Health Priorities In Australia - CORE 1

The study of disease in groups or populations

The collection of quantifiable data concerning trends and patterns of health in a given population

To obtain a picture of the health status of a population to, identify the patterns of health and disease, and analyse how health services and facilities are being used

Mortality - Number of deaths
Morbidity - the incidence or level of illness,disease or injury
Infant mortality - number of infant deaths
Life expectancy - length of time a person is expected to live

-Prevalence: the proportion of the population affected by a particular disease at a particular time

-Incidence: the number of new cases of a disease during a particular time, usually one year

- Fails to explain why health inequities persist
- Do not account for health determinants
- Might not accurately indicate quality of life in terms of people
- Does not show significant variations of health in subgroups

1. In-Vitro = performed outsdie a living organism

2. In-Vivo = performed within a living organism

Decreasing, due to:
- Medical advancements
- Improved living conditions
- Increased life expectancy

1. All Cancers
2. Cardiovascular disease (leading cause of death currently)
3. Respiratory Disease

1. Dementia
2. Cardiovascular disease (CHD)
3. Cerebrovascular disease (Stroke)

1. CHD
2. Dementia
3. Lung cancer

Decreased, due to:
- Rapid progress in prevention and treatment
- Declined cigarette usage
- Better lifestyle (less salt in diets ect)

Decreasing for both Males and Females, due to
- Decreased smoking as a result of; legislation, taxing and no smoking areas

Males engage in more risk factors;
- Smoking, Drinking
- Dangerous jobs

Substantial decrease, as a result of:
- Improved medical technology such as; Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Childhood immunisation programs and increased parental education

Substantial increase, due to:
- Reduced mortality rates; Cancers, Road accidents, disease and illnesses.

the condition of suffering from a disease or medical condition

1. CHD (heart attacks ect)
2. Back pain & problems
3. Dementia

SPPPC ("S triple P C")
S - Social justice principles
P - Priority population groups
P - Prevalence
P - Potential for prevention
C - Costs (to the individual/community)

Equity, Diversity, Supportive environments

Those groups of a population with poorer levels of health in which become a focus of health promotion

eg; The indigenous, low SES backgrounds, Isolated or remote populations, Men (increased risk of diseases)

As Australia is charcterised by its diversity and multicultralism, our population has many subgroups of people who are significantally disadvantaged;

By identifying/prioritising these groups we can allocate resources and empower these communities to improve their health.

the number of cases of an illness overall

Prevalence data provide an indication of the extent of a health problem in a given community. The greater the prevelance the greater priority the health issue is.

Refers to how the prevalence of a condition has the ability to be reduced by addressing risk factors

90% of lung cancer cases are found in males and 65% in females and are estimated to be a result of tabcco smoking.

Thus policies were introduced to discourage or reduce rates of smoking, such as; plain packaging, no smoking areas and increased tax

Direct - think money, refers to the actual financial cost in relation to the illness. This includes identification and treatment.

Indirect - Think Social, eg; diminshed quality of life, dperession/social exclusion, the emotional/financial strain on friends/family or the impact of their abseentenism.

Costs to the individual can be measured in terms of:
- Financial loss
- Loss of productivity
- Diminished Quality of life
- Emtional stress
- The cost of treatment/medication & rehabilitation
- Physical pain and suffering

Direct - Think money. Costs relating to testing, education, health promotion, funding to hospitals for treatment.

Indirect - The value of the output lost when people become to ill to work/die prematurely. eg; loss of productivity for companies, the cost of retraining of staff ect.

It supports a more equitable approach in which aims at decreasing or eliminating inequity; promoting inclusiveness of diversity; and establishing environments that are supportive of all people.

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- socioeconomically disadvantaged people

Mortality - Decreasing, leading causes include CHD, Diabetes and Respiratory diseases (lifestyleehavioural)
Life Expectancy - 10 year gap between ATSI and non-ATSI peoples
Infant Mortality - Remained stable in recent years, 2x higher death rate in comparison with non-ATSI peoples
Moridity - CHD leading cause of morbdity with others being substance abuse and mental disorders

family, peers, media, religion, culture

Employment
Education
Income

Geographical location, access to health services and technology

Suffered ongoing intergenerational trauma as a result of years of colonisation and oppresion, leading to the disempowerment of ATSI individuals. This has lead to:
- Family: Higher rates of household abuse, less educated households of lower socioeconomic status, reducing the ability to make health promoting decisons such as healthy diets
- Culture: Language barriers and distrust in western institutions meaning they are less likely to seek help.

