CORE 1. Flashcards
What is the role of epidemiology?
The study of the patterns and causes of health & diseases in populations. This study is applied to improve health
What can epidemiology tell us?
The basic health status of Australia and the trends in mortality/morbidity over a period of time. It:
- Monitors major causes of illness and death (emerging issues and inequalities)
- Identifies and targets areas in need of prevention, treatment and funding
- Monitors use of health care services
Who uses the measures of epidemiology?
- Policymakers (three levels of government i.e. local, state, federal)
- Manufacturers of health products (drug) and providers of health services (gym/helplines)
- Governments to compare our health with other countries
Identify the limitations of epidemiology?
- Doesn’t show variations between health status among subgroups E.G. ATSI & non – AB people
- Doesn’t accurately indicate the quality of life in terms of people’s health
- Can’t provide whole picture health E.G. mental health is non-existent in data
- Imprecise methods, source and reliability of data collections E.G. R/R areas
Identify the 4 measures of epidemiology?
- Morbidity
- Mortality
- Infant mortality
- Life expectancy
- Morbidity + examples
= refers to ill health in an individual and to levels of ill health in a population
E.G. the number of cases of obesity is increasing, whereas CHD is declining in both females and males in AUS
= Has two indicators
- Prevalence: the number of cases of disease at a specific time
- Incidence: the number of new cases occurring
- Mortality + examples
= measures the number of deaths from a particular cause over a given period of time
- E.G. lung cancer (the leading cause of death) is decreasing for males and increasing for females
- 2nd leading cause = dementia & Alzheimer
- Infant mortality + examples
= measures the number of deaths among children aged under 1 year in a given period per 1000 live births
- predicts adult life expectancy
- E.G. infant mortality is decreasing & relatively low
- Indicates better health education & improved medical diagnosis
- Life expectancy + examples
= the average number of years a person will live
E.G. females = 84.4 yrs,
E.G. males = 80.3 yrs
- Death rates continue to fall due to better healthcare, immunisation, the decline in CVD and cancer deaths, reduced traffic accidents, etc
Identify the priority health issues
- Social justice principles
- Priority population groups
- Prevalence of conditions
- Potential for prevention and early intervention
- Cost to individuals and communities
- Social justice principles
SJ = the elimination of inequity, the promotion of inclusiveness and the establishment of supportive environments for all
- Equity = everyone has fair access to health services, support & resources
E.G. Centrelink (financial aid) - Diversity = recognises social, cultural factors that impact an individual’s health/wellbeing
E.G. brochures in multiple languages within hospitals - Supportive environments = physical and social aspects of where people live, play & work + access to resources & opportunities
E.G. National Road Safety Strategy i.e. additional speed cameras
- Priority population groups
PPG = groups in society with significantly different health statuses, disadvantages & inequalities:
- ATSI people = higher death rate (10.6% male, 9.5% female), smoking rates, rates of disability
- Low SES = higher rates of smoking & diabetes levels, death from avoidable causes, less likely to seek dental check-ups to cost
- R & R Area = higher levels of smoking, rates of obesity, levels of risky drinking, blood pressure and lack of activity
- Prevalence of conditions
- Prevalence of a condition assists in the identification of risk factors = indicates the potential for change for the health issue
- High prevalence of specific diseases places a significant economic & health burden on the community
- E.G. CVD is the leading cause of preventable death in AUS
- Potential for prevention and early intervention
- Intervention should be aimed at modifying the environment which can change people’s lifestyle behaviours
- Educating people & making them aware of the risk factors
- Sociocultural: E.G. men with a high tendency to part-take in high-risk activities i.e. drugs
- Physical: E.G. affect a person’s ability to attain work/socialise
- Environmental: E.G. . R & R areas have less access to health services/treatment
- Economic: E.G. $$ treatment & health services impacts their health literacy
- Costs to individuals and communities
INDIVIDUAL = cost/burden measure in terms of:
- Direct effect = the cost of medication and treatment, loss of income
- Indirect effect = the cost of emotional stress, depression, the burden on others, reduced quality of life
COMMUNITIES = economic burden of illness, disease & death
- Direct effect = the cost of hospitalisation, Medicare, prevention programs, pharmaceuticals, education and screening
- Indirect effect = the cost of foregone earning, retraining replacement workers and absenteeism
Difference between health inequity vs. health inequality
- Inequity refers to unfair/unjust differences in health
- Inequality refers to the differences in the health of individuals and groups
Nature & extent of health inequities within ATSI populations?
