Public Health Flashcards
When considering the patient in context, what factors should you be thinking about?
Individuals, Families, Communities
Age, Gender, Culture, Education, Employment
Origins
Well-being and health vs disease and illness
What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs?
A 5-tier model of human needs. People are motivated to achieve certain needs; some needs take precedence over others.
What are the 5 factors that comprise Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs?
1.Self-actualization: desire to become the most that one can be
2.Esteem: respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, freedom
3.Love + belonging: friendship, intimacy, family, sense of connection
4.Safety needs: personal security, employment, resources, health, property
5.Physiological needs: air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproduction
Give a definition for ‘Domestic Abuse’.
An incident - or pattern of incidents - of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to:
- psychological
- physical
- sexual
- financial
- emotional
Give 3 ways in which domestic abuse impacts on health.
1.Traumatic injuries following an assault
eg. fractures, miscarriages, facial injuries, puncture wounds, haemorrhages
2.Somatic problems or chronic illness consequent of living with abuse
eg. Chronic pain, low birthweight, premature delivery
3.Psychological / psychosocial problems secondary to abuse
eg. PTSD, attempted suicide, substance misuse, depression, anxiety, eating disorders
What are the ‘best’ indicators in identifying domestic abuse when taking a history in A+E?
Reported as ‘unwitnessed by anyone else’
Repeat attendance
Delay in seeking help
Multiple, minor injuries not requiring treatment
Always consider domestic abuse as a cause.
How might domestic abuse affect a child?
Affects physical + psychological health + well being - a long term impact on self esteem, education, relationships and stress responses
What is the link between pregnancy + domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse often starts / escalates during pregnancy. Always consider your safeguarding responsibilities.
What is your role in the management of domestic abuse?
Display helpline posters
Focus on patient’s safety (+ child’s safety, if applicable)
Ask direct questions
Listen in a non-judgmental manner
Give information and refer where appropriate
Work with other agencies + professionals
Ensure the safety of any children in the household
What should you not do if someone discloses domestic abuse to you?
Assume someone else will take care of things
Ask about domestic abuse in front of family members (including kids!!!!!)
Tell them what to do -> aim to empower them to make safe + informed choices.
If a patient is considered to be at ‘medium’ risk with regards to Domestic Abuse, what does this mean?
There are identifiable indicators of risk of serious harm - offender has the potential to cause serious harm, but unlikely unless change in circumstances
If a patient is considered to be at ‘standard’ risk with regards to Domestic Abuse, what does this mean?
Current evidence does not indicate likelihood of serious harm being caused.
If a patient is considered to be at ‘high’ risk with regards to Domestic Abuse, what does this mean?
There are identifiable (risk factors) indicators of imminent risk of serious harm
Dynamic: harm could happen at any time + the impact would be serious.
Which risk assessment is used for Domestic Abuse?
DASH Tool: Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment + ‘Honour’ based violence
What is the risk assessment for domestic abuse designed to do?
Questionnaire used to identify + assess risk of DASH, such that measures can be put in place to protect the patient and any children who may be at risk
If a person is considered to be ‘standard’ or ‘medium’ risk with regards to Domestic Abuse, what should you do?
Give contact details for domestic abuse services
National Helpline is 24hrs
Sheffield Helpline: Mon-Fri 9-5
Keep good records
Ensure follow up
If a patient is considered to be ‘high risk’ of domestic abuse, what action should you take?
Refer to MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) -> wherever possible, with consent
Refer to IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors)
True or False: for high risk cases, you can break confidentiality (to take to MARAC) if you cannot gain consent.
True
What is ‘MARAC’ and what does it do?
Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference
links up-to-date information about victims’ needs + risks directly to the provision of appropriate services for all those involved
incl. victim, child(ren), perpetrator
What is ‘IDVA’ and what do they do?
Independent Domestic Violence Advisors:
Works with DV victims at the highest level of risk. Aim to increase patient’s safety by providing:
- advocacy + advice around domestic abuse
- safety planning
- support through court proceedings
- sign posting to specialist services
What specialist services might an IDVA sign post victims of domestic abuse to?
Housing services
Legal services
Refuge provision + home safety services
a voice in the MARAC
When would a Domestic Homicide Review be undertaken?
A review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by:
a) a person to whom s/he was related or with whom s/he was or had been in an intimate personal relationship OR;
b) a member of the same household as himself
Held with a view to identifying lessons to be learned from the death.
List 4 determinants of health according to the Lalonde Report?
Genes
Environment
- physical environment
- social + economic environment
Lifestyle
Healthcare
What is ‘equity’?
What is fair and just
What is equality?
Concerned with equal shares
What are the two types of equity?
Horizontal equity: equal treatment for equal need
Vertical equity: unequal treatment for unequal need.
Define Horizontal Equity. Give an example of horizontal equity in practice.
Equal treatment for equal need.
eg. Individuals with pneumonia (with all other things equal) should be treated equally.
Define Vertical Equity. Give an example of vertical equity in practice.
Unequal treatment for unequal need.
eg. individuals with the common cold vs pneumonia need unequal treatment.
eg. Areas with poorer health may need higher expenditure on health services
What is the idea underlying health equity?
Equal expenditure for equal need
Equal access for equal need
Equal utilisation for equal need
Equal healthcare outcome for equal need
This results in: equal health
What are the 2 dimensions of health equity?
- Spatial -> geographical
- Social -> age, gender, class, ethnicity
What are some outcomes that can be measured to determine health equity?
Supply of healthcare
Access to healthcare
Utilisation of healthcare
Healthcare outcomes
Health status
Resource allocation - health services, housing services
Wider determinants of health - prevalence of smoking, drinking etc
How would you assess health equity?
Assess inequality, then decide if inequitable.
What are the 3 domains of Public Health practice?
Health improvement - education, housing, employment
Health protection - radiation, immunisation, emergency response, environment
Health care - clinical effectiveness, efficiency, audit, clinical governance
What comprises ‘Health Improvement’?
Societal interventions aimed at preventing disease, promoting health + reducing inequalities.
housing
lifestyle
education
employment
family / community
What is ‘Health Protection’ concerned with? What does it comprise?
Concerned with measures to control infectious disease risks + environmental hazards
Infectious diseases
Radiation
Environmental health hazards
Chemicals + poisons
Emergency response
What is ‘Health Care’ in terms of the 3 concerns of public health? What does it comprise?
Concerned with the organisation, and delivery of safe, high quality services for prevention, treatment + care
clinical effectiveness
audit + evaluation
clinical governance
efficiency
service planning
equity
At what levels might public health be delivered?
Individual level
Community level
Ecological (population) level
What is meant by ‘health psychology’ as applied to public health?
Emphasises the role of psychological factors in the cause, progression + consequences of health + illness. Used to promote healthy behaviours + prevent illness
What are the 3 health behaviours?
Health behaviour
Illness behaviour
Sick role behaviour
What is meant by ‘Health behaviour’? (In the context of health, illness and sick role)
A behaviour aimed at preventing disease eg. eating healthily
What is meant by ‘Illness behaviour’?
A behaviour aimed at seeking a remedy. eg. going to a doctor.
What is meant by ‘Sick role behaviour’?
Any activity aimed at getting well eg. taking prescribed medications, resting
Give some examples of health damaging / impairing behaviours.
Smoking
Alcohol + substance abuse
Sun exposure
Risky sexual behaviour
Driving without a seat belt
Give some examples of health promoting behaviours.
Exercising
Healthy eating
Medicines compliance
Vaccinations
Attending health checks
Why is health behaviour an issue in the general population?
Reduction in quality of life
Working days lost to sickness
Morbidity is an issue –> Diabetes, CHD etc.
What is the aim of a population-level health promotion intervention? What does it comprise?
The process of enabling people to exert control over the determinants of health, thereby improving public health and reducing inequalities across the population. Includes awareness campains, screening and immunisations.
What is the aim of an individual-level health promotion intervention? What does it comprise?
Patient-centred approach - care responsive to individual needs
Give some examples of health promotion / awareness campaigns.
Change 4 life
5 a day
Stoptober
Movember
Dry January
Give some examples of health promotion campaigns which promotes screening + immunisations.
Smears, school vaccines, national vaccine program
How would a primary care intervention to reduce alcohol consumption affect an individual’s behaviour?
decrease level of alcohol consumption
could improve domestic violence if present
improve individual health outcomes
How would a primary care intervention to reduce alcohol consumption affect the local community?
Decreased local alcohol sales
Decreased alcohol-related crime
Fewer A+E events
How would a primary care intervention to reduce alcohol consumption affect the population level of alcohol usage?
National alcohol + sales consumption
National statistics on alcohol-related crime / A+E events
Demographic patters of liver cirrhosis.
Explain the concept of ‘unrealistic optimism’ as applied to health behaviours.
Individuals continue to practice health damaging behaviour due to inaccurate perceptions of risk + susceptibility.
What is the greatest single cause of illness + premature death in the UK?
Smoking
What is NCSCT? What’s it’s purpose?
National Centre of Smoking Cessation Training
delivers training + assessment programmes
provides support services for local + national providers
conducts research into behavioural support for smoking cessation
provides stop smoking services with a measure of quality assurance.
What factors are involved in the ‘Planning Cycle’?
Needs assessment
Planning
Implementation
Evaluation
What is ‘need’? (as applied to Public Health)
The ability to benefit from an intervention.
What is ‘demand’? (as applied to Public Health)
What people ask for.
What is ‘supply’? (as applied to Public Health)
What is provided.
What is a ‘Health Needs Assessment’?
“A systematic method for reviewing health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities and resource allocation that will improve health + reduce inequalities.”
A health needs assessment is usually used to cover both ‘Health Needs’ and ‘Healthcare Needs’ assessments.
What is ‘Health Need’?
Need for health
Concerns ‘need’ in more general terms
Measured using mortality, morbidity, sociodemographic measures
Incudes social environmental factors such as housing, diet, education, and employment. Does not necessarily include seeking medical interventions.
What is ‘Health Care Need’?
Need for healthcare
Much more specific than ‘health need’
Ability to benefit from healthcare
Depends on the potential of prevention, treatment + care services to remedy health problems
Health need is much broader - a broad category that encompasses environmental and social factors like housing, diet, education, and employment
Who / what might a health needs assessment be carried out for?
a population or subgroup eg. patients at a specific GP surgery
a condition eg. COPD
an intervention eg. Coronary Angioplasty
Who defines ‘need’?
Individual
Family
Community
Society
Professionals
What are the 2 ways in which a ‘Health Needs Assessment’ can be approached?
Sociological perspective (Bradshaw’s)
Public health perspective
What 4 factors comprise the Sociological Perspective for a Health Needs Assessment? (Bradshaw’s taxonomy of social need)
Felt need: individual perceptions of variation from normal health
Expressed need: individual seeks help to overcome variation in normal health (demand, use of health services).
Normative need: professional defines intervention appropriate for the expressed need. (these can either be met or unmet, based on supply)
Comparative need: comparison between severity, range of interventions + cost.
Name 3 public health approaches to Health Needs Assessments?
Epidemiological
Comparative
Corporate
Explain the Epidemiological Approach to Health Needs assessment.
The traditional method of conducting a health needs assessment - epidemiological methods can be used to describe health needs in terms of the distribution of specific diseases.
Statement of the problem: defines the person affected by the problem, the place of the problem, the time of the problem
Size of problem: incidence / prevalence
Impact of problem: morbidity and mortality, life expectancy
Data comes from: registry, hospital admissions, GP databases, mortality data, primary data collection
Services available for the problem: prevention / treatment / care
Evidence base: effectiveness / cost-effectiveness
Models of care: incl. quality + outcome measures
Existing services: unmet need, services not needed
List 4 problems with an Epidemiological approach to Health Needs Assessment.
Reinforces the biomedical model
Required data may not be available
Variable data quality
Evidence base may be inadequate
Requires staff to be trained in data analysis
Does NOT consider ‘felt needs’ of people affected
Explain the Comparative Approach to Health Needs Assessment.
Compares services received by a population (or subgroup) with other populations, to identify variation in performance, cost and service use
> can be spatial (different towns)
> can be social (two age groups in the same town)
May examine:
Service access
Service provision
Service utilisation
Health outcomes: mortality, morbidity, QoL, Patient satisfaction
List 4 problems with the Comparative approach to Health Needs Assessment.
May not yield what the most appropriate level of provision or utilisation should be
Data may not be available
Data may be of variable quality
May be difficult to find a comparable population.
Explain the Corporate approach to Health Needs Assessment (who does it involve?).
Asking the local population what their health needs are - structured collection of knowledge and views of the stakeholders
Use of focus groups, interviews and public meetings.
Wide variety of stakeholders, such as teachers, healthcare workers, social workers, charity workers, local businesses, council workers, politicians, patients, parents
Based on the demands, wishes and perspectives of the parties involved, and recognises the importance of their experiences.
List 4 problems with a corporate approach to health needs assessment
May be difficult to distinguish need from demand
Groups may have vested interests
May be influenced by political agendas
Dominant personalities may have undue influence.
Give some reasons for homelessness.
Relationship breakdown caused by:
Unemployment
Mental illness / breakdown
Fleeing domestic abuse
Disputes with parents
Bereavement -> ‘no family ties’
Loss of home - fire, natural disaster
Prison leavers, ex-forces, care leavers
List some health problems faced by homeless adults
Infectious diseases eg. Hepatitis, TB
Poor condition of feet + teeth
Respiratory problems
Injuries following violence
Sexual health -> smears, contraception
Serious mental illness -> schizophrenia, depression
Poor nutrition
Addictions / substance misuse
Describe the ‘needs of children’ with regards to social + health.
Stability + emotional security
Safety
Immunisations
School
Play, friends, toys
Give 3 barriers to healthcare that might prevent the socially excluded from seeking medical attention
Access difficulties
- Language barriers
- Opening times
- Being housebound/non-mobile
- Perceived or actual discrimination
- Not being able to use phone/website
- Not being able to afford taxi/bus to get there
Lack of integration between mainstream care services + other agencies eg. social services, criminal justice system.
Other things on their mind
- people do not prioritise health when there are more immediate survival issues.
Gypsies and travellers experience poorer health than the general population. List some barriers to healthcare they may experience.
Reluctance of GPs to register gypsies + travellers and to visit sites
Poor reading + writing skills -> many are illiterate
Communication difficulties
Too few permanent + transient sites
Mistrust of professionals
Lack of choice
What is HASS?
Homeless Assessment and Support Service
Who comprises the HASS?
Mental health support workers
Community practice nurse
Specialist school nurse
Outreach family resource worker
Specialist midwife
Specialist community outreach nurses
Health visitor
Define ‘refugee’.
An adult or child who fits the 1951 Geneva Convention description that:
‘Owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality etc. is unable or unwilling to accept the protection of that country.’ Their asylum claim has been approved and they have indefinite leave to remain.
Define ‘asylum seeker’.
Someone who has submitted an application to be recognised as a refugee + is waiting for their claim to be decided by the Home Office.
Who has the right to apply for asylum in the UK?
Anyone has the right to apply for asylum in the UK + remain until a final decision on their application has been made.
When a refugee is granted ‘indefinite leave to remain’, what does this mean?
When a person is granted full refugee status + given permanent residence in the UK.
They have all the rights of a UK citizen.
they are eligible for family reunion (one spouse, and any child of that marriage under the age of 18).
What are asylum seekers entitled to?
Entitled to Money: £49.18 / week
Entitled to housing: no choice dispersal
Entitled to NHS care
> if under 18, are allocated a social services key worker + can go to school
Asylum seekers are not allowed to work; are not entitled to any other form of benefit.
Failed asylum seekers are not entitled to any of the above, apart from the NHS. They can still access emergency care and primary care, but free secondary care is only accessible under very specific circumstances. They can access maternity care if they had started it before their claim was denied.
Why might asylum seekers find it difficult to access health care services?
Language / culture / communication barriers
Lack of knowledge re: where to get help
Health is not a priority.
What state of physical health might an asylum seeker be in?
Injuries from war / torture / sexual abuse / travelling
Malnutrition
Illness specific to country of origin
What state of psychological health might an asylum seeker be in?
Psychological distress = common
Note: psychological expression is culture-bound -> potential for misdiagnosis
What mental health disorders might an asylum seeker have / be diagnosed with?
PTSD
Depression -> medication / counselling
Sleep disturbance
Psychosis
Self harm
List some health needs of Asylum Seekers
Rapid access
Screening
Catch up programmes / immunisations / child assessments
Education for asylum seekers + professionals
Mental health expertise
Supporting evidence for asylum hearings.
Give short definitions for:
i) Asylum seeker
ii) Refugee
iii) Humanitarian protection
i) A person who has made an application for refugee status
ii) A person granted asylum + refugee status. Usually means leave to remain for 5 years, then reapply.
iii) Failed to demonstrate claim for asylum (their situation doesn’t meet criteria set by the UN) but still face serious threat to life if returned. Usually 3 years, then reapply.
Define ‘an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child’.
Someone who has crossed an international border in search of safety + refugee status
Is applying for asylum in his / her own right
Is under 18, or - in the absence of documentary evidence - appears to be under 18.
Is without family members or guardians to turn to in this country.
What are the physical consequences of loneliness?
Earlier death
Take more risks
Harder to self regulate
Physical changes which can bring on poor health.
Health risk (due to loneliness) is equivalent to 15 cigarettes / day.
What signs might a patient exhibit if they are lonely?
Body language, appearance, talkative, clinging
Denial, ‘boredom’
Live alone
Male 50+
Bereavement / recent transition
Limited mobility
Sensory impairment
Quality, not quantity, of social contact
Why are older men at risk of social isolation / loneliness?
Men have less social contact than women.
Men are less likely to share their feelings or seek help for mental health issues.
Poor health, lower incomes, few qualifications, living in rented housing -> all are risk factors for loneliness.
Define ‘social exclusion’.
The dynamic process of being shut out, fully or partially, from any of the social, economic, political, or cultural systems which determine the social integration of a person in a society.’
What are the 5 domains of social exclusion?
Material resources
Civic activities
Basic services
Neighbourhood
Social relationships
Give some causes of social exclusion.
Poor health
Sensory impairment
Poverty / housing issues
Transport / problems on the roads
Discrimination -> sexuality, gender, ethnicity, belief
Give 2 examples of national initiatives to tackle social exclusion / loneliness.
Age UK
Dementia Friends
Give 2 Sheffield examples of initiatives to tackle social exclusion / loneliness.
Age UK 50+ club / Active Sheffield
Darnall Dementia Care
Give 4 Models of Behaviour Change
Health Belief Model
Theory of planned behaviour
Transtheoretical Model
Motivational interviewing
Social norms theory
Nudging (choice architecture, e.g. fruits and veg near the till)
Financial incentives
Explain the theory behind the Health Belief Model:
Individuals will change if they believe:
they are susceptible to the condition
that the disease has serious consequences
that taking action reduces susceptibility
that the benefits of taking action outweigh the costs.
Cues to action may also be present
Critique the Health Belief Model:
Alternative factors may predict health behaviour (outcome expectancy, aka whether someone feels their behaviour will make them healthier, and self efficacy)
HBM doesn’t consider the influence of emotions on behaviour
HBM doesn’t differentiate between 1st time and repeat behaviour
In the Health Belief Model, what has been demonstrated to be the most important factor in addressing behaviour change?
Perceived barriers have been demonstrated to be the most important factor for addressing behaviour change in patients.
Explain the ‘Theory of Planned Behaviour’.
Proposes the best predictor of behaviour is ‘intention’
Intention is determined by:
> a person’s attitude to the behaviour
> the perceived social pressure to undertake the behaviour, or “subjective norm”
> a person’s appraisal of their ability to perform the behaviour, or their perceived behavioural control.
Critique the Theory of Planned Behaviour.
Lacks direction or causality or temporal element
Doesn’t account for emotions eg. fear, threat, positive affect etc. which might disrupt ‘rational’ decision making.
Habits + routines bypass cognitive deliberation + undermine a key assumption of the model.
Relies on self-reported behaviour.
Doesn’t account for the intention-behaviour gap
In the theory of planned behaviour, what impacts people’s ability to act on their intentions?
Perceived control
Anticipated regret
Preparatory actions (dividing a task into subgoals improves behaviour)
Implementation intentions (i-then plans)
Relevance to self
Give 3 advantages of the transtheoretical model / ‘Stages of Change’ model:
Acknowledges individual stages of readiness (tailored interventions)
Accounts for relapse
Temporal element (although arbitrary)
Give 3 disadvantages of the transtheoretical model / stages of change model.
Not all people move through every stage.
Arbitrary lines are drawn between stages
- change might operator on a continuum, rather than in discrete stages
Doesn’t take into account values, habits, culture, social + economic factors
Summarise the transtheoretical model / stages of change model.
Examines the process of change, rather than factors that determine behaviour.
Allows for interventions to be tailored to the individual according to what stage they are at.
Summarise ‘Motivational Interviewing’ as a theory of behaviour change.
A counselling approach -> initiates behaviour change by resolving ambivalence.
Clinical impact has been shown in problem drinkers or substance abusers.
Aside from the recognised models, what factors might influence a person’s ability to change their behaviour(s)?
Impact of personality traits on health behaviour
Assessment of risk perception
Impact of past behaviour / habit
Automatic influences on health behaviour
Ability to maintain the behaviour
Social environments
What does the NICE guidance say about behaviour change and transition points?
Interventions to change health related behaviour should work in partnership with individuals, communities, organisations + populations.
Typical transition points include:
> leaving school
> entering the workforce
> becoming a parent
> becoming unemployed
> retirement + bereavement
Define ‘evaluation’ of health services.
The assessment of whether a service achieves its objectives; assessment of a wide range of health-related activities.
What 3 components make up Donabedian’s ‘Framework for Health Service Evaluation’?
Structure
Process (+ output)
Outcome