ATSI peoples are heavily disadvantaged due to;
- Poorer levels of education and access to education
- Poorer levels of employment, resulting in increased partcipation in blue collar jobs that pay less and are more dangerous
- These low income jobs, limit the ability to make health promoting decisions

ATSI peoples experience further healh inequities due to;
- Overcrowded housing due to house prices
- Living in rural and remote areas can limit their access to health services/technology ➡️poorer health (less health check ups, less likelihood of prevention/early intervention of illness)

Individuals - Are empowered to make informed decisions about their health, reduce risk behaviour and is overall responsible for promoting the health of themselves and those around them

Communities - Communties and ATSI leaders are involved in the 'closing the gap' Initiative and continue to promote the health of ATSI peoples

Governments - Responsible for Health prmotion and funding. Eg; "Close the Gap' or the \$805 Million Indigenous Chronic disease package which aims to achieve equalty in health status (all measures of health)

Mortality - 1.5x likely to die + 2.2x likely to die from preventable diseases
Infant Mortality - High in low SES areas
Life expectancy - Males (5.9y) and female (3.9y) less than high SES areas
Morbidity - 1.6x higher than those living in higher SES areas

- More likely to engage in risky behaviour (smoking, ect)
- High blood pressure (As a result of poor diets and sedentary living) = Culture and family
- Vietnamese and Arabic individualls are culturally linked with lving in low SES areas
- The media's stigma on homeless people may result in mental ilnesses (made this one up, so use if u want)

- People with low levels of education are less informed about health and the services available
- Due to poor education, employment options are limited resulting in more hazardous work types (construction/transport)
- Low levels of income mean individuals cannot afford appropriate healthcare, nutrition and housing.

- Higher rates of homelessness means individuals have limited access to health care services and technology.

- Higher rates of Socioeconimcally Disadvantaged people live in rural and remote areas meaning they have poorer access to health care services and greater sistnces to travel for medical assitance.

Indivudals - SED people can address their inequities by beggining to make health rpmoting decisions to the best of their ability and prmoting the health of those around them. (Not smoking, remaining in school, reduced alcohol)

Communities - Providing relevant health care and support services. Current programs such as PCYC, provide physical activity programs and welfare support for youth. Another example is 'Youth of the Streets' who aim to improve health outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged people.

Governments - Responsible for health prmotion and funding for free or reduced cost health care. Eg; Medicare, free or subsidised treatment from a range of health professionals

An umbreall term covering all disease of the heart and the circulatory system

Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke and Peripheral Vascular disease (PVD)

Atherosclerosis
- Is the build up of fatty material (plaques) on the interior walls of the arteries thus reducing bloodflow and increasing blood pressure (congestion basically)

Refers to the thickening/hardening of arterial walls and loss of elasticity

When the coronary arteries that supply the blood to the muscle of the heart face complete closure due to the build up of plaque (atherosclerosis).

chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart

A stroke results from a blockage of the blood flow to the brain either from a blood-clot (ischaemic) or a blood vessel burst (hemorrhage). It is know medically as CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE

A circulatory condition in which narrowed blood vessels as a result of atherosclerosis reduce blood flow to the limbs.

9/10 people with PVD are smokers

Hypertension refers to abnormally high blood pressure and is a major risk factor for a stroke.
-Blood vessels are damaged due to high pressure
- Increased chance of rupture

- CHD is the second combined cause of death In AUS
- Remains the single leading cause of Death In AUS
- CVD death rates are declining
- Higher prevalence in men, <75yo and 2x higher in ATSI

Negative factors that increase your chance of developing a disease
E.g. smoking, obesity, drinking, exposure to radiation

Positive factors that decrease risk and reduce the chance of developing a disease
E.g. Healthy eating, Exercise, Sunscreen

