Healthcare inequalities Flashcards
Which factors contribute to health and wellbeing?
Age, sex, hereditary Lifestyle factors Social and community networks Living and working conditions Socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions
What are the possible reasons behind association of health and deprivation?
Artefact- not genuine, just the way it is measured
Social selection- health determines economic status
Behavioural- deprived- smoke, poor diet, less exercise
Psychological- poorly paid, low status job, little autonomy, harmful
Material- direct effects of poverty
Poorer access to healthcare
Ill health leading to more ill health
What are the aspects of healthcare use?
1) Recognise need, lay referral
2) Seek access and advice
3) Diagnosis, treatment and support
4) Screening
5) Health promotion
What factors impact on decision of whether to access healthcare?
Person- age, sex, ethnicity, previous experiences
Nature and duration of symptoms
Accessibility of formal healthcare
Cost, convenience, attitude of staff
What is the NHS?
Free at the point of use
What is equity?
Recognises that people have different needs, tries to minimise the difference between the care of people with similar needs.
What is equality?
Everyone gets the same regardless of need and ability to benefit
Why is there lower survival in patients from more deprived areas?
Differences in diagnosis- delay, advanced stage disease
Differences in treatment- delays, poorer access to optimal care and lower compliance
General health- worse in more deprived
Type of disease- histological more aggressive
How does the NSF try to reduce cancer healthcare inequalities?
Increase funding for early diagnosis
Increase GP access to diagnostic tests
Support GPs in commissioning cancer services
Cover cost of increased testing
Support campaigns raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer
