressure
- -> last two reduce hypertension and plaque build-up on vascular walls (diet), increases cardiovascular fitness (physical activity)
7
Q
Cardiovascular disease risk factors
A
- high blood pressure and smoking –> increased stress on heart and vascular tissues (athreloscelerosis)
- sedentary behaviour –> increases blood pressure
- family history of cardiovascular disease
- over 65 years of age –> higher risk of heart attack
8
Q
Impacts of ageing population
A
- aged people consume more health resources than any other sector of the Australian population
- health ageing reduces risk of most non-infectious diseases and mental illnesses and allows the maintenance of independent lifestyles without routine health concerns
- pressure off healthcare infrastructure such as hospitals, nursing homes and other medical centres
- stay longer in the workforce
- volunteering and carers = significant component of workforce e.g. Meals on Wheels, looking after grandchildren
9
Q
Healthy ageing
A
Definition: Healthy ageing is the process of adopting protective health behaviours to increase life expectancy and quality of life for the elderly.
- This allow elderly to maintain health into old age and remain in workforce longer and engage in society better, thus decrease the demands on health and aged care services due to illness.
- e.g. government initiative such as Seniors Connected Program to address mental health and wellbeing experienced by older Australians aged 55 or above –> FriendLine and Village Hubs (mental, social and physical health)
- RESULT: increased healthy ageing in Australia and decreasing demands on health services and facilities
10
Q
Increased people living with chronic disease and disability
A
- as Aus population grows, higher population of the aged
- survival rates of chronic disease have increased due to Australia’s advanced and improving healthcare system (although decreased quality of life) e.g. stroke survivor may be paralysed and may find it difficult to maintain a healthy and active life
- chronic disease accounts for 80% of total disease burden in Aus and estimated to be responsible for 3/4 of deaths in Australia
- 95% of ppl with demetia are elderly
- Main disease share common risk factors
11
Q
Demand for health services and workforce shortages
A
- demand has risen due to increased people living with chronic disease and disability
- more specialists, GPs, emergency services, housing and accommodation needed to meet demands
- gov initiatives include: increased residential aged care places, more funding for dementia and incentive for people to remain in home
- workforce shortages because: limited number of trained healthcare students, unattractive working hours, large proportion of the elderly in rural and remote
12
Q
Availability of carers and volunteers
A
- significant component of unpaid workforce
- Australians over 55 contribute about $75 billion per annum in unpaid caring and volunteering activities
- high demand for carers and volunteers due to large proportion of people living with chronic disease and disability
- volunteers have unpaid jobs as part of formal association such as Anglicare, Meals on Wheels and Alzeimer’s Australia
- social and economic impact of volunteers and carers –> emotionally tiring, income and premature retirement sacrifice, less social outings
13
Q
Partnership
A
collaborations on health between many groups including both the government sector and non-government agencies, along with local communities and the individual – all working together to achieve a common goal.
14
Q
Benefits of partnership
A
- Addresses the needs of individuals and communities
- A more comprehensive form of health promotion
- Better results more likely
- Empowers individuals to act
- More efficient health promotion (no doubling up and reduced wasted time/money)
15
Q
Partnership example: Breast Screen Australia
A
- Free screening program that aims to maximise early detection of breast cancer
- Targets women aged 50-69 years as they are of higher risk and will receive optimum benefits from the screening, although younger and older women are also eligible to attend
- Program operates over hundreds of fixed, relocatable and mobile stations
1. State & territory governments have primary responsibility for implementation of the program at a local level.
2. Australian Government provides overall coordination of policy formation, national data collection, quality control, monitoring and evaluation.
3. Health departments and Cancer council promote ‘Breast screen’ services
4. GP’s and community groups help to promote to women in the targeted group.
5. NSW Cancer Institute provides ongoing scientific research.
6. Local Government provides sites and access.
As a result breast cancer mortality is declining.