Age - The risk of CVD Increases with age
Smoking - The most significant modifiable risk factor
Male Gender - Males have higher prevalence
Genetic Inheritance (Family history)
High Blood Pressure/Cholesterol Levels
Obesity
Physical Inactivity

Gender - Females have lower prevalence/death rates
Regular Exercise
Healthy Diet (Low in saturated/trans fats and cholesterol)
Low alcohol consumption
Maintaining a healthy weight
Regular health checks

- People with a family history of CVD
- Low SES/dangerous neighbourhoods (engage in smoking)
- Greek diets = more likely to develop CVD due to high fat whereas asian diets = less likley due to low fat diets (culture)

Education, sepcifically health literacy helps prevent CVD
Low education = low employment = blue collar jobs
- Blue collar jobs are linked with poor lifestyle choices, eg; smoking and drinking
- Low income = diets high in fat/low in nutrition

People in rural and remote areas are more at risk for suffering severe CVD related health implications as they may not be able to access appropriate health services quick enough
- Decreased speed of medical treatment

- Tabacco smokers
- People with a family history of CVD
- People with high blood pressure
- People who consume high fat diets
- People aged 75+
- ATSI peoples (2x higher)

The uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal body cells

- Involves a mutation in which genetic material has been damagaed and it divides/multiplies uncontrollably

- Benign tumour (Not cancerous), cureable through surgery

- Malignant Tumour (Cancerous) cause sickness/death

Medical experts suggest around 90% of cancers are products of an individuals environment and lifestyle

Cancer is the leading COMBINED cause of death in Australia, despite survival rates improving and death rates declining.

- In 2021 an estimated 49,000 people will die from cancer

- Most common cause of cancer death
- Decreased deatn rates
- Most common occuring type of cancer (prevalence)

Lung cancer:
- Tabacco smoking
- Air pollution (occupational exposure, eg; blue collar jobs)
Breast Cancer:
- Family history/personal History
- High fat diets/obesity
Skin Cancer:
- Fair skin
- Prolonged UV/sun exposure

- Balanced diets and lifestyle choices (reduced smoking/alcohol)
- Being sun-smart (use of sunscreen and layered clothing)
- Cancer screenings (for early detection/prevention)

The Australian culture often revolves around the heat of the summer, beaches and getting tan. thus increasing risk
- Family history increases risk
- Peers or family members who smoke increase risk

- Lower levels of education, mean lower levels of health literacy, therefore reduced awareness of risk factors
- Lower levels of education limit employment options, potentially exposing individuals to hazardous work types.
- Low income relates to low SES areas in whom are highly affected by cancers

People living in rural and remote areas have higher mortality rates than other Australians. This is connected with their lack of access to specialists in cancer and less technology being available for treatment.

Groups at risk vary for the type of cancer but typically;
- The elderly
- Males (females for breast cancer)
- ATSI and Low SES (Disadvanatged population sub-groups)
- Rural and remote individuals

Any damage to a persons body resulting from an event, it can range from mild to severe

- Leading cause of death for people aged 1-44
- Mortality Rates have decreased overall (mainly due to a reduction in road related accidents)
- Accounts for \$8.9 billion of health expenditure in AUS
- Falls are the most cause of injury hospitilisations and deaths

- Age (being elderly increase severity of falls)
- Unsafe Driving practices (speeding, driving under fatigue/alcohol)
- Mental health issues, eg; drug use, depression, unemployment ect (result in suicide/self harm)
- Dangerous working conditionsehaviours (construction, transport, mining)

- Using appropriate Safety measures, eg; Seatbelts, driving the speed limit, helmets, use of PPE and high vis clothing
- The development of resillience, employment and a positive sense of selfelonging (mental health)

- Risk taking as a result of societal pressures (peers)
- This risk taking behaviour overlaps into unsafe driving practices, substance abuse and gang violence

People who have lower levels of education tend to have lower incomes and employment options, this leads to;
- Increased particpation in unsafe jobs (construction/transport)
- Increased road accidents (unsafe/outdated cars with poor safety)

People living in rural and remote areas are at higher risk of fatal injury due to there limited access to appropriate health services/technology, unsafe roads and work practices.

