Health Inequalities Flashcards
What is the WHO definition of health inequalities?
Differences in health status or in the distribution of health determinants between different population groups
What is the key determinant of health inequalities?
Deprivaition
What is sociology?
Study of the development, structure and functioning of human society
Give 3 examples of ways medical sociology may be applied.
- Studies interactions with those engaged in medical occupations e.g. doctor - patient relationships
- Studies the way people make sense of illness
- Studies the behaviour and interactions of health care professionals in their work setting e.g. doctor - nurse relationships
How can these things studied by medical sociology be useful to doctors?
Help us to promote health behaviour e.g. understanding the ways different societal groups operate and understand/perceive health
Explain the sick role example comparing patient and doctor perspectives
- The sick role patient:
- Patient feels they are exempt from their daily responsibilities because they are sick
- Patient must seek help from a healthcare professional
- Patient is under a social obligation to get better as soon as possible to be able to take up their social responsibilities again
- The sick role from a healthcare professionals’ perspective:
- Professionals must be objective and not judge patients morally
- Professionals must not act out of self-interest and must put patient first
- They must obey a professional code of practice
- Professionals must have and maintain the knowledge and skill set to treat the patient
What is the inverse care law?
Those who most need care are least likely to receive it and conversely, those with least need of health care tend to use health services more, and more effectively
Give 5 factors that can reduce health inequalities
- Partnerships across a range of sectors and organisations
- Evaluate and refine the integration of health and social care
- Government policies and legislation e.g. smoking ban, keep well campaign
- Invest more in vulnerable patients
- Reduction in poverty
- Social inclusion policies
- Improved employment opportunities for all
- Ensuring equal access to education in all areas
- Housing improvements in deprived areas
What is the difference between equality and equity?
- Equality is making a baseline level of healthcare available to everyone (e.g. the NHS)
- Equity is then giving extra support to those who are more dependent on healthcare (e.g. through third sector organisations)
Where can you acces the variety of third sector organisations availiable?
Grampian care data website
What are the socioeconomic influences on our health (8)?
- Gender:
- Women more likely to attend GP
- Housing:
- Cold homes
- Financial security
- Health system:
- The distribution of GPs across Scotland does not reflect the levels of deprivation
- Ethnicity:
- Expectations
- Traditions
- Communication barriers
- Education:
- Higher education = healthier
- Increased uptake of screening programmes in educated populations
- Employment:
- Income and financial security
- Social contacts
- Societal status
- Purpose
- Environment:
- Transport:
- Expansion of car use (RTAs, pollution)
- Active travel such as cycling and walking
- In rural areas infrastructure may present challenges
- Media:
- Stereotypes
- Shapes expectations
- Stigma
- Transport:
The 4 E’s.
Who has higher morbidity/mortality, men or women?
- Men have a higher mortality
- Women have a higher morbidity
List 5 different vulnerable groups and how their healthcare is impacted by their situation
- The homeless:
- Reduced life expectancy
- Increased risk of suicide
- Increased alcohol and drug misuse
- More likely to be assaulted
- Prevalence of infectious diseases such as TB, HIV, HCV
- Poorer oral health
- 1/3 of rough sleepers are not registered with a GP
- Attendance at A+E is 8x higher than that of the general population
- Learning disability:
- Lack of accessible transport links
- May not be identified as LD
- Staff having little understanding of LD
- Failure to recognise those with LD are unwell
- Failure to make correct diagnosis
- Anxiety or lack of confidence
- Lack of joint working from different care providers
- Lack of involvement of carers
- Inadequate aftercare
- Refugees:
- Family integrity
- Social issues
- Language barriers
- Poorly controlled or undiagnosed health conditions
- Unfamiliarity with healthcare
- Infectious diseases
- Exposure to violence
- PTSD, anxiety, depression
- Prisoners:
- Increased prevalence of smoking, drug abuse, alcohol misuse
- On release they live in deprived areas
- Increased risk of violence and suicide
- LGBT:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self-harm
- Lack of understanding
List 4 benefits of volunteering w/ charity organisations
- Gain confidence
- Make a difference
- Meet people
- Be part of a community
- Learn new skills
- Take on a challenge
- Have fun
