Core 1: FQ1 How are priority issues for Australia's health identified?

Question 1

health status

Answer 1

is the pattern of health of the population in general over a period of time.

Question 2

epidemiology

Answer 2

is the study of disease in groups or populations through the collection of data and information, to identify patterns and causes.

Question 3

prevalence

Answer 3

is the number of cases of disease that exists in a defined population at a point in time.

Question 4

incidence

Answer 4

is the number of new cases of disease occurring in a defined population over a period of time.

Question 5

distribution

Answer 5

the extent

Question 6

what is epidemiology used for?

Answer 6

obtain a picture of the health status of a population, to identify the patterns of health and disease, and analyse how health services and facilities are being used.

Question 7

who uses epidemiology?

Answer 7

governments and health-related organisations

Question 8

limitations of epidemiology

Answer 8

1. do not always show the significant variations in the health status among population subgroups.
2. doesnt consider QOL.
3. cannot provide the whole health picture.
4. fail to explain ‘why’ health inequities persist.
5. do not account for health determinants.

Question 9

limitations of epidemiology statistics are due to:

Answer 9

1. the varying reliability of data
2. the numerous sources of information
3. imprecise methods of data collection
4. whether surveys use standard instruments, definitions and classifications

Question 10

measures of epidemiology

Answer 10

mortality, infant mortality, morbidity, life expectency

Question 11

Mortality

Answer 11

refers to the number of deaths in a given population from a particular cause and/or over a period of time.

Question 12

What can mortality rates show us?

Answer 12

mortality can be used to compare health status across groups and between years

Question 13

Main causes of death in Aust

Answer 13

cancers, cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) diseases, and respiratory diseases.

Question 14

Infant mortality

Answer 14

refers to the number of infant deaths in the first year of life, per 1000 live births.

Question 15

What can infant mortality show us?

Answer 15

This measure is considered to be the most important indicator of the health status of a nation, and can also predict adult life expectancy.

Question 16

True or false: infant mortality has declined over the recent years

Answer 16

true

Question 17

Why has infant mortality declined?

Answer 17

1. improved diagnosis
2. improved public sanitation
3. health education
4. improved services for new parents

Question 18

True or false: infant mortality is higher in ATSI people

Answer 18

true, it is twice as high

Question 19

Morbidity

Answer 19

is the incidence or level of illness, disease or injury in a given population.

Question 20

How is morbity measured?

Answer 20

hospital use, doctor visits, health surveys and reports, disability and handicap incidence.

Question 21

Life expectancy

Answer 21

is the length of time a person can expect to live. More specifically, it refers to the average number of years of life remaining to a person at a particular age, based on current death rates.

Question 22

Average life expectancy (men)

Answer 22

80.4 years

Question 23

Average life expectancy (female)

Answer 23

84.5 years

Question 24

Why has life expectency improved?

Answer 24

1. lower infant mortality
2. declining death rates for cardiovascular disease
3. declining overall death rates from cancer
4. fall in deaths from traffic accidents.

Question 25

Increased amount of elderly has caused:

Answer 25

increased demand for health services that cater for the elderly,
an increased need for nursing homes,
and the need to provide care for a growing number of dependent people.

Question 26

What factors are considered when identifying a health priority?

Answer 26

social justice principles

priority population groups

prevalence of the condition

potential for prevention and early intervention

costs to the individual and community.

Question 27

Social justice

Answer 27

is a value that favours the reduction or elimination of inequity, the promotion of inclusiveness of diversity, and the establishment of environments that are supportive of all people.

Question 28

diversity

Answer 28

comprises the differences among individuals and among groups of people.

Question 29

How to prinicples of social justice help identify health priorities?

Answer 29

We can determine the impact these principles have on reducing health inequities and improving the health of the nation

For example, the provision of equal access to resources, health services, education and information may reduce the incidence of diabetes in the indigenous population.

Question 30

multiculturalism

Answer 30

is the coexistence of groups in a society representing different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Question 31

How does identifying priority population groups help identify health priorities?

Answer 31

determine the health disadvantages of groups within the population

better understand the social determinants of health

identify the prevalence of disease and injury in specific groups

determine the needs of groups in relation to the principles of social justice.

Question 32

What group has higher death rates from heart disease, injury, respiratory diseases and diabetes?

Answer 32

indigenous populations

Question 33

What groups has a higher higher incidence of disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking and lower use of preventative health services?

Answer 33

Low socio economic groups

Question 34

People living in rural areas have higher - ?

Answer 34

death rates and a higher incidence of heart disease and injury, compared with people who reside in metropolitan areas

Question 35

Who is at more risk of lung cancer? Men or women?

Answer 35

Men

Question 36

Cardiovascular disease is…

Answer 36

the highest preventable cause of death in Australia

Question 37

For changes to occur, we must address

Answer 37

individual behaviours and environmental determinants.

Question 38

How is the economic and health burden of an illness measured?

Answer 38

financial loss, loss of productivity, diminished quality of life and emotional stress

Question 39

Indirect costs of illness

Answer 39

the value of the output lost when people become too ill to work or die prematurely

(for example, the cost of forgone earnings, absenteeism and the retraining of replacement workers).

Question 40

Direct costs of illness

Answer 40

include the money spent on diagnosing, treating and caring for the sick, plus the money spent on prevention. These costs can be estimated from the expenses of medical services, hospital admissions, pharmaceutical prescriptions, prevention initiatives, research, screening and education, for example.