Public Health Forum

Question 1

What is health ?

Answer 1

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely in the absence of disease to infirmity.

Question 2

Systems that contribute to individual health states

Answer 2

General Socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions.

Social and community networks

Individual lifestyle factors

Question 3

Upstream determinants of health
(Living and Working conditions)

Answer 3

Eduction
Work environment

Unemployment
Water and Sanitation

Healthcare services
Housing

Question 4

What are social determinants of health ?

Answer 4

Conditions in which we are born, grow and age, and which we live and work.

Question 5

State some social determinants of health

Answer 5

Housing
Healthcare services (access)

Employment
Education

Childhood experiences
Communities

Social Support
Family income

Question 6

Health inequalities - WHO

Answer 6

Differences in health status or the distribution of health determinants between different population groups.

Question 7

Health Inequalities - Public Health Scotland

Answer 7

Unfair Differences in health within the population across social classes and between different population groups.

These unfair differences are not random, but are largely socially determined and not inevitable.

Question 8

State some inequalities

Answer 8

Inequalities in:

• Wellbeing
• Healthy Life expectancy
• Morbidity
• Mortality

Question 9

State some core activities of public health practice

Answer 9

Preventing epidemics

Protecting the environment, workplaces, water and food

Promoting healthy behaviour

Monitoring the health status of the population

Mobilising community action

Responding to disaster

Question 9

What is public health ?

Answer 9

The science and art of preventing disease, promoting health and well-being, and prolonging life through the organised efforts of society.

Question 10

3 Domains of Public Health

Answer 10

Health protection
Health improvement
Healthcare quality

Question 11

State the 5 approaches to health promotion and levels of intervention

Answer 11

Medical/ Preventative Approach
Behaviour Change approach
Educational Approach
Empowerment Approach
Social Change Approach

Question 12

Ottawa Charter

Answer 12

Health Promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health.

Question 13

Medical/ Preventative Approach

Answer 13

Thinking about the reorientation of health services and realistic medicine.

Question 14

Behaviour Change Approach

Answer 14

Understanding and development of personal skills, can also be an educational approach.

Question 15

Educational Approach

Answer 15

Can include community actions

Question 16

Empowerment Approach

Answer 16

Can include aspects of supportive environments and community actions, and the re-orientation of health services.

Question 17

Social Change Approach

Answer 17

Includes healthy public policy and aspects of community action and supportive environments.

Question 18

Function of health protection

Answer 18

Ensures safety of food, water, air and general environment.

Prevents transmission of communicable diseases

Manages outbreaks and incidents which threaten the public’s health.

Question 19

What is long covid ?

Answer 19

An illness in people who have recovered from COVID-19, but have continued to experience symptoms or developed symptoms since an infection, for much longer than expected.

Question 20

Ongoing COVID-19

Answer 20

SIGN = displaying symptoms 4-12 weeks post diagnosis

Question 21

Post COVID-19 syndrome

Answer 21

SIGN = signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID-19, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.

Question 22

Post COVID-19 condition

Answer 22

WHO similar to syndrome SIGN

Question 23

Significant data limitations - Long COVID

Answer 23

Novel and emerging condition

NO routine or sentinel surveillance

Research findings heterogenous

Limitations of data quality and study design

Question 24

Common symptoms of long covid at 12 weeks

Answer 24

Remittence and relapse observed

• weakness/ tiredness
• shortness of breath
• loss of smell
• difficulty concentrating

Question 25

Implications of Long COVID for work, social life and mental health

Answer 25

Activities of daily living (>12 weeks)
- 64% reduced ability to carry out daily activities
- 19% day to day activities limited a lot

Living with medically unexplained symptoms

Lack of acknowledgement - isolation and self doubt

Question 26

Prevalence of long covid

Answer 26

1.9%

Question 27

State the factors of distribution of Long COVID in the population

Answer 27

Occupation
Health condition or disability
Age
Sex
Deprivation

Question 28

Occupation - LONG COVID

Answer 28

People working in health and social care

Question 29

Age - LONG COVID

Answer 29

Highest amongst people aged 35-69 years old
Low in young children
Not insignificant in 12-16 year olds

Question 30

Sex - LONG COVID

Answer 30

Females

Question 31

Deprivation - LONG COVID

Answer 31

People living in deprived areas

Question 32

Distribution of Long COVID in population

Answer 32

Vulnerable groups
Hospitalised people

Vaccinated people lower rates
Symptom profile - higher rates

Question 33

Issues involved in Long COVID

Answer 33

High level of diverse and variable needs
No service in Fife

Young People
Areas of deprivation

Uncertainty - future is unknown

Question 34

Whole system approach

Answer 34

Works with communities and stakeholders to both understand the problem and support identification and testing of solutions.

Question 35

Who needs to be involved in Public Health ?

Answer 35

Flexible MDT
Mental Health
Social support / social prescribing
Employment support
Financial support

Question 36

Feature of system change

Answer 36

Long-term endeavour, often delivered through incremental steps and collaboratively with many partners.