Module 13

Question 1

Social epidemiology

Answer 1

The branch of epidemiology that studies the social distribution and social determinants of states of health
*Proposes to identify societal characteristics that affect the pattern of disease and health distribution in a society and to understand its mechanisms

Question 2

Social determinants of health

Answer 2

The circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, as well as the systems put in place to deal with illness
*Shaped by a wider set of forces: economics, social policies, and politics

Question 3

Health management implications of social determinants

Answer 3

• Access/barriers to care

- Healthcare inequality

Question 4

The social environment

Answer 4

The totality of the behavioral, personality, attitudinal and cultural characteristics of a group.
*Contributes to the regulation of psychosocial influences upon health.
Ex: overcrowding, unsanitary in less developed; insufficient diet/exercise in developed

Question 5

Behavioral epidemiology

Answer 5

Studies the role of behavioral factors in health and occurrence of disease

Question 6

Behavioral medicine

Answer 6

Emphasizes the application of behavioral factors to specific clinical interventions (inc non-pharmacologic treatment methods)
Ex: maintenance of desirable weight, exercise, diet modification, & meditation to treat hypertension

Question 7

Psychosocial epidemiology

Answer 7

Includes psychological, behavioral, and social factors

Relevant to: mental health, physical health, etiology of infectious diseases

Question 8

General adaptation syndrome

Answer 8

Three stages of response to stress:
– alarm reaction
– stage of resistance
– stage of exhaustion

Question 9

Stressful life events

Answer 9

• Theory postulates that there is a relationship between the happenings in one’s life and the development of illness
• The more severe the life change event and the higher the frequency of the event, the greater the chance that severe disease will occur

Question 10

Social support

Answer 10

– Perceived emotional support one receives from relationships
– Operates as mediator/buffers against stress
– May enhance immune status
– Lack of social support may contribute to onset/severity of psychological stress

Question 11

Alameda County Study (7 healthful habits)

Answer 11

1. Moderate food intake
2. Eating regularly
3. Eating breakfast
4. Not smoking cigarettes
5. Moderate or no use of alcohol
6. Moderate exercise
7. 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily

Question 12

Health-related aspects of personal behavior

Answer 12

• Risk taking
• Sexual behavior
• Dietary practices and exercise levels • Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Choice of occupation
• Utilization of health services

Question 13

Framingham study

Answer 13

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease: o Smoking
o Hypertension
o Cholesterol
o Obesity
oLack of exercise

Question 14

Focus of public health

Answer 14

Primary and secondary prevention

Question 15

Epidemiology of CVD

Answer 15

CVD includes:
o Myocardial infarction (MI)
o Angina pectoris (AP)
o Atherosclerosis
o Cerebrovascular disease (stroke) o Heart failure (HF)
o Hypertension (HTN)
One in three adults have CVD
90 percent of those with CVD have high blood pressure

Question 16

Biology of CVD/risk factors

Answer 16

• Multifactorial

- Lifestyle factors promote disease in those who are genetically susceptible

Question 17

Atherosclerosis

Answer 17

o ResponsibleformostCHDandmanycasesofstroke
o Begins early in life
o Progressesovertime
o Calcification of coronary artery (CAC) in part of process

Question 18

Strategies to prevent CVD

Answer 18

High-risk strategy (traditional approach)
o Identify high-risk, usually through screening
o Offer them protection through treatment/therapy
o Cost-effective given limited resources
Population strategy (radical approach)
o Control determinants of incidence by lowering mean level of risk factors
o Attempts to alter norms of society