Midterm

Question 1

What is population health?

Answer 1

refers to the health of a population as it is measured by health status indicators

Question 2

Goals of the population health approach

Answer 2

1) to maintain and improve the health status of the entire population (what)
2) to reduce inequities in health status between population groups (why)

Question 3

Health indicators

Answer 3

• Help us to monitor health status and trends over time
• Help us to evaluate the effects of current interventions and programs
• Typically measure the absence of disease or the postponement of death

some examples - mental and social wellbeing, quality of life, life satisfaction, income, disease rates, low birth rates, employment and working conditions, education etc

Question 4

Definition of policy

Answer 4

A consensus on the ideas that form the basis of action and hence underline decision making

Question 5

Definition of health advocacy

Answer 5

Actions of health professionals and others with perceived authority in health to influence the decisions and actions of individuals, communities, and government which influence health

Question 6

Population Health Promotion Model

Answer 6

1) Health determinant trying to influence - e.g. education, working conditions
2) Level at which action is to be taken - e.g. individual, family, community, sector/system, society
3) Action strategy to be used - e.g. develop personal skills, reorientate health services

Question 7

Social gradient as a determinant of health

Answer 7

• higher social status results in higher health status
• e.g. White hall study - those higher up in the hierarchy report better health regardless of income
• material deprivation

Question 8

material deprivation

Answer 8

inability to afford consumption goods and activities that are typical to society, regardless of whether or not they actually want these items e.g. cell phones, brand names
- emphasizes social cohesion

Question 9

Income and income distribution as a determinant of health

Answer 9

• large gaps in income lead to an increase in social problems, and therefore a decrease in health
• low income associated with a decrease in health

Question 10

Perceived health

Answer 10

• most report very good or excellent health but with age this goes down
• same for mental health

Question 11

Gender as a determinant of health

Answer 11

• males more likely to report excellent health status (only from ages 18-24*)
• men more likely to die prematurely to cvd, fatal injury, cancer and suicide
• women suffer more from depression and family violence

Question 12

Education and literacy as determinants of health

Answer 12

• health status improves with level of education
• literacy improves with education
• people with low literacy lack skills for finding health services in canada, unemployed, low income

Question 13

Social environment/supports as a determinant of health

Answer 13

includes:

• access to social support
• personal security
• volunteering/charitable donations
• participating in the community
• creates a “buffer” to health

Question 14

Physical environment as a determinant of health

Answer 14

e.g. secondhand smoke, no sidewalks, dirty water, housing, transportation, clean air, security
“built environment” - possibility of physical activity, connection to the community

Question 15

Healthy Child Environment as a determinant of health

Answer 15

• from birth to health
• e.g. nutrition, breastfeeding
  measured by school readiness - socially, physically and mentally ready to start kindergarten
  ** parents who has less than high school education had children who had delayed school readiness

Question 16

Lifestyle as a determinant of health

Answer 16

e. g. using sunscreen, safe sec, alcohol, tobacco, drug use, physical activity, healthy eating
- lifestyle behaviour is influenced by education, income and culture