Public Health Flashcards
What is the purpose of public health
Prevent disease and promote good health
What are the 3 domains of public health
Health improvement/ promotion
Health protection
Health service/care
What does life expectancy indicate
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
What is the life expectancy in the UK
81 years
What is epidemiological transition
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.
What does the indices of deprivation include
Education, income, employment, housing, access to services
What are the top 3 causes of death in males and females
heart disease
dementia and alzheimer’s
lung cancer
Dementia and alzheimer’s
Heart disease
Stroke
What are the 4 levels of prevention
Primordial
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
What is primordial prevention
Prevention of factors that promote the emergence of lifestyles, behaviours and exposure patterns which contribute to increased risk of disease e.g. smoking/alcohol
What is primary prevention
health promotion and specific protection to prevent onset e.g. education, diet, vaccination
What is secondary prevention
Early promotion and treatment, halting progression
What is tertiary prevention
When disease has already occurred e.g. reducing limitations through therapy and rehabilitation
What is high risk promotion
Targeting those who are at high risk
What are the strengths of high risk promotion
Effective - high motivation efficient - cost-effective benefit:risk ratio is favourable appropriate to the individual Easy to evaluate
What are the weaknesses of high risk promotion
Palliative and temporary, misses a large amount
Risk prediction not always accurate
Difficulty and cost of screening
Hard to change individual behaviour
What are the main approaches of intervention to improve health
Clinical intervention
Health education
Health public policy
Community development
Describe population health promotion
Recognising that occurrence of common diseases and exposures reflects the behaviours and circumstances of society has a whole
Describe the prevention paradox
Many people exposed to a small risk may generate more cases than a small number of people who are high risk
Give an example of use of prevention paradox
Screening for Down’s syndrome in women over 45 will only cover a certain proportion, so all women are screened
What are the strengths of population health promotion
Equitable
Radical
Large potential for population
Behaviourally appropriate
What are the weaknesses of population health promotion
Small advantages to individual
poor motivation of subject
Poor motivation of physician
Benefit:risk ratio questionable
Describe the Tannahill model (1985)
3 part Venn diagram that gives a comprehensive strategy for public health. Involves:
prevention
protection
education
