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.
What is Private Health Insurance (PHI)
Premium (fee) for payments towards medical health costs NOT covered by Medicare.
Why do we need PHI?
- To support the public health system
- To support all Australians
- To support an ageing Australian
- Reduce the burden on healthcare system
How is PHI funded?
Local, federal and state governments.
Subsidised by public funds including a means-tested rebate.
What is covered by PHI?
- Medicare will pay for 75% of doctors’ schedule fees.
- Choice of doctor, own room and short waiting period in elective surgery.
How is PHI different to Medicare?
Medicare only covers the cost of your treatment as a public patient and a set range of non-hospital health services. Private health insurance can give you more choices about the type of health services used and more coverage for different types of services.
Out-of-pocket expenses
The amount you pay for a medical service.
Incentives to take out PHI
PHI rebate; 30% rebate incentive.
Lifetime health insurance cover; After age 31 have to pay an extra 2% on premiums (PHI)
Medicare levy surcharge; People who earn $90,000 a year have to pay extra tax as a medicare surcharge (1-1.5%).
Aged based discount; 18-29 –> 10% discount
Advantages of PHI
- Access to private hospitals
- Assists the Australian government to address the
increasing costs and burden on - Medicare.
- With extras cover people can access ancillary services
- Shorter waiting periods
- Choice of doctor
Disadvantages of PHI
- Costly for individuals and families
- Out-of-pocket expenses for some services
- Qualifying Waiting period for some services
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Provides services and support for people with permanent, significant disabilities and their families and carers.
What funds NDIS?
- Federal + State governments.
- All levels of government.
Who qualifies for the NDIS?
- Aged between 9-65.
- Have a permanent disability.
- Australian Citizen.
What does the NDIS provide?
- Access to mainstream services.
- Access to community services.
- Maintain informal support.
- Receive reasonable and necessary funding (Financial support).
Funding
Financial resources are provided to keep the health system adequately staffed.
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs through this service.
- The capacity of the health system to provide the workforce and infrastructure, facilities, equipment, interventions, research and monitoring.
Access
Provide all people in Australia with timely access.
- Healthcare.
- Needs-based care.
- Quality-services
Equity
All Australians have equality in access to health care services.
- fairness and justice
To provide support for people in need so that they
can have the same opportunities as everyone else
through this service.
Medicare: sustainability
Costs are evaluated each year, so funding can be available for the future generation of Australian’s medical needs.
Medicare: Equity
Safety net; available to all citizens
Can provide extra support to those in financial need.
Medicare: access
Being at a low cost/no cost means most people are likely to have their condition diagnosed and treated.
- Provide access to individuals with different levels of SES to services.
PBS: Sustainability
- Continue reviewing medicines available; therefore greatest benefits are prioritised keeping the scheme sustainable.
PBS: Equity
PBS safety net:
- additional support.
- reduced cost.
- don’t discriminate.
PBS: Access
All Australian citizens are entitled to access these medications.
- Providing essential medicines for low income earners.
PHI: Sustainability
Reduces the burden on the healthcare system, to meet the needs of the current and future.
PHI: Equity
Over 65 receive a greater rebate from government if they have PHI.
PHI: Access
Rebate scheme - makes PHI more accessible and affordable.
NDIS: Sustainability
Individualised programs; only necessary funding are spent on each person.
NDIS: Equity
Individualised plan, ensures individuals with more significant receive more assistance.
NDIS: Access
Improves access to health services for individuals with a significant disability.
Why is smoking targeted?
Smoking kills more than 20000 Australians each year, costing the government 31.5 billion.
Can cause:
- Cancers; lung, throat, mouth.
- Constriction of blood vessels.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Tooth decay.
IT IS MODIFIABLE AND PREVENTABLE!!!!!!!
QUIT campaign
To reduce the health, financial, environmental, and social harms caused by smoking tobacco, to prevent vaping-related harm and to help people break free from addiction to nicotine.
Build public health policy: QUIT
Provides advice to state government to implement legislation related to smoking, including different laws of smoking.
Create a supportive environment: QUIT
Quit buddy can record personal goals and motivations with pictures, words and audio messages.
+ Community board –> gain motivation and support from others quitting.
Strengthen community action: QUIT
Venture between the Victorian Government, VicHealth, the Heart Foundation and the Cancer Council.
Develop personal skills: QUIT
Provides health-related knowledge regarding smoking and the benefits of not smoking. This is achieved via advertising campaigns etc.
Reorient health services: QUIT
Provides free online learning training program for health professionals. Providing them with knowledge and skills to assist smokers to quit.
Who runs/funds the Fitzroy stars
Based in an aboriginal community in Melbournes northern suburbs.
Outline of the Fitzroy stars
- Nurture culture to promote a healthy lifestyle.
- Promotes fitness and nutrition.
- Offers employment and education pathways.