Certain groups are more prone to certain Injuries, for example:
Elderly - at risk of falls
Children - at risk of poisoning, drowning, violence and road acccidents
Adolescents - At risk of suicide, traffic related injury
ATSI - Higher rates for transport, violence and drug releated injury

H - Healthy Ageing
I - Increased population living with chronic disease/disability
D - Demand for health services & workplace shortages
A - Availability of Carers

the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age

Younger people must become aware of the risk factors and underlying causes for the development of chronic disease and disability so our future generations can engage in healthy ageing and thus have improved wellbeing and reduce the burden on the health care system

Healthy ageing is a priority as our nation continues to age and our life expectancy improves, thus by promoting healthy ageing, we can reduce the burden on our health care system and improve the lives of the elderly.

As our population ages and life expectancy improves, the demand for aged care workers rises and becomes increasingly important. Aged care work requires a greater number of workers which through increased funding, we can more efficiently attract, recruit and train aged care workers.

As our population ages and life expectancy improves, the demand for aged care workers rises and becomes increasingly important. However, recent years has seen a shortage in the availability of workers in both formal paid roles and informal, unpaid roles. Volunteer organisations such as Anglicare (home support), Meals on Wheels and Hammond Care (elderly support services) have significantly improved the availability of aged care workers.

Institutional:
- Hospitals (Private and Public)
- Nursing Homes (Most funded by government, some private)

Non-Institutional:
- Medical services (Gp's, specialists)
- Allied Health services (Physios, dentists etc)
- Pharmacists

- Lack of funding
- Shortages of qualified staff
- Socioeconimc Status
- Geographic Location
- Personal or religious beliefs
- Health literacy (Knowledge of available services)
- Waiting times/pateint lists

- Language support
- Medicare
- PBS
- Bulk Billing (directly billing medicare)
- Royal flying doctors service

Federal Government funds and is responsibile:
- Private and public hospitals
- Residential care
- Pharmaceuticals (PBS)
- Medicare
- Research

State Government is responsible for:
- Public hospitals
- Dental services
- Rehabillitation Programs
- Community health services

Local Governments are responsibile for:
- Community programs (Meals on Wheels etc)
- Environmental Control (Waste management)
- Hygiene/food safety standards

The PBS provides necessary medicines for Australians, subsidizing the costs of a range of prescription medication.

Usually for SED or Pentioners

Pro's:
- Offers compassionate lifeline to our most fragile citizens
- Addresses existing health issues/concerns
- finances medical emergency

Con's:
- Costly operation
- Reactive rather than proactive, thus no prevention

Pro's:
- Cost effectiveness
- Improvement of quality of life
- Reduced burden on health care system

Con's:
- Takes years for meausres to translate into a reduction of incidence
- Individual compliance (relies on individuals)
- Resource allocation challenges (immediate needs vs preventative iniatives)

- New treatments and technologies help improve early detection eg; Cancer screenings (Infared breast cancer)

- They also improve the treatment of disease, illness or injury. eg; Keyhole surgery (use of 3D tech in surgery)

HOWEVER these new treatments come at a higher cost and access issues arise

- EG: Prosthetic limbs are a very costly procedure and treatment

- Likewise Kidney dialysis machines are only found in mainstream hospitals and are expensive limiting access

- Australias universal health care system, established to provide australians with affordable and accessible health care

- Funded via income taxes and medicare levy (2% taxable income)

- Free treatment at public hospitals, free/subsidised treatment from GP's

- Free to all Australians, ensures equitable access

- Does not cover ancillary expenses, no choice of doctor

- Additional insurance that allows people to cover private expenses (private hospitals, ancillary expenses)

- Paid by the individuals and subsidised by the governments

- All private hospital and ancillary expenses (physios etc)

- Choice of doctor/hospital, insurance overseas, faster access, dont have to pay medicare levy, covers ancillary payments

- Designed to benefit high SES people, expensive, social justice issue (poor equity of access)

Complementary Medicine refers to healing practices that do not fall within the area of conventional medicine but are used ALONGSIDE it

Alternative Medicine refers to healing practices/methods that are used INSTEAD OF traditional medicine

- The recognition of CAM from WHO and the broader society as an effective treatment

- Past experiences and personal preference (desire for natural remedies)

- Migration and Multicultural influence

Acupuncture ⭐
Aromatherapy
Chiropractor ⭐
Herbalism
Homeopathy
Iridology
Massage ⭐
Meditation ⭐
Naturopathy

Ask themselves:
What is this?
How can it benefit me?
What qualifications/experience does it have?
The Cost of Treatment?

