Past Exam Papers Flashcards
CLOSE THE GAP.
What is it?
What are 3 target areas?
Give an example of relevant programs to address these target areas.
Close the gap is an Australia government strategy to address the disparities that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Target areas of the strategy include:
- Closing the gap in life expectancy - currently still 7-8 years less
- Closing the gap in child mortality
- Close the gap in birth weight
To help with this:
- Government providing assistance with housing
- Close the gap prescriptions - PBS co-payment
- Aboriginal health services
- Training health care providers to be culturally competent
- Culturally appropriate media campaigns/
posters etc.
- Immunisation - e.g. Meningococcal B vaccine for Aboriginal children
Why are Indigenous peoples less likely to wait in an ED? Outline 3 strategies to reduce this.
- Institutional racism/ discrimination by healthcare staff.
- Financial costs
- Lack of female doctors
- Shortage of Aboriginal health care workers
- Biomedical model does not fit with with Aboriginal idea of wellness
- Distance to care
- Feelings of shame and embarrassment - e.g. sexual and reproductive health
- Having to be away from home and family
- Perceived lack of confidentiality in rural and remote areas
- Communication difficulty, not receiving care in traditional languages
STRATEGIES:
- Aboriginal liaison officer
- Culturally competent staff, providing staff with training
- Providing literature/ signage/ posters in local Indigenous language
- Communication skills and empathy
Name 4 tumour markers and their corresponding tumours.
Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) - HCC and germ cell tumour
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) - CRC
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) - prostate ca
CA 19-9 - pancreatic adenocarcinoma
CA 125 - ovarian carcinoma
Thyroglobulin - thyroid cancer
HYDATID CYSTS
- Causative organism
- Life cycle
- Public health measures to control it
- Reservoir in Australia
Caused by tapeworm of genus Echinococcus.
Life cycle:
Echinococcus resides in small intestine of the definitive host (e.g. dog) –> release eggs that pass from the body in faeces –> eggs ingested by intermediate host (e.g. sheep) –> eggs hatch in GIT and release oncospheres that penetrate intestinal wall –> migrate through circulatory system to various organs –> at target organ, oncosphere develops into hydatid cyst –> dog ingests target organ e.g. offal/ dead stock –> human handles dog and becomes infected.
Public health measures: EDUCATION PROGRAM aimed at: - Feed dogs only manufactured dog foods - Prevent dogs accessing dead stock - Wash your hands after handling dogs - Treat dogs which are infected ERADICATION PROGRAM
Bell’s Palsy
- Pathophysiology
- DDX and how to differentiate
- Potential complications
- Management
Bell’s palsy is an idiopathic facial nerve palsy of suspected viral aetiology, likely HSV. Reactivation of the HSV virus may lead to inflammation, demyelination and palsy.
Clinical features: Sudden onset usually over hours of UNILATERAL facial paralysis. - Eyebrow sagging - Inability to close the eye - Disappearance of nasolabial fold - Drooping of the corner of the mouth
Perform an examination to assess facial movement and power:
Assess strength of the following movements:
- Elevating the eyebrows
- Tightly closing the eyes
- Puckering the lips
- Showing the teeth
Innervation of the forehead:
- Bilateral supply from UMN
- Ipsilateral supply from LMN
DIFFERENTIATION:
Central lesion - e.g. stroke:
- Shows sparing of the forehead muscles on the affected side - because the area is bilaterally innervated by UMN.
May also benefit from investigations: EMG, nerve conduction studies, brain CT/MRI
Complications:
- Eye dryness and abrasion
- Incomplete recovery of facial n function –> twitching, disfigurement leading to psychosocial distress
TREATMENT:
- Glucocorticoids +/- antiviral (valacyclovir)
- Eye care: lubricating drops
- Botox injection for twitching
- Psychologist support
