Impact Of Chronic Health Conditions/Disabilities Flashcards
What is the first challenge facing work, health and society?
To minimise ill health and mitigae its effects on function, enabling participation in work and extending working life.
What are the annual economic costs of sickness-absence and worklessness associated with ill health?
Over 150 billion pounds - greater than the budget of the NHS.
What risks are associated with high levels of sickness-absence and worklessness?
- diminished quality of life in Britain
- undermine efforts to reach full employment
- deny business the talent and contributions of a potential workforce
- condemn workless families to a cycle of poverty and dependency that will widen inequalities, perpetuate social injustice in the most deprived communities and obstruct efforts to eradicate child poverty.
What is a newer definition of health?
To be able to do as much as possible for as long as possible in working and non working lives.
Describe the extent of global disability.
- 15% of people experience physical or mental disability
- > 1 billion people
- 200 million of which are children
Why are the number of people with disabilities increasing?
- population growth
- increase in chronic disease
- medical advances which extend and prolong life (ageing population)
State the figures of disability and impairment for the UK.
- 11 million people affected
- 6% of children classed as having disability or impairment
- 16% of working age adults classed as having disability or impairment
- 45% of adults over state pension age classed as having disability or impairment
What is the definition of a disabled person according to the Equality Act of 2010?
A disabled person is one with a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial or long term effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities (but not on their ability to do a job).
(Even if a condition is controlled by drugs or assisted by a aid e.g. hearing aid/counselling, it still counts as a disability. Exception is eyesight being controlled by spectacles)
Define impairment.
Due to an injury, illness or congenital condition that causes or is likely to cause a loss or difference of physiological or phsychological function
List some of the causes of disability in young people.
- prenatal
- premature
- birth injury e.g. cerebral palsy
- congenital e.g. Down’s syndrome
- accident
- infection e.g. meningitis, polio, septic arthritis
- violence
- disease
- developmental e.g. Spina bifida, club foot
- metabolic e.g. rickets
List some of the barriers that children with a disability may face.
- physical disability
- locomotor disability
- cosmetic disability
- sensory e.g. blind or deaf
- cognitive impairment
List some examples of purposeful activity.
- paid employment
- self employment
- voluntary work
- education
- carer
- homemaker
- child rearing
- full time or part time
- community activies e.g. clubs, church
What factors can influence participation in work and school?
- personal
- external
- disease
What is the biopsychosocial model of disability?
- disability
- attitudes and beliefs
- psychological distress
- social reinforcers
List some of the promoting factors for promoting young disabled people in work participation.
- gender - male
- educational level predictive for employment
- parental educational level
- higher level of psychosocial functioning
- lower scores on depression scales
List some hindering facts of young disabled people in work participation.
- lower educational factors
- gender - female
- inpatient treatment a negative predictor
- motor impairment
- wheelchair use
- functional limitations
- multiple health problems
- low mental health perception, dependent coping strategy impeding factors for employment
State the qualifying conditions for disability regulations.
- physical impairment, includes sensory
- mental impairment, includes mental illness and learning difficulties
- substantial effect = > 12 months or terminal
- effect on day to day activities
List some of the ways in which a disability may have an effect on an individuals day to day activities.
- mobility
- manual dexterity
- physical coordination
- continence
- ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects
- memory or inability to learn or concentrate
- pain, fatigue, severe disfigurement
What is the doctors role in advising about disability to employers?
- identification of the health issue
- understanding the prognosis
- assessment of impact on functioning
- knowledge of the work undertaken
- assessing fitness for work
- are restrictions, adaptations, adjustments needed?
What are some reasonable adjustments that could be made to help a disabled person to work?
- adjustment to premises, workstation e.g. voice activated software
- support e.g. supervision
- change in duties/redeployment
- modification of hours/place of work
- absence from work for treatment/rehabilitation
- may involved moving from higher to lower grade of job
What is the role of health professional in deciding what reasonable adjustments may be suitable for a disabled person?
- state whether or not there is an impairment
- state effect on day to day activities
- state how long it will last
- recommend adjustments to enable worker to do the job
- should not definitively state that the person is disabled as that is a legal issue
What is the role of the occupational health physician?
- assess fitness for work e.g. pilots, train drivers
- stop workers being damaged by their work
- control occupational hazards and risks
- adapt work to suit the ageing or disabled worker
- assess impact of health on ability to work
- to extend working lives
- assess eligibility for ill health retirement
Why is good work important?
- good work prolongs life expectancy
- defines who you are, what you earn, life expectancy
- gives you a purpose
- promotes well being
- bad work damages health
List some of the activities of daily living.
- personal care
- dressing
- walking, stairs, distances
- domestics tasks e.g. housework, gardening
- driving
- work tasks
- financial tasks