Individuals, communities and governments should work together in a partnership as it:
- Increases access to resources (money, expertise, research)
- Empowers individuals and communities, improving individual compliance
- More cost effective as resources are shared
- Ensures complex health issues are met more effectively

Equity:
- Public policy is designed with the aim of producing equity in health status. EG) Medicare

Diversity:
- Public policy accounts for all of our population, seeking to provide for all groups. EG) Closing the gap

Supportive environments:
- Public policy aims to produce an environment that supports healthy living. EG) No smoking areas

Equity:
- An environment is not supportive if it does not seek to provide equity. EG) Healtht care access/infrastructure in ruralemote areas.

Diversity:
- In order to be supportive, the environment must also cater for the diversity of the people. EG) Translators

Supportive environments:
- Creating supportive environments means making environments that encourage healthy choices. EG) Safe and good parks for exercise

Equity:
- Equity between communities is vital within a population so that the communities facing health inequities are empowered to improve their health. EG) ATSI members involved in policies

Diversity:
- Each community has its own diversity and needs to be consulted in health promotion. EG) Empowering diverse disadvantaged communities

Supportive environments:
- Communities that become empowered need an environment that supports their healthy choices. EG) Safer roads and infrastructre in ATSI communities

Equity:
- All people should have access to education and skill development regardless of socioeconomic, sociocultural or environmental determinants. EG) PDHPE K-10

Diversity:
Programs should be personalised to meet the needs of diverse communities within our population. EG) Health pamphlets in multiple languages

Supportive environments:
People share there skills and knowledge within their environment making it more supportive. EG) Parents role-modelling and educating their children

Equity:
- Health services must seek to address the current inequites of health. EG) Mental health promotion in low SES areas

Diversity:
- Health services must meet the diverse needs of the communities. EG) Empowerment of ATSI communites through healthy eating

Supportive environments:
- Health services must provide a supportive environment through a more prevention focussed society. EG) increased advertising and involvement in cancer screenings

1) National Tabacco Strategy (2012-2018)

2) Towards Zero campaign (National road Safety)

- Education programs (Compulsory PDHPE K-10)
- Healthy harold
- Online advertisements and articles

Effectiveness:
- Informs and educates individuals of smokings risk facotrs and equips them with greater health literacy

- Eliminating the promotion of tabacco products
- Regulating the place of use (no smoking areas)

Effectiveness:
- Encourages smokers to quit and reduces exposure to glorified messages of smoking

- The provision of support services using ex-smokers within the community
- Ensuring Population subgroups are involved in decision making and policies regarding smoking

Effectiveness:
- Smokers may be more inclined to quit after hearing from those who have and the involvement of communities allows for more effective health promotion

- Increased funding towards preventative approaches
eg) Education programs, QUIT helplines and programs

Effectiveness:
- By addressing risk factors and educating protective factors, individuals are more equipped with greater health literacy and less likely to ever pick up smoking in the first place, thus reducing the burden on emergency health services

- Regulating tabacco sales
- Enforcing laws and regulations
- Limiting the visibility of Tabacco products (promotion)

Effectiveness:
- Laws and fines may discourage retailers from selling tabacco products at all, Limited visibility means individuals are less exposed and reminded of tabacco products

DPS - Encourages education throught the provision of information that distinguishes healthy and risk behaviours. EG) Drivers knowledge test

CSE - The creation and enforcement of school zones, safe roads/walkways, zebra crossings and speed limits all help to promote road safety and health promotion

SCA - Driver licensing for indigenous road users and working with ATSI communities to upgrade roads and producer safer environments increase community action allowing for more effective health Promotion

RHS - Involves the prevention of road-related injury rather than curing. This is done through; safer cars and roads, speed management and laws (seatbelts, car safety)

BHPP - Contributes to a reduction in road injuries by creating change that is enforced over the community. EG) drive drinking laws, seatbelt laws and vechile standards.