Population Health

Question 1

how does healthcare expenditures in the USA compare to other developed countries?

Answer 1

it is significantly higher compared to other developed countries

Question 2

how does the USA’s healthcare outcomes compare to other developed countries?

Answer 2

even though the USA spends more the outcomes are generally not any better

Question 3

list 3 determinants/factors that affect the health of individuals and communities

Answer 3

1. social and economic environment
2. physical environment
3. person’s individual characteristics and behaviors

Question 4

define “social determinants of health”

Answer 4

conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems, development, agendas, social norms, social policies, and political systems

i.e. the context of people’s lives that impact/determine their health

Question 5

list the 5 most common social determinants of health

Answer 5

1. neighborhood and physical environment
2. health and healthcare
3. social and community context
4. education
5. economic stability

Question 6

T/F: where you are born doesn’t matter and won’t influence your health

Answer 6

FALSE
lower income families are more likely to live in places with greater risks

Question 7

list ways low income neighborhoods can impact health

Answer 7

1. high crime rates
2. substandard housing
3. few or no decent medical services nearby
4. low-quality schools
5. little recreation
6. almost no stores selling wholesome foods
7. greater amount of liquor stores per capita in low income neighborhoods

Question 8

T/F: inadequate health care estimated to account for 10% of premature deaths overall

Answer 8

TRUE

this includes lack of access and poor quality care

Question 9

only ______ of the US adult population have proficient health literacy

Answer 9

12%

Question 10

decreased health literacy is associated with what?

Answer 10

1. decreased preventative care
2. confusion of medication use and D/C instructions
3. increased emergency room use
4. overall poorer health

Question 11

define structural inequities

Answer 11

structures or systems of society (such as finance, housing, transportation, education, social opportunities, etc.) that are structured in such a way that they benefit one population unfairly (whether intended or not)

Question 12

define health equity and structural racism

Answer 12

structural racism is the normalization of an array of dynamics (historical, cultural, institutional and interpersonal) that routinely advantage white people while producing cumulative and chronic adverse outcomes for people of color and American Indians

Question 13

Education includes availability and access to educational resources as well as educational outcomes such as:

Answer 13

1. Availability and education resources:
   
   1. early childhood education and development
   2. up-to-date textbooks and course materials
   3. student-to-teacher ratios
2. Outcomes:
   
   1. language skills
   2. literacy
   3. high school graduation rates
   4. enrollment rates in higher education

Question 14

individuals in USA w/o a high-school diploma are:

Answer 14

3x more likely to smoke and nearly 3x as likely to not engage in leisure-time physical exercise as compared with college graduates

Question 15

more education equals:

Answer 15

1. less anxiety and depression
2. fewer functional limitations
3. less likely to report poor health
4. reduced risk of serious diseases:
   
   1. diabetes
   2. cancer
   3. CV disease
   4. asthma

Question 16

what does economic stability refer to?

Answer 16

various economic factors that influence health outcomes such as:

1. employment rates
2. poverty rates
3. food insecurity
4. housing instability

Question 17

what is population health?

Answer 17

focuses on the determinants which have the most influence on the health population

Question 18

list some practical tips on how to incorporate prevention into your practice

Answer 18

1. know your setting
   
   1. provide recommendations accordingly
   2. look for “teachable moments”
2. cover what you can; prioritize
   
   1. you do not always have to do it all
3. make notes if you cannot cover it all
   
   1. document needs for future visits
4. collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to incorporate prevention in a variety of settings

Question 19

what is community?

Answer 19

a group of people who:

1. are linked by social ties
2. share common perspectives or interests
3. may or may not share a geographic location

Question 20

what are the advantages of community health for practitioners?

Answer 20

1. can reach more than one patient at a time
2. broader impact on health
3. more cost effective

effective and well-developed community health programs can have a sustained impact on the health of a community

Question 21

list fundamentals for working with the community

Answer 21

1. understand community context/geography
2. respect social customs
3. respect cultural beliefs and behaviors
4. recognize that people communicate differently
5. be approachable
6. observe community etiquette
7. work towards becoming culturally competent

Question 22

what is Healthy People?

Answer 22

a national agenda that communicates a vision and overarching goals, supported by topic areas and specific objectives for improving the population’s health and achieving health equity