Public Health

Question 1

What is the purpose of public health

Answer 1

Prevent disease and promote good health

Question 2

What are the 3 domains of public health

Answer 2

Health improvement/ promotion
Health protection
Health service/care

Question 3

What does life expectancy indicate

Answer 3

The no. of years a new born infant would live if patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same

Question 4

What is the life expectancy in the UK

Answer 4

81 years

Question 5

What is epidemiological transition

Answer 5

phase of development that gives a sudden and stark increase in population growth rates, brought by medical innovation or therapy and treatment. It accounts for replacement of infectious diseases by chronic diseases.

Question 6

What does the indices of deprivation include

Answer 6

Education, income, employment, housing, access to services

Question 7

What are the top 3 causes of death in males and females

Answer 7

heart disease
dementia and alzheimer’s
lung cancer

Dementia and alzheimer’s
Heart disease
Stroke

Question 8

What are the 4 levels of prevention

Answer 8

Primordial
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary

Question 9

What is primordial prevention

Answer 9

Prevention of factors that promote the emergence of lifestyles, behaviours and exposure patterns which contribute to increased risk of disease e.g. smoking/alcohol

Question 10

What is primary prevention

Answer 10

health promotion and specific protection to prevent onset e.g. education, diet, vaccination

Question 11

What is secondary prevention

Answer 11

Early promotion and treatment, halting progression

Question 12

What is tertiary prevention

Answer 12

When disease has already occurred e.g. reducing limitations through therapy and rehabilitation

Question 13

What is high risk promotion

Answer 13

Targeting those who are at high risk

Question 14

What are the strengths of high risk promotion

Answer 14

Effective - high motivation
efficient - cost-effective
benefit:risk ratio is favourable
appropriate to the individual 
Easy to evaluate

Question 15

What are the weaknesses of high risk promotion

Answer 15

Palliative and temporary, misses a large amount
Risk prediction not always accurate
Difficulty and cost of screening
Hard to change individual behaviour

Question 16

What are the main approaches of intervention to improve health

Answer 16

Clinical intervention
Health education
Health public policy
Community development

Question 17

Describe population health promotion

Answer 17

Recognising that occurrence of common diseases and exposures reflects the behaviours and circumstances of society has a whole

Question 18

Describe the prevention paradox

Answer 18

Many people exposed to a small risk may generate more cases than a small number of people who are high risk

Question 19

Give an example of use of prevention paradox

Answer 19

Screening for Down’s syndrome in women over 45 will only cover a certain proportion, so all women are screened

Question 20

What are the strengths of population health promotion

Answer 20

Equitable
Radical
Large potential for population
Behaviourally appropriate

Question 21

What are the weaknesses of population health promotion

Answer 21

Small advantages to individual
poor motivation of subject
Poor motivation of physician
Benefit:risk ratio questionable

Question 22

Describe the Tannahill model (1985)

Answer 22

3 part Venn diagram that gives a comprehensive strategy for public health. Involves:
prevention
protection
education