HLST 201 - Midterm prep

Question 1

WHO Definition of Health

Answer 1

a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Question 2

Social Determinants of Health (12)

Answer 2

Income and Social Status
Social Support Networks
Education and Literacy
Employment/Working Conditions
Social Environments
Physical Environments
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills
Healthy Child Development
Biology and Genetic Endowment
Health Services
Gender
Culture

Question 3

KEY DETERMINANT – 1. Income and Social Status

Answer 3

Higher income and status generally results in more control and discretion. And the biological pathways for how this could happen are becoming better understood. A number of recent studies show that limited options and poor coping skills for dealing with stress increase vulnerability to a range of diseases through pathways that involve the immune and hormonal systems.

Question 4

KEY DETERMINANT – 2. Social Support Networks

Answer 4

Support from families, friends and communities is associated with better health. Such social support networks could be very important in helping people solve problems and deal with adversity, as well as in maintaining a sense of mastery and control over life circumstances.

Question 5

KEY DETERMINANT – 3. Education and Literacy

Answer 5

Education is closely tied to socioeconomic status, and effective education for children and lifelong learning for adults are key contributors to health and prosperity for individuals, and for the country.

Question 6

KEY DETERMINANT – 4. Employment / Working Conditions

Answer 6

Unemployment, underemployment, stressful or unsafe work are associated with poorer health.

People who have more control over their work circumstances and fewer stress related demands of the job are healthier and often live longer than those in more stressful or riskier work and activities.

Question 7

KEY DETERMINANT – 5. Social Environments

Answer 7

It is reflected in the institutions, organizations and informal giving practices that people create to share resources and build attachments with others. The array of values and norms of a society influence in varying ways the health and well being of individuals and populations. In addition, social stability, recognition of diversity, safety, good working relationships, and cohesive communities provide a supportive society that reduces or avoids many potential risks to good health.

Question 8

KEY DETERMINANT – 6. Physical Environments

Answer 8

The physical environment is an important determinant of health. At certain levels of exposure, contaminants in our air, water, food and soil can cause a variety of adverse health effects, including cancer, birth defects, respiratory illness and gastrointestinal ailments.

In the built environment, factors related to housing, indoor air quality, and the design of communities and transportation systems can significantly influence our physical and psychological well-being.

Question 9

KEY DETERMINANT – 7. Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills

Answer 9

Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills refer to those actions by which individuals can prevent diseases and promote self-care, cope with challenges, and develop self-reliance, solve problems and make choices that enhance health.

Question 10

KEY DETERMINANT – 8. Healthy Child Development

Answer 10

Experiences from conception to age six have the most important influence of any time in the life cycle on the connecting and sculpting of the brain’s neurons. Positive stimulation early in life improves learning, behaviour and health into adulthood.
-loving secure parent/caregiver attachment

Question 11

KEY DETERMINANT – 9. Biology and Genetic Endowment

Answer 11

Genetic endowment provides an inherited predisposition to a wide range of individual responses that affect health status. Although socio-economic and environmental factors are important determinants of overall health, in some circumstances genetic endowment appears to predispose certain individuals to particular diseases or health problems.

Question 12

KEY DETERMINANT – 10. Health Services

Answer 12

Health services, particularly those designed to maintain and promote health, to prevent disease, and to restore health and function contribute to population health. The health services continuum of care includes treatment and secondary prevention

Question 13

KEY DETERMINANT – 11. Gender

Answer 13

Gender refers to the array of society-determined roles, personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, values, relative power and influence that society ascribes to the two sexes on a differential basis.

“Gendered” norms influence the health system’s practices and priorities. Many health issues are a function of gender-based social status or roles.

Question 14

KEY DETERMINANT – 12. Culture

Answer 14

Some persons or groups may face additional health risks due to a socio-economic environment, which is largely determined by dominant cultural values that contribute to the perpetuation of conditions such as marginalization, stigmatization, loss or devaluation of language and culture and lack of access to culturally appropriate health care and services.

Question 15

Health Equity

Answer 15

• Reduce or level the playing felid for access to health services and outcomes for those of different levels of social privilege
• the absence of systemic disparities in health

Question 16

H.A.L.E

Answer 16

Health adjusted life expectancy - the number of year one can expect to live in good health, not just live

Question 17

4 Leading Causes of Death in Canada

Answer 17

Cancer
Heart Disease
Stroke
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases

men ** accident #3 and bumps stroke off top 4

Question 18

Income inequality

Answer 18

Canada ranks 12th out if 17 countries

Question 19

Gini coefficient

Answer 19

Gini coefficient calculates the extent to which the distribution of income among individuals within a country deviates from an exactly equal distribution:
a Gini coefficient of 0 represents exact equality—that is, every person in the society has the same amount of income
a Gini coefficient of 1 represents total inequality—that is, one person has all the income and the rest of the society has none