- Significantly poorer outcomes than the rest of the Australian population
- Lower life expectancy (17 years less than other Australians)
- Higher levels of cancer (1.5x more likely), higher prevalence of cancer & higher levels of diabetes/CVD (5x more likely)
- This is due to lower levels of education, employment & income
3 Health determinants within the ATSI population
SOCIOCULTURAL:
- Long history of racism & discrimination
- ATSI is intergenerational & impacts physical health
- More likely to participate in high-risk activities i.e. drugs
- Low self-esteem and poor mental health
SOCIOECONOMIC:
- Low levels of education can significantly limit employment opportunities
- Earn a lower gross income which can affect lifestyle behaviours (physical activity & diet)
ENVIRONMENTAL:
- Large proportion live in rural areas which have limited access to health care services and facilities
- Employment opportunities are labour intensive this increased risk of injury
Role of communities, individuals & governments within ATSI population
INDIVIDUALS: access information & health services
- encourage choices promoting good health
- E.G. ATSI should pursue careers in health care
COMMUNITIES: responsibility to address inequities
- provide support, educate the community, create awareness E.G. QUIT smoking groups
GOVERNMENTS: creating health policies
- health initiatives specifically designed to improve the health of ATSI E.G. Closing the Gap
Nature & extent of health inequities within R/R areas
- Death rates 1.5 x more prevalent
- High rates of cancer, high levels of disability and suicide, high death rates of liver cirrhosis
- Poor oral health
- Links to the access of health facilities
3 Health determinants within R/R areas
SOCIOCULTURAL:
- children growing up around smokers are subject to 2nd hand smoking & more likely to smoke when they are older
- Obese families influence their children’s diets & lifestyle
- lower levels of P.A. & higher levels of risky drinking
SOCIOECONOMIC:
- Education: lack of education opportunities leads to lower health literacy
- Employment: more likely to work on farms, in transportation or mines which is hazardous with higher rates of tobacco and alcohol use
- Income: lower average income
ENVIRONMENTAL:
- Poor distribution of medical specialists and medical technology E.G. GPs & cancer services in R/R areas
- Number of GP’s is rising but still lower than in major cities
Role of communities, individuals & governments within R/R areas
INDIVIDUALS: good decision making and taking responsibility for their own health
- remaining in school or going to uni E.G. Charles Stewart
- improves knowledge, employment opportunities and income levels
- promotes good health choices in R/R families
COMMUNITIES: provides relevant health care and support services
- Developing of multi-purpose service programs
- Community health centres with the health services
GOVERNMENTS: funds programs to assist the health care of R/R living people
- E.G. Royal Flying Doctor Service provides health care, clinics, medical evacuations, provides medical check-ups and remote consultations
What are chronic diseases + examples
Chronic diseases are long term and persistent conditions that can lead to a gradual deterioration of health & are responsible for 80% of the total disease burden
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer (skin, lung, breast)
- Diabetes
Nature & Extent of CVD
CVD = Condition affecting the blood vessels and heart (poor supply of blood to muscular walls of the heart)
- Atherosclerosis is the main cause of CHD, stroke due to the build-up of fatty tissues in vessels causing narrowing and decrease in blood
- 1 in 6 Australians affected & cause 27% of deaths
- Decreasing mortality rate for both males/females