ISM DHC Flashcards
Outline the direct and indirect impacts of natural disasters on population health
Direct injuries as result of the disaster
Communicable diseases
Acute illness (e.g. earthquakes can release soil containing spores that cause illness)
Direct system effects (healthcare facilities and workers are subject to the same destructive forces)
Damage to physical infrastructure
Outline activities countries should undertake to ensure preparedness for disaster
Free education (educate public on natural disaster plans and what to do for better survival rate)
Technology (implement early warning systems)
Discourage settlement on high risk lands
Ensure reconstruction efforts are geared towards improving infrastructure
Describe the harm minimisation principle of prevention
Harm minimisation approach considers the actual harms associated with the use of.a drug rather than just the drug itself, and how these harms can be reduced.
Harm reduction: reducing the harm from drugs for both individuals and communities and not necessarily stopping drug use (e.g. needle syringe services)
Supply reduction: aimed at reducing the production and supply of illicit drugs (e.g. increasing cost through actions like crop eradication)
Demand reduction aimed at preventing the uptake of harmful drug habits (e.g. community education at schools)
List population subgroups with highest risk of suicide
Men midlife and older
People in justice and child welfare settings
People with medical conditions or disabilities
People with mental or substance use disorders
People who are LGBT
Members of military and veterans
What is the risk factor model of causation of disease?
The model generally states that as the number of risk factors a person has for a particular condition increases, so does the risk for developing the disease.
People at greatest risk can be identified and may be of the most benefit of early intervention.
Explain primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
Primary: promotion of health and prevention of illness (e.g. immunisations and making physical environments safe)
Secondary: early detection and prompt intervention to correct departures from good health (e.g. cervical screening, BP monitoring)
Tertiary: reducing impairments and disabilities, minimising suffering caused by existing departures from good health (e.g. management of diabetes, physiotherapy)
Explain the difference between population wide public health interventions and interventions aimed at high risk populations.
Interventions targeting whole population generally have higher effectiveness ratings and are less costly to implement and maintain than those targeting at risk groups. Population wide interventions are used when there is a high prevalence of the risk. But it may expose more people to a potential adverse effect and side effects (e.g. too much fluoride in water), autonomy considerations (can’t opt out), equity considerations (those who are already healthy are more likely to take up opportunity than at risk groups).
High risk interventions have a greater benefit:risk ratio for each individual than applying population wide. Problem is high-risk people may not want to become involved or be labelled by going to support centres.
List the risk factors for hypertension
Age Smoking Diet Alcohol Hyperlipidemia Diabetes Ethnicity Family History Obesity Inactivity Recreational drugs
List the social determinants of health
Socioeconomic position - higher income allows for greater access to goods and services that provide health benefits
Education - leads to stable employment, secure income, understanding of healthy choices
Social exclusion - unemployment or discrimination
Residential Environment - neighbourhoods that ensure access to basic goods and services are essential for health equity
List conditions for which adequate physical activity is a preventative factor
Cardiovascular disease Type 2 diabetes Osteoporosis Hypetension Hyperlipidaemia Stroke
List lifestyle measures that can be used to treat hypertension
Improving diet Increase physical activity Quit smoking Reduce alcohol intake better control of diabetes
Explain the purpose behind the legislative requirements to notify some conditions to state government departments of health
To direct response as necessary (e.g. contact tracing, infection control, management)
Identify causes that need immediate response
Identify outbreaks and assist in management
Provide information to help develop public health policy and strategies
Assess disease impact and help prioritise prevention and control activities
Study the value of preventative measures
Understand and outline methods of public health control of communicable diseases
Contact Tracing Education of staff Vaccination Isolation Surveillance Screening and treatment Quarantine Post-exposure prophylaxis Pre-exposure prophylaxis
List the risk factors for skin cancers
Overexposure to UV radiation Skin type Many moles/freckles Immune suppression Age Smoking
List the main global health issues
Globalisation Population growth Displacement Non-communicable diseases Infectious diseases (antibiotic resistance) Rise in rates of obesity Environmental degradation Wars