Question 20

Causal relationship

Answer 20

one state is directly responsible for another state. ie - low income is directly responsible for poor health outcome

** suicide not included - more prevalent in more equal society

Question 21

Cross‑sectional association

Answer 21

observational study that analyzes data from a population, or a representative subset, at a specific point in time

Question 22

Correlational association

Answer 22

more precisely it is a measure of the extent to which two variables are related. There are three possible results of a correlational study: a positive correlation, a negative correlation, and no correlation.
Ie. income is related to teenage pregnancy

Question 23

Social gradient and social status

Answer 23

The social gradient in health is a term used to describe the phenomenon whereby people who are less advantaged in terms of socioeconomic position have worse health (and shorter lives) than those who are more advantaged

Question 24

Social Support Network

Form of Social Capital

Answer 24

Do have friends or family you could call on for anything at any time

• individual social capital

Question 25

Social Environment

Form of Social Capital

Answer 25

• community social capital

Question 26

General Social Capital

Answer 26

In general, social capital is considered a set of resources available to individuals and communities as a result of social networks. The value of social capital resides in the overall positive consequences resulting from the creation and maintenance of social contacts: flow of information, trust, reciprocity, co-operation, and productivity

Question 27

Individual Social Capital

Answer 27

strong, reliable personal networks based on reciprocity, that allow individuals to get emotional support, companionship and financial assistance in an emergency, and which are referred to as ‘strong ties’; and
-extended and diverse networks of acquaintances that provide access to key resources (privileged information, contacts, job opportunities, etc.) and which are referred to as ‘weak ties.’

Question 28

Community Social Capital

Answer 28

‘generalized trust.’ In short, even though social capital or ‘generalized trust’ can be the product of the diverse relationships and social contacts between individuals, the emphasis is on the positive effects for society as a whole.

Previous studies, based on the collective approach, have found that when a community has high levels of social capital, crime levels are lower, children perform better in school, political involvement is higher, and economic growth is stronger

Question 29

Education

Answer 29

Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include teaching, training, storytelling, discussion and directed research.

Question 30

Literacy

Answer 30

the ability to understand and then use information

With a more literate workforce, Canada is also better able to compete in the global economy.

Question 31

Basic participants

Answer 31

These people have low literacy and basic skills, are often unemployed, lack coping strategies, and when employed, cannot perform most jobs fully competently.

Question 32

Mainstream participants

Answer 32

These people have mid-range literacy and job-specific skills, are usually employed and performing their jobs reasonably competently, but may be experiencing difficulties in adjusting to workplace change

Question 33

Advanced participants

Answer 33

These people have high literacy and job-specific skills and advanced thinking skills that enable them to adapt to workplace change, innovate, and create new processes, products, and services

Question 34

Health literacy

Answer 34

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions

knowing where to find and how to follow directives from Health care providers

Question 35

learning recognition gap

Answer 35

people may hold knowledge and skills that are not formally recognized (through academic credits or trade/organization/professional certification) by employers or credential-granting institutions. An obvious example is immigrants whose foreign credentials are not recognized in Canada.

Question 36

Employment

Answer 36

Someone works in exchange for payment

Question 37

Working Conditions

Answer 37

the core of paid work and employment relationships. Generally speaking, working conditions cover a broad range of topics and issues, from working time (hours of work, rest periods, and work schedules) to remuneration, as well as the physical conditions and mental demands that exist in the workplace.

Question 38

Unemployment rate

Answer 38

the amount of people seeking work that are unable to find it
highest in 1983 - 12%
lowest in 2007 - 6%

Question 39

Full employment

Answer 39

when everyone who wants a job has one. the lowest possible unemployment rate without igniting inflation

Question 40

Metabolic syndrome

Answer 40

a clustering of risk factors that increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.1 These risk factors include abdominal obesity (high waist circumference), elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high fasting blood glucose, and high blood pressure

found in 22% of Canadians aged 22-79. Increases with age

Question 41

Ecological approach

Answer 41

When you consider the variety of factors affecting an individual’s participation in physical activity, you are using an ecological approach. This approach will help you create an environment that supports physical activity for people of all ages, abilities, and cultures.

Question 42

Walkable community

Answer 42

• A centre: Walkable neighbourhoods have a centre, whether it’s a main street or a public space.
• People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
• Mixed income, mixed use: Affordable housing located near businesses.
• Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.
• Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street, parking lots are relegated to the back.
• Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
• Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit.

Question 43

Canadian physical activity guidelines (18–64 years)

Answer 43

150min moderate to vigorous activity/week

at least 2 bone/muscle strengthening sessions/week