Sources of Health and Demographic Information

Question 1

Define demography.

Answer 1

The study of the size, structure, dispersement, and development of human populations

Question 2

Demography is used to get reliable statistics on which factors?

Answer 2

1. Population size and distribution
2. Birth and death rates
3. Life expectancy
4. Migration

Question 3

What is a census?

Answer 3

A simultaneous recording of demographic data of all people who live in a specific area at a particular time

Question 4

The UK census collects data on what?

Answer 4

1. Demographics (age, sex)
2. Cultural characteristics (ethnicity, religion)
3. Material deprivation (employment, home ownership, car access, lone parents)
4. Health
5. Workplace

Question 5

Which factors are considered when assessing the quality of health information?

Answer 5

1. Completeness
2. Accuracy
3. Representativeness
4. Timeliness
5. Accessibility

CARTA

Question 6

List 2 strengths of the UK census.

Answer 6

1. 98% complete
2. Quality controls in place to check some forms

Question 7

List 2 weaknesses of the UK census.

Answer 7

1. Low enumeration of some groups e.g. traveller community
2. Every 10 years, plus delay in data release

Question 8

List 3 types of data the UK census collects and what each is used for.

Answer 8

1. Population size / structure - used for service needs
2. Base population - used for denominator for disease rates
3. Measure of material deprivation - used to identify and target inequalities

Question 9

Birth notifications need to be completed by who and within how long?

Answer 9

By birth attendant (midwife) within 36 hours

Question 10

Birth registrations need to be completed by who and within how long?

Answer 10

By parent(s) within 42 days

Question 11

List 4 uses of birth statistics.

Answer 11

1. Used for measures of fertility
2. Crude birth rate = liver births / 1000 people
3. General fertility rate = live births / 1000 women after 15-44 years
4. Total fertility rate = average number of children born per woman

Question 12

How are population estimates calculated?

Answer 12

Census baseline + births - death +- migration

Question 13

List 4 uses of Hospital Episode Statistics.

Answer 13

1. Trends in NHS hospital activity
2. Supporting local service planning
3. Time trends
4. Inequalities in healthcare access

Question 14

Who are Hospital Episode Statistics used by?

Answer 14

1. Commissioning organisations
2. Healthcare providers
3. Researchers

Question 15

List the data coding systems used in healthcare and what they’re used for.

Answer 15

ICD-10 - coding for clinical conditions, e.g. hip fracture

OPCS-4 - coding for interventions, e.g. hip replacement

Question 16

Who is alerted when there is a suspected notifiable disease?

Answer 16

Public health and health protection team

Question 17

List 3 things that notifications of infectious diseases are used for.

Answer 17

1. Tracking trends
2. Identifying outbreaks
3. Managing contacts