nursing 1070: week 5 - healthy public policy

Question 1

what is a policy? examples?

Answer 1

principle of action proposed by a government, party, business, individual

examples: guidelines, laws, rules, regulations (rules of the road, requirements to pass nursing program)

Question 2

what is a public policy? examples?

Answer 2

decisions made by the government to address problems
- “whatever governments choose to do or not to do”

Question 3

what is a healthy public policy? example?

Answer 3

promotes positive effects on the health of all Canadians through new policies or policy change
- advocating them is the most effective way to act on DOH
- affects sectors outside of healthcare field, but ultimately affects health

examples: carbon monoxide detector law

Question 4

relationship between policies and health

Answer 4

policies shape how money, power, and resources flow through society, affect the DOH

Question 5

who is involved in healthy public policies?

Answer 5

• all three levels of government (federal, municipal, provincial)
• public can also be included (neighbourhoods, media, communities, etc)

Question 6

problems aroused with policies

Answer 6

• policies are made based on values/beliefs of people within government
• takes years to make
• change from newly elected parties

Question 7

policies - significance for nurses

Answer 7

• healthcare is inherently political, policies is a way to make change
• issues eventually impact quality of care

Question 8

nurses in advocacy for change (public policies)

Answer 8

• bring a unique perspective/knowledge to health policy issues

Question 9

nursing call to action

Answer 9

suggest a shift in how health care is funded, managed, and delivered in Canada

Question 10

population health

Answer 10

an approach to health that…
- aims to improve health of entire population, reduce health inequities among groups
- focuses on factors that have large influence on health

Question 11

political ideologies & health policy - way to act on healthcare problems in Canada

Answer 11

Acknowledges health issues, implements focuses in health care to act/eliminate issue

• examples: lifestyle focus, poverty focus

Question 12

political ideologies & health policy - what is public policy influenced by in Canada?

Answer 12

neo-liberal market approach
- an approach to economics and social studies, economic factors are shifted from public to private
- minimizes governmental intervention

Question 13

what is the poverty trap?

Answer 13

when government applies policies or structures that disempower people or cause them to not be healthy
- government gives money to poor people, causes them to be lazy & not get a job
- tax reduction too much, not worth it to get a job

Question 14

what is hegemony?

Answer 14

predominant influence or domination
- social, economic, ideological influence by a dominant group
- results in power imbalance

Question 15

what is counter hegemony?

Answer 15

conscious awareness of power relations
- actions of challenging and changing the existing structures to achieve a new reality