UNIT 3 AOS2 Flashcards
Public Health
The ways governments monitor, regulate and promote health status and prevent disease.
Old Public Health
Government actions that focused on changing the physical environment to prevent the spread of disease, such as providing safe water and sanitation.
Leading cause of disease in the 1900s.
Infectious diseases.
How has health status changed?
- Decreased mortality and morbidity rates.
- Increased life expectancy.
- Decrease U5MR.
Due to: - Vaccinations.
- Improved hygiene.
- Education/Health literacy.
- Better living conditions.
Biomedical model
Focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness. It is a medical model practised by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT and CURE of disease.
‘band-aid’ or ‘quick-fix’ approach
Improvements in medical technology due to the biomedical model assist Health outcomes.
- Discovery of vaccines; significant improvements in health status –> new vaccines can be produced.
- Discovery of antibiotics; reduction in death rates + infectious diseases.
- Penicillin; reduces mortality and morbidity rates.
Advantages of the Biomedical approach
- Funding brings improvements in technology.
- Enables many illnesses and conditions to be treated effectively.
- Extends life expectancy.
- Improves quality of life.
Disadvantages of the Biomedical approach
- Affordability.
- Not every condition can be treated.
- Doesn’t always promote good health and well-being.
- Relies on professional health workers and technology, therefore is costly.
‘new public health’
Expands focus on individual behaviour change to one that considers the ways in which physical, socio-cultural and political environments impact health.
Also referred to as the Social model of health.
Social model of health
Improvements in health can only be achieved by directing efforts towards addressing the physical, socio-cultural and political environments of health that impacts on individual and population groups.
Health promotion
Enable people to increase control over and improve health, to make a positive change.
Principles of the social model of health
- Addresses broader determinants of health.
- Acts to reduce social inequalities.
- Empowers individuals and communities.
- Enable access to healthcare.
- Involves intersectoral collaboration.
Addresses broader determinants of health.
Behavioural factors are an important part of improving H+W. Often it is influenced by broader determinants (eg, gender), becoming the focus of health promotion.
Acts to reduce social inequalities.
Individual and population groups are influenced by sociocultural and environmental factors.
Empowers individuals and communities.
- Participate in decision-making about their health.
- More likely to participate in healthy behaviours if they feel like they have a sense of control/power.
- Health knowledge and skills; more likely to make a positive change,
Enable access to healthcare.
- Access to healthcare contributes to health status.
- Sociocultural and environmental factors impact access to healthcare
eg. cultural barriers, education
Involves intersectoral collaboration.
Government and non-government organisations have an influence on sociocultural and environmental factors that influence health.
–> groups from many sectors working together to achieve a common goal.
Social model of health advantages
- Focuses on vulnerable population groups.
- Education can be passed from generation to generation.
- Responsibility for health and wellbeing is shared.
The social model of health disadvantages
- Not every condition can be prevented.
- It does not promote the development of technology and medical knowledge.
- Not address H+W concerns of individuals.
- Health promotion may be ignored.
Ottawa charter for health promotion
A set of guidelines to help organizations and key stakeholders incorporate health promotion ideas into their strategies, policies and campaigns.
Aims to reduce social inequalities in health. It reflects the social model of health and provides 5 action areas that can be used as a basis for improving health status, centred around 3 strageies for health promotion.
Strategies for Health Promotion Ottawa
- Advocate.
- Enable.
- Mediate.
Advocate
Action that gains support from governments/societies to make changes necessary to improve factors that influence health for everyone.
- media campaigns.
- public speaking.
- lobbying governments.
Enable
Reduce differences in health status between population groups by ensuring equal opportunities and resources available for individuals to take control + achieve optimal H+W
Mediate
Changing to funding, legislation and policies, the physical + sociocultural environment, causing conflict between groups.
Helps these groups resolve conflict and produce outcomes that promote H+W.
Action areas of the Ottawa charter
- Develop personal skills.
- Reorient health services.
- Strengthen community action.
- Build healthy public policy.
- Create supportive environments.
Develop personal skills.
- Education; gain health-related knowledge and life skills to make informed decisions.
Reorient health services.
Health system to promote health as opposed to focusing on diagnosing and treating illness.
- Must address factors that influence H+W.
- Branching off to different health services
Teaching health professionals to help other people.
Strengthen community action.
Building links between individuals and the community, to work together and achieve a common goal.
Enable H+W across generations.
Build healthy public policy.
Decisions made by the government + organisations regarding laws/policies affecting health.
Policies and laws make it difficult for individuals to participate in unhealthy behaviours.
Create supportive environments.
An environment that promotes health by being safe, stimulating, satisfying and enjoyable. They can help people practice healthy behaviours.
eg. Shaded areas in playgrounds.
What is Medicare?
A universal healthcare system that provides essential medical care to patients via their GP or hospital for little or no cost.
Who is eligible for Medicare?
- Aus + NZ citizens.
- Over 15 can have their own Medicare card.
- People from countries with reciprocal agreements.
What is a schedule fee?
Cost decided by the government. The amount that Medicare contributes towards certain consultations and treatments.
What is bulk billing?
When the doctor or specialist charges only the
Schedule fee.
What is covered by medicare?
- Doctors and specialists.
- Diagnostic tests.
- Eye tests by optometrists.
What is not covered by Medicare?
- Ambulance services.
- Dental services.
- Glasses, contact lenses and hearing aids.
- Cosmetic surgery.
Medicare’s main objectives:
- To make health care more affordable for all Australians.
- To give all Australians access to health care services with priority according to clinical need.
- To provide a high-quality of care.
Medicare safety net
Ensures that people who require frequent services covered by Medicare, such as doctor’s visits and tests receive additional financial support.
How is medicare funded?
The federal government:
- Australian income tax
- Medicare Levy
- Medicare Levy surcharge
General taxation
All working Australians help to pay for Medicare
from income tax. How much tax you pay depends on your income.
Medicare levy
An additional 2% is placed on the taxable income of most taxpayers.
Medicare levy surcharge
People who do not have private health insurance and earn above a certain amount have to pay extra tax.
$90000 –> extra 1%
$140000 –> extra 1.5%
Families:
$180000 –> 1%
Advantages of Medicare.
- Choice of doctor for out-of-hospital services
- Available to all Australians
- Covers tests and examinations, doctors’ fees and some procedures such as X-rays and eye tests.
Disadvantages of Medicare.
- No choice of doctor for in-hospital treatments
- Waiting lists for many treatments
- Does not cover alternative therapies
- Often does not cover the full amount of doctor visits
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Subsides the cost of a wide range of life-saving prescription medications.
How is PBS funded?
Commonwealth Government taxes.
PBS safety net
Protected from large expenses for medications listed on the PBS.