Public Health Flashcards
Definition of Health
A state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. Not just the absence of the disease.
Definition of Patient Compliance
‘The extent to which the patient’s behaviours coincides with medical or health advice given’
5 factors affecting patient compliance
- Socioeconomic - long distance from treatment setting
- Health System - supply of medication
- Patient - denial/disbelief of dx
- Therapy - complex tx
- Condition - memory impairment
2 reasons for non-adherence (patient compliance)
- Unintentional - practical barriers
2. Intentional - motivational barriers
Ethical considerations to consider when making a decision (patient compliance)
- When the patient is a child - Gillick Competence
- Mental capacity
- Potential threat to others
- Decisions detrimental to the patient’s wellbeing
Definition of occupational disease
‘An occupational disease’ is where work is considered the main cause of the disease’
Examples of occupational diseases
Asbestosis Silicosis Occupational dermatitis Coalminers' pneumoconiosis Tenosynovitis - repetitive movements Mesothelioma
Work related ill health
‘Work-related diseases’ have multiple causes, where work is one of several components contributing to the disease
6 examples of work related ill-health
- Occupational stress
- Work-related MSK disorders
- Occupational lung cancer
- Occupational cancer
- Noise-inducing hearing loss
- Hand-arm vibration
Positive and negative effects of work
Employment - good mental health
Unemployment - bad mental health
Hazard definition
A hazard is something that could potentially cause harm
Risk definition
Probability of the hazard causing someone harm
Examples of work hazards
Mechanical - machinery
Physical - lifting
Biological - work in a hospital
Psychological - stress, long hours
Marmot 10 key components for good work
- Precariousness- stable, safe
- Individual control- part of decision making
- Work demands- quality and quantity
- Fair employment
- Opportunities
- Prevents- social isolation, discrimination and violence
- Share information
- Work/life balance
- Reintegrates sick or disabled wherever possible
- Promotes health and wellbeing
Questions to ask when occupational health screening
- What type of work do you do?
- Do you think your health problems might be related to your work?
- Are your symptoms different at work than at home?
- Are you currently exposed to chemicals, dusts, radiation, noise or repetitive work? Or in the past?
- Are any of your co-workers experiencing similar symptoms?
Influenza types
Influenza A
Subdivided by 2 key surface antigens:
Haemagglutinin - 15 subtypes
Neuraminidase: 9 subtypes
Can infect pigs, cats, horses, birds and sea mammals. The cause of severe outbreaks and pandemics.
Influenza B
Similar to influenza A (prone to mutation) but tends to cause sporadic outbreaks (schools, care homes, garrisons) that are less severe. More often in childeren
Influenza C
Minor disease: mild symptoms/asymptomatic
Epidemic definition
An epidemic refers to an illness that spreads to many people in one specific geographical region
Pandemic definition
An epidemic which occurs in several countries or continents (crosses border)
3 public health interventions for reducing spread of flu
- Hand washing
- Respiratory Hygiene - ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’
- Reduce social contact - not attending large gatherings
6 wider interventions for reducing spread of flu
- Travel restrictions
- Restrictions of mass public gatherings
- School closures
- Voluntary home isolation of cases
- Voluntary quarantine of contacts of known cases
- Screening of people entering UK ports
What is palliative care?
Palliative care improves the quality of life of terminal patients and their families who face life-threatening illnesses, by providing pain and symptom relief, spiritual and psychosocial support from diagnosis to the end of life and bereavement
5 aims of palliative care
- Treatment to remove pain
- Control symptoms
- Improve quality of life
- Supports families
- Designated health care professionals
Preventing spread of diarrhoea - C.difficile, SIGHT
SIGHT S - suspect C diff I - isolate patient G - gloves and apron H - hand washing with soap and water T - test stool for toxin (can also culture to identify strain)
Antibiotics that cause C. difficile
Ciprofloxacin
Cephalosporins
Carythromycin
Co-amoxiclav
Treatment for C. difficile
Vancomycin and Metronidazole
5 WHO prevention tactics for diarrhoea
- Rotavirus and measles vaccinations
- Promote early and exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation
- Promote handwashing with soap
- Improved water supply and quantity and quality, including tx and safe storage of household water
- Community-wide sanitation promotion
WHO treatment package for diarrhoea
- Fluid replacement to prevent dehydration
2. Zinc treatment
Groups at risk of diarrhoea
- Poor personal hygiene/unsatisfactory facilities at home, work or school
- Children who attend nursery and pre-school
- Preparing or serving unwrapped/uncooked food
- HCW/social care staff working with vulnerable people