Lecture 1: Intro to population health

Question 1

What is the World Health Organization’s definition of “health”?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is an advantage to the World Health Organization’s definition of “health”?

Answer 2

Instead of putting a focus on physical well-being, it encompasses multiple aspects of health, recognizing that health is a multifaceted concept.

Question 3

What is a disadvantage to the World Health Organization’s definition of “health”?

Answer 3

Because it is so subjective, it can be difficult to evaluate or measure the health of an individual. It also raises the question of what other aspects of health should be included (ex. sexual health, spiritual health)

Question 4

Describe the medical model of health

Answer 4

A more narrow, specific definition of health that focuses on the absence of disease or disability. It emphasizes the individual and their responsibility for their own health

Question 5

Describe the social model of health

Answer 5

A broader, complex definition of health that focuses on factors outside the individual. It emphasizes the impact and environment can have on an individual and that maintaining health is a collective responsibility.

Question 6

Define population

Answer 6

A group of people or individuals with common characteristics

Question 7

List 6 common characteristics that can form groups

Answer 7

1. Age
2. Gender
3. Ethnicity
4. Religion
5. Place of residence
6. Occurrence of life event (ex. giving birth, entering school, serving in military)

Question 8

Describe a fixed population

Answer 8

Membership is based on a specific event and is permanent. No one can enter or leave the population

Ex. A survivor from the Japanese atomic bomb or 9/11

Question 9

Describe a dynamic population

Answer 9

Membership is a changeable condition. People are able to enter and leave the population

Ex. A city or a school

Question 10

When is a population in steady state

Answer 10

When the number of individuals entering the population is equal to the number of individuals leaving

Question 11

What is a census used for

Answer 11

It is a way of measuring whether a population is in steady state. It is not 100% accurate because it is not possible to access everyone

Question 12

Define population health

Answer 12

An approach to health that aims to improve the health of the entire population and to reduce health inequities (difference in health due to wage or ethnicity) among population groups.

Question 13

What are 3 different types of health research

Answer 13

1. Basic
2. Clinical
3. Population

Question 14

What is basic health research

Answer 14

Research performed with tissues or animals to better understand disease mechanisms. It is controlled and regulated in a laboratory setting and can be difficult to apply to the outside world.

Question 15

What is clinical health research

Answer 15

Work with sick individuals to improve the treatment of diseases.

Question 16

What is population health research

Answer 16

Research using populations or communities with a focus on preventing diseases. The goal is to stop the disease before treatment is needed.

Question 17

What ideas were a part of the Federal Government’s Report: A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians in 1974

Answer 17

• A change in lifestyle or social and physical environments can have large improvements in health, reducing the expenses on delivering health care in the future.
• There was a rise in health promotion around smoking, alcohol, exercise, and diet.

Question 18

What was developed during the first international conference on health promotion (held in Canada) in 1986

Answer 18

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

Question 19

What is the circle (core) of the Ottawa Charter (1986)

Answer 19

3 basic strategies of health promotion: enable, mediate, advocate

Question 20

What are the 3 waves coming from the circle in the Ottawa Charter (1986)

Answer 20

5 action promotion areas to improve population health (when the core strategies are implemented): Strengthen community action, Develop personal skills, Build healthy public policy, Create supportive environments, Reorient health services.

Note: only 1 of the 5 action areas focus on the individual (personal skills)

Question 21

What is the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research introduce in 1989

Answer 21

The term/concept “population health”

Question 22

What did all governments do in terms of population health in 1994

Answer 22

All governments endorsed the concept of population health allowing the development of policies and strategies to improve population health.

Question 23

What was formed in 2004

Answer 23

The Public Health Agency of Canada

Question 24

What is the difference between population health and public health

Answer 24

Public health consists of programs and services that use the population health approach.