Tutorial 2 What is Health?

Question 1

what are the expectations of professional values and behaviours?

Answer 1

professional and ethical responsibilities

legal responsibilities

patient safety and quaality improvement

dealing with complexity and uncertainty

safeguarding vulnerable patients

leadership and team working

Question 2

what are the expectations of professional skills?

Answer 2

communication and interpersonal skills

diagnosis and medical management

prescribing medication safely

using information effectively and safely

Question 3

what are the expectations of professional knowledge?

Answer 3

the health service and healthcare systems in the four countries

applying biomedical scientific principles

applying social science principles

health promotion and illness prevention

clinical research and scholarship

Question 4

whats the definition of health?

Answer 4

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being

and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Question 5

what are the different kinds of normality

Answer 5

statistical

cultural

Question 6

what are some examples of good dress code practice?

Answer 6

Wear soft-soled, closed toe shoes.

Provide sufficient uniforms for the recommended laundry practice (more uniforms may be needed where the trust carries out the laundry).

Change into a clean uniform at the start of each shift in order to avoid overloading wash uniforms separately from other clothes.

Cover tattoos where these are extensive or may be deemed offensive.

Use posters or other aide-memoires to show what each uniform means.

Question 7

give some examples of poor dress code practice?

Answer 7

Wear numerous badges or other adornments.

Wear neck-ties (other than bow-ties) when providing patient care.

Carry pens/scissors etc in outside breast pockets.

Wear uniform sloppily

Wear excessive jewellery (necklaces, visible piercings and multiple earrings). Where earrings are worn, they should be plain studs).

Question 8

how long should consultations last?

Answer 8

10 mins

Question 9

and how many consultations should surgeries have in a row?

Answer 9

15

Question 10

what are the two categories of defining health?

Answer 10

official or professional definitions

popular or lay definitions

Question 11

give examples of professional definitions?

Answer 11

So called bio-medical or scientific view of health.

Health as the absence of disease.

Health as the absence of illness.

Question 12

give 5 examples of positive/holistic views on health?

Answer 12

Health as an ideal state

Health as physical and mental fitness

Health as a commodity

Health as personal strength or ability

Health as the basis for personal potential.

Question 13

what are lay beleiefs when it comes to age?

Answer 13

older perople cincentrated on functional ability

younger people tend to speak of health in terms of physical strength and fitness

Question 14

what are lay health beliefs coming from a social class point of view?

Answer 14

People living in difficult economic and social circumstances regard health as functional – the ability to be productive, to cope and take care of others. Blaxter & Paterson (1982)

Women of higher social class or educational qualifications have a more multidimensional view of health.

Question 15

what are the lay health beliefs in regards to gender?

Answer 15

Men and women appear to think about health differently

Women may find the concept of health more interesting

Women include a social aspect to health.

Question 16

what are the cultural differences in terms of health?

Answer 16

Caucasian and Afro-Caribbean patients attached different meanings to “High blood pressure”

Afro-Caribbean patients
Tended to regard it as more“normal” and not as an increased risk of stroke/heart attack
were less likely to take their medication

Question 17

some learning points…

Answer 17

Health is conceived differently depending on whether you are a professional or not, where you live, what circumstances you find yourself living in, how old you are and whether you are a man or a woman.

There are a variety of “models” of health which have sprung from social scientists attempting to define what health is.

Until you establish what ‘health’ and ‘normality’ means for your patient (as well as yourself), you will struggle to help them achieve their goals.