Public Health Flashcards
When is somebody deemed unable to make a decision? (4)
A person is unable to make a decision if they cannot:
1. Understand information about the decision to be made.
2. Retain the information in their mind.
3. Use/Weigh information as part of decision making
4. Communicate their decision.
Applies for young people aged 16-17 also.
Give some examples of screening tests provided on the NHS?
Newborn hearing screening Breast Screening Bowel Screening Cervical Screening Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening
Give an example of when you may ethically have to disrespect a culture.
FGM
What are the Millennium Development Goals? (8)
- Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
- Achieve Universal Primary Education
- Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
- Reduce Child Mortality
- Improve Maternal Health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
- Ensure Environmental Sustainability
- Develop a Global Partnership for Development
What are the risk factors for addiction?
Family HIstory Low Academic Achievement Availability of Drugs Community Norms Transitional Life Risk-Seeking Individuals Rebelliousness Friends Use Drugs Trauma
What are a doctors obligations? (4)
- Duty to Patient
- Accountable to Employer and Regulator
- Responsible for each other, the profession and public health
- Moral Obligation
Which factors can affect somebodies recovery from dependence? (6)
- The drug that they use
- The pattern/level of drug use
- Their support preferences
- What they have tried before
- Their mental/physical health
- Other issues such as housing and employment
What are the principles of screening? (10)
- Condition should be an important problem
- There should be an acceptable treatment
- There should be a recognised early stage
- Facilities for diagnosis/treatment are available.
- There should be a suitable test
- The test should be acceptable to the population
- The natural history of the disease should be known
- Case finding should be a continuous process
- Early treatment should make a difference to prognosis.
- Cost of case finding should be economical
What are the 5 principles of mental capacity?
- A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established they do not.
- A person must not be treated as unable to make a decision until all practicable steps to help him to do so have been taken without success.
- Must not be treated as unable to make a decision because of a previous unwise decision
- Acts done under the Mental Capacity Act myst ve made in patients best interest.
- Can things be done in a way that is less restrictive to an individuals freedom?
What are some of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal? (5)
Tremulousness - The "Shakes" Activation Syndrome Seizures Hallucinations Delirium Tremens
What are some of the symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome?
Pre and post natal growth retardation
CNS abnormalities: mental retardation, irritability, incoordination, hyperactivity
Craniofacial Abnormalities, congenital defects - increase in incidence of birthmarks and hernias
What is the doctrine of dual effect?
- Nature of Act is itself good
- Agent intends the good effect and not the bad either as a means to the good or as an end itself
- Good Effect outweights the bad to justify causing the bad effect and the agent exercises due diligence to minimise the harm
What are the duties of a doctor? (8)
- Make the care of the patient your first concern
- Keep your professional knowledhe and skills up to date
- Treat your patient politely and considerately
- Respect your patients right to confidentiality
- Listen to patients and respond to their concerns and preferences.
- Never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues.
- Work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients’ interests.
- Treat patients as individuals and respect their interest. Some duties conflict.
What are the four types of drugs that can cause hospital admission, how do they work and give examples?
Opiates: Heroin - Euphoria and Pain Relief
Depressants: Alcohol, Valium - Sedation, Relaxation, Slow down thinking and acting
Stimulants: Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine - Increase Alertness and activity
Hallucinogens: Ecstacy, Ketamine, Magic Mushrooms: Alter sensory perception, lose sense of reality
How is a person who lacks capacity defined?
A person who lacks capacity to make a particular decision/take action for themselves at the time a decision needs to be made.
What is the Navajo belief?
Belief that to discuss bad information is to make it happen.
What are the four principles?
Autonomy, Beneficience, Non-maleficience, Justice
What are some of the physical symptoms of withdrawal?
Runny Nose
Stomach Cramps
Muscle Aches
What should be done when C Dificile is suspected?
SIGHT Suspect C Diff as cause of diarrhoea Isolate the Case Gloves and Aprons must be worn Hand washing with soap and water Test Stool for Toxin -Control Antibiotic Usage and Treat with Metronidazole/Vancomycin
What is the national drug strategy? (7)
- Reduce Demand
- Restrict Supply
- Build Recovery In Communities (i.e. AA)
- Public Health England supports local councils to provide provision specific to local need (though funding has decreased)
- Family/Community Involvement
- Payment by Results
- Abstinence focussed
What Psychosocial Factors increase the risk of CHD? (4)
Type A Personality
Depression/Anxiety
Psychosocial Work Characteristics (Long working hours, more than 11 a day - high demand, low control)
Lack of Social Support
How is somebodys capacity tested? (2)
- Does this person have impairment of/disturbance in functioning of their mind or brain.
- Does impairment/disturbance mean person is unable to make specific decisions when they need to.
How have Public Health England intervened in National Strategy for reducing alcohol abuse?
THINK! Campaign
Minimum Pricing - 50p per unit
Secondary Prevention - GP’s ask regularly about alcohol use
What constitutes one unit of pure alcohol? Give examples
8g or 10ml of pure alcohol
Half a pint of beer
Small glass of wine
Single measure of spirits
Discuss 4 Theories of Medical Ethics.
Utilitarian/Consequentialism: An act is evaluated solely in terms of its consequences, produce the greatest possible balance of value over disvalue, maximising well being and minimizing suffering
Deontology: Duty to follow natural laws and rights; rightness or wrongness from the character of the act itself rather than the outcomes, features of the act themselves determine worthiness. I.E. Doctors have to respect everyone.
Virtue Ethics: Focus in on the character of the agent, integrates reason and emotion; deemphasizes rules, consequences and particularacts
Morality: Concern about the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong.
What are some of the chronic effects of long term alcohol use? (3)
Pancreatitis CNS Toxicity (Dementia) Liver Damage (Fatty change, hepatitis, cirrhosis)
What are the four types of new psychoactive substances, give examples?
Synthetic Cannabinoids: Spice, Black Mamba
Stimulant Type Drugs: Benzo Fury, Mephadrone
Downers/Tranquilisers: Pyrazolam
Hallucinogens: mimic LSD - Bromo, Drogonfly
How are Alcohol Abuse (4) and Alcohol Dependence (6) differentiated?
Alcohol Abuse - 1 or more of the following:
- Role Failure
- Risk in Bodily Harm
- Run-Ins with the Law
- Relationship Toruble
Alcohol Dependence - 3 or more of the following
- Tolerance
- Signs of Withdrawal
- Not Been Able to Stick to Limits
- Spent A Lot of Time Drinking
- Less Time Spent on Other Matters
- Kept Drinking Despite Problems
How is BMI Calculated and what values are what?
Weight (kg) / Height (m)2 <16 Severely Underwight 16-17 Moderately Underweight 17-18.5 Mildly Underweight 25-30 Moderately Obese 40+ Severely Obese
What is the duty of candour?
Being open, honest and transparent. Spontaneously disclosing error of uncertainty.
If patient has undergone harm:
- Put Things Right
- Apologise
- Say how things will change in both short and long terms
What are the key reported harms associated with new psychoactive substances?
Overdose, temporary psychotic states Attendance at A and E Sudden Increase in Body Temperature, Heart rate increases leading to coma Hallucination and vomiting Confusion, Aggression and Violence Suicidal Thoughts
How does Naltrexone work?
Competetive antagonist for opioid receptors, rapid detox