Week 3 - Population Health Flashcards
what is population health?
- refers to the identification of the health outcomes of a population group and the equitable sharing of those outcomes with that group.
- focuses on improving the health status of the population, rather than that of the individual
components of population health
- health promotion
- disease prevention
- diagnosis and treatment of diseases
- treatment intervention
what is a population?
a population group can be defined by ethnicity, geography, jurisdiction (i.e province) sense of community, or setting (i.e work, school)
what is public health?
- focuses on the practice of promoting health and preventing disease in the individual
- public health transforms the recommendations from population health into action (e.g., by administering vaccinations, implementing health education initiatives, etc.)
what is the difference between public health and population health?
- population health gathers data about the health of a public; public health uses health information to prevent disease or promote health
- population health analyzes the information gathered; public health applies strategies to improve health rather
- population health makes recommendations to improve good health or prevent disease; public health carries out recommendations derived from population health studies
historical reports instrumental to developing population health
- the lalonde report
- declaration of alma-ata
- ottawa charter
- the epp report
- first report on the health of canadians
- national forum on health
all of these reports, beginning with the Lalonde Report, were significant in initiating a united population health approach to achieving better health for canadians. subsequent reports have analyzed the health of Canadians using a population health approach and offered recommendations for action.
what was the Lalonde report?
- in 1974, Marc Lalonde, minister of National health and welfare introduced the concept of population health to canada
- was the first document acknowledged by a nation to state that health is determined by more than biology and that improved health could be achieved through changes in evironment, lifestyle and healthcare organization
what was the declaration of alma-ata?
- in 1978, WHO convened an international conference in Alma-ata, Kazakhstan to address the need for global cooperation on health issues and in health care reform
- declaration of Alma-Ata declared health as a fundamental human right
- the slogan “Health for All—2000” aimed to reduce global health inequities by emphasizing primary healthcare
- urged governments to prioritize strategies for improving primary health care delivery.
what was the ottawa charter?
- the first international conference on health promotion in 1986 to review and expand proposals of the declaration of Alma-ata
- the charter expanded on the factors affecting health outlined in the Lalonde Report, now calling them “health prerequisites.”
- five principles emerged, including the involvement of all levels of government in health promotion and individuals taking responsibility for their own health
- community-level strategies for health promotion were highlighted (such as government-funded daycare programs)
what was the Epp report?
- was released at the 1986 Ottawa conference
- named after then-Minister of Health and Welfare, Jake Epp
- the report provided a framework for health promotion
- focused on reducing health inequities for disadvantaged groups, managing chronic diseases, and preventing illnesses
- the report recommended that these initiatives receive financial support from all levels of government.
what was the The Report on the Health of Canadians?
- was released in 1886 for the meting of the Minsters of Health
- it built upon proposals from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) in 1989 and was the first to officially recognize and incorporate determinants of health into its findings and recommendations
- despite acknowledging Canadians as among the healthiest populations globally, the report emphasized the need for intensified collaboration among all levels of government, industry, and the private sector to further improve health
what was the national forum on health?
- was launched by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 1994 and concluded in 1997
- served as the blueprint for current Health Canada initiatives
- public input was crucial for this forum.
- the beliefs and values of people across the country were sought through public discussion groups, conferences, meetings with experts, commissioned papers, letters, and briefs
what is a social determinant of health?
- the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes
- social and economic factors having to do with a person’s place in society that affect all aspects of a person’s health and health outcomes
what are 12 social determinants of health?
- income and social status
- employment and working conditions
- education and literacy
- childhood experiences
- physical environments
- social supports and coping skills
- healthy behaviours
- access to health services
- biology and genetic endowment
- gender
- culture
- race / racism
what is the public health agency of canada?
- is a federal agency that promotes and protects the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation and action in public health.
- it focuses on preventing disease and injuries, responding to public health threats, promoting good physical and mental health, and providing information to support informed decision making
8 elements of the PHAC population health approach
the required steps to develop and implement a population health approach:
1) focus on the health of populations
2) address the determinants of health and their interactions
3) base decision making on evidence
4) increase upstream investments
5) apply multiple strategies
6) collaborate across sectors and levels
7) employ mechanisms for public involvements
8) demonstrate accountability for health outcomes
what is the population health promotion model?
the Public Health Agency of Canada developed the Population Health Promotion Model to target specific groups and specific issues in society
- the model focuses on three levels: who, what and how
- “On WHAT should we take action?” –> full range of health determinants
“HOW should we take action?” –> comprehensive action strategies
“with WHO should we act?” –> various levels of actions
qualitative versus quantitative research data
qualitative research:
- examines the way a population group thinks, how it acts, and its health beliefs and health behaviours
- is conducted by administering surveys and holding open forums
quantitative research:
- deals primarily with numbers, which are interpreted most frequently as statistics
- data can be generated through epidemiological studies, databases, and surveys, such as the Census.
what is socioeconomic status?
- socioeconomic status (SES) is derived from combining a person’s or a group’s education, occupation, income, social status, and sometimes geography
- at one end of the socioeconomic scale are people who are living below the poverty line, are unemployed or underemployed, and living in substandard housing = at greater risk for poor healt
- as socioeconomic status improves, so does an individual’s or group’s health
culture vs ethncity
ethnicity = refers to their place of origin or ancestry and may be shaped by the languages they were brought up using, and their religion
culture = takes into account beliefs, values, norms, practices and customs, behaviours, and attitudes
