Public health Flashcards
what are some definitions of health?
WHO 1948 definition:
– “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”
WHO 1984 definition:
– “The extent to which an individual or a group is able to realise aspirations and satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health is a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living; it is a positive concept emphasising social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities”
What is public health
The science and art of promoting and protecting health and prolonging life through the organised efforts in society.
What levels of intervention are there in public health?(least to most invasive)
Do nothing or monitor situation, Provide information, Enable choice, Guide choice by changing default, guide choice through incentives, guide choice through disincentives, restrict choice, eliminate choice.
Why is prevention important?
it is better than a cure
What is Primary prevention?
Preventing the onset of disease
What is Secondary prevention?
Preventing the progression of a disease from a pre-clinical stage.
What is tertiary prevention?
Preventing morbidity or mortality through treatment of clinical disease
What needs to be taken into account when launching a public health campaign.
Which type of prevention. What age people? Which services are needed? What budget will you require? What are the political considerations?
What are the unmodifiable determinants of health?
Age, sex, ethnicity, sexuality genetics.
What are some determinants for health?
Income, environment, occupation, culture, societal status and access to education
What are the three domains of public health?
Health improvement, Health protection and Healthcare
What does health improvement involve?
Inequalities Education Housing Employment Family / community Lifestyles Surveillance / Monitoring
What does healthcare public health involve?
Clinical Effectiveness Efficiency Service planning Audit and evaluation Clinical governance Equity
What does health protection public health involve?
Infections diseases Chemicals / poisons Radiation Emergency Response Environ. health
What could be the reason someone smokes?
Parental or peer pressure, educational attainment, quit rates and deprivation.
What are important in publc health and diet (AAAA)?
Access, Availability, affordability and awareness.
what are cultural norms?
Activities or behaviours that are expected or seen as normal.
What are some norms in our society?
can breastfeed in public, smoking is bad, too much alcohol is antisocial but also everyone drinks.
What must you consider when trying to change someone’s behaviour?
• Do people know how to make a change?
• Do people have the skills to implement that
knowledge?
• Do people understand the benefits of change?
• And the risks or costs associated with change?
• Are their any social barriers to change?
• Or any physical barriers?
• Or psychological barriers?
Why is ethics important?
new issues arise all the time like assisted death, fertility problems, transplants
What is ethics?
The attempt to arrive at an understanding of the nature of human values, of how we ought to live, and of what constitutes right conduct. Not certain, it involves value claims. can involve two different perspective
What is meta-ethics?
Explored fundamental questions (can things be right or wrong)
What is ethical theory?
Philosophical attempts to create ethical theories (virtue, categorical imperative, utilitarianism, 4 principles)
What is applied eithics?
Recent emergens of ethical investigation in specific areas.