Y1 PPGH PUBLIC HEALTH
EXAM STUDY SET
Define public health: - Answer The science and art of preventing disease, promoting
health and well-being and prolonging life through the organised efforts of society
What methods can be used to address determinants of health? - Answer 1) Legislation
2) Local and national social initiatives (↑ literacy, housing improvement)
3) Specific disease prevention programmes (e.g. immunisation)
What are the three domains of public health? - Answer *1) Health protection*
- Communicable diseases
- Environmental hazards (exposure to toxic chemicals/poison)
*2) Health improvement*
- Understanding wider determinants of health
- Housing/education/poverty/etc
- Seeks to improve health via *health promotion*
*3) Improving services*
- How quality of health services may be improved through *evidence-based planning*
Define health: - Answer "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"
WHO 1948
Give examples of general health standardised questionnaires: - Answer *1) Short-form
36 (SF-36)*
*2) General health questionnaire (GHQ)*
3) EQ5D
4) NHP
Define demographic transition: - Answer The change in the birth and death rates as a
country develops. This alters the shape of population pyramids
The demographic transition model describes the changes that occur as a country
moves through stages of development from a population with high fertility and mortality
, to one with low fertility and mortality
Define epidemiological transition: - Answer The *shift* