Public Health

Question 1

Define population health

Answer 1

• Health of a population as measured by health status indicators (life expectancy, low birth weight rates)

Question 2

List some factors which influence population health

Answer 2

• Physical
• Biological
• Social
• Environmental
• Economic
• Personal Health Behaviours
• Health care services

Question 3

Define public health

Answer 3

• Organized efforts of society to protect, promote and respore the health of the public
• Prevent illness, injury and premature death
• Refers to practices, policies, institutions, and disciplines required to achieve the desired state of population health

Question 4

Define epidemiology

Answer 4

• Study of the distribution of determinants of health-related states or evens in a specified population

Question 5

What is public health and preventive medicine?

Answer 5

• 5 year royal college specialty
• goal to ID and address health problems and evaluate the extent to which health and other services can address these issues

Question 6

What are the 6 core functions of public health?

Answer 6

1) Health Protection
- safe water, air, food
- drug safety
2) Health surveillance
- collect health data and predict health events
3) Disease/Injury prevention
- Reduce risk by investigating, notifying partners, developing prevention measure (ie. vaccines) , promote safe/healthy lifestyle
4) Population Health Assessment
- Understand the health of communities/specific population and modify tailor services and policies
5) Health Promotion
- Maintain and improve health by public policy, community intervention, advocacy
6) Emergency preparedness and response
- planning for natural and man mad disasters

Question 7

This organization provides health services to indiginous peoples, military, and veterans. They also approve new drugs and medical devices

Answer 7

• Health Canada

Question 8

Who monitors food products, deals with animal-related infections, and regulates food labeling?

Answer 8

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Question 9

Who is the main agency responsible for public health?

Answer 9

• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Question 10

• This agency focuses on preventing chronic disease and injury
• Responding to public health emergencies and outbreaks
• Oversees immigration screening
• Liasises with WHO on global health issues

Answer 10

• Public health agency of Canada (PHAC)

Question 11

What is the name of Ontarios public Health Legislation?

Answer 11

• Health Protection and Promotion Act in Ontario

Question 12

Which health act specifies which infectious diseases must be reported to public health

Answer 12

• Health Protection and Promotion Act (Provincial)

Question 13

Family health services including pre-school, school, and adult health programs are run by which level of government?

Answer 13

• Municipal (Ontario)

Question 14

• In Ontario which level of government runs pubic dental health services for children?
• Who is responsible for tobacco control legislation?

Answer 14

• Municipal for both

Question 15

What is a fiscal policy method to improve public health?

Answer 15

• Fiscal (relating to government revenue - taxes)

- Meaning adding costs to unhealthy things to deter use such as taxes on tobacco and alcohol

Question 16

What is a legislative method of improving public health?

Answer 16

• Legislation (laws)

- Laws banning smoking in public places, legal drinking ages, etc..

Question 17

What is a social method of improving public health

Answer 17

• involves improving health beyond universally funded healthcare
• Ex. Providing affordable housing

Question 18

What are the 5 stages of change?

Answer 18

1) Precontemplation
2) Contemplation
- considers changing in near future (6mo)
3) Preparation
- makes small change or plans to make changes within 30 days
4) Action
5) Maintenence
- Learning to cope with temptation to return to previous behaviours

Question 19

Explain the Health Belief model

Answer 19

• Healthy behaviours are function of their interacting beliefs
• perception of disease susceptibility, severity of disease, and benefits vs cost of healthy behaviours
• Beliefs modified by variables
• Person must think there will be + consequences for healthy behaviour
• Must be in state of readiness
• Behaviour can be cued by encouraging events (ex. Dr suggestion, Advertisements)

Question 20

Define Risk Reduction

Answer 20

• Lower the risk to your health without eliminating it

- Ex: Avoiding the sun to lower your risk of skin cancer

Question 21

Define Harm Reduction

Answer 21

• Tolerance of some degree of risk behaviour, while aiming to minimize the adverse outcomes associated with these behaviours
• Ex. Needle exchange program