- Fosters reconciliation by building bridges between aboriginal and non-aboriginal.
Develop personal skills: FITZROY STARS
Provides education relating to issues such as nutrition and employment.
Reorient health services: FITZROY STARS
Uses health professionals to present weekly sessions relating to preventable healthcare.
Strengthen community action: FITZROY STARS
Working together with VicHealth, Oxfam and Aboriginal Advancement League.
Build healthy public policy: FITZROY STARS
Vichealth resurrecting the FSFC.
–> Understanding volunteer activities.
Create supportive environments: FITZROY STARS
Gives families a safe place where they can participate in sport + socialising.
Who funds/runs the Aboriginal Quitline?
Safe service run by Aboriginal peoples; funded by the government.
Give an outline of Aboriginal Quitline
Provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders counsellors who empower individuals to quit smoking.
Develop Personal Skills: ABORIGINAL QUITLINE
Provide a plan for quitting that is tailored to individual needs and information on different quitting methods.
Reorient health services: ABORIGINAL QUITLINE
Speaking with Aboriginal counsellors instead of non-Aboriginal.
Strengthen community action: ABORIGINAL QUITLINE
The Aboriginal community works together to achieve the common goal of quitting smoking.
Build healthy public policy: ABORIGINAL QUITLINE
Funded by VicHealth.
Create supportive environments: ABORIGINAL QUITLINE
Provides confidential support for Aboriginal peoples who want to quit smoking.
The Australian Dietary guidelines
Aimed at all people in the generally healthy population - including common diet-related risk factors.
- Develop healthy dietary patterns.
- Reduce the risk of developing diet-related conditions.
- Reduce the risk of chronic diseases developing.
Guideline 1
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and choose amounts of nutritious food and drink to meet your energy needs.
Guideline 2
Enjoy a variety of nutritious foods from the 5 food groups every day:
- Vegetables.
- Fruit.
- Grain.
- Lean meats and poultry.
- Milk, yogurt, cheese and/or alternatives.
Guideline 3
Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol.
Guideline 4
Encourage, support and promote breastfeeding.
Guideline 5
Care for your food; prepare and store it safely.
Australian guide to healthy eating.
- 5 main food groups.
- Consume plenty of water.
- Healthier fats.
- Saturated Fats.
- No information on serving sizes, therefore can make the model more difficult to read.
Work of Nutrition Australia
- Information on healthy eating.
Includes: - Healthy eating pyramid.
- Recipes/cookbooks.
- Develop educational resources.
- Nutrition seminars and workshops.
Healthy eating pyramid.
- 5 food groups + healthy fats.
- “Enjoy a variety of food and be active every day.”
- Enjoy herbs and spices.
- Cross through salt and sugars.
- Choose water.
Australian Dietary Guidelines versus the Healthy Eating Pyramid
Similarities:
- Both make reference to the 5 food groups.
- Both encourage limited intake of salt/sugar.
- Recommend consuming plenty of water.
Differences:
- Guidelines provide advice on servings where the pyramid only shows proportions.
- Guidelines limit alcohol intake.
- Pyramid suggests using herbs and spices.
Analysing the Healthy Eating Pyramid
Advantages:
- Shows a range of foods to consume.
- Makes provision for healthy fats.
- It’s visual so it’s easy to understand
Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t include serving size.
- Doesn’t mention alcohol.
- Not include composite foods eg. mixed salad.
Challenges in bringing dietary change:
- Personal preference.
- Attitudes and beliefs.
- Willpower.
- Food security.
- Time constraints and convenience.
- Education, nutrition knowledge and cooking skills.
- Influence of family, culture, society and religion.
- Food marketing.
- Health and wellbeing factors.
Personal preference.
- Prefer certain foods; past experiences.
- Sugar foods –> pleasure; dopamine more likely to eat again.
Attitudes and beliefs.
- Healthier foods taste bland.
- Negative effects of unhealthy foods won’t affect them.
- Philosophical beliefs; vegetarian + vegan.
Willpower.
- Ability to resist short-term temptations to meet long-term goals.
- “Unhealthy” foods offered at parties etc.
Food security.
- Have access to nutritional, safe and sufficient foods at all times to meet dietary requirements.
- Being able to afford healthier foods.
- Geographical access + transport.
Time constraints and convenience.
- Convenience foods for families who work a lot, with no time to prepare food.
- Truck drivers; rely on quick food.
Education, nutrition knowledge and cooking skills.
- Lack of cooking skills.
- Health literacy.
- Difficulty reading food labels.
Influence of family, culture, society and religion.
- Traditional foods and early life experiences with these foods.
- Family play a role in shaping personal food preferences.
Food marketing.
- Ads in newspapers.
- T.V.
- Websites.
- Celebrity promotion.
- Product placement in movies.
Health and wellbeing factors.
- Allergy + Intolerance.
- Release of dopamine; certain foods.
- Food as a coping mechanism.
