Socio-Economic Health Inequalities and Heart Diseases

Question 1

Outline the relationship between heart disease and socioeconomic inequalities

Answer 1

• People in most deprived areas are 4x as likely to die prematurely from CVD

Question 2

Outline relationship between overall health and socioeconomic inequalitties

Answer 2

• Females in westminster have 8.3 years longer LE than those in Glasgow city
• Males - 10.5 years longer

Question 3

Why are these relationships present and what are their related policy implications?

Answer 3

• Agency- lifestyle/ behavioural

- Social forces/ structure- lateral, spirit level- unequal societies

Question 4

What can doctors do to address socio-economic inequalities?

Answer 4

• Recognise their existence
• Recognise multi-morbidity
• Increase length of consultation
• Increase number of visits
• Write letters for individual patients
• Include community links practitioner in GP
• Listen and give hope
• Get involved
• Participate in medical organisations

Question 5

Describe how agency explains socioeconomic health inequalitites

Answer 5

• Agency- capacity of an individual to act independently and make own free choices
• Poorer people more likely to smoke, eat unhealthy be overweight and not exercise

Question 6

What are constrained choices?

Answer 6

• Certain constraints or limitations outside of control
• Not a ‘level playing field’
• Agentic strategies widen rather than narrow socio-economic inequalities
• People with more resources have greater choices

Question 7

Describe the policy of agent strategies

Answer 7

• Agentic strategies- rely on individuals making and sustain behaviour change- taking responsibility for own health
• Change attitudes and behaviours through health promotion and education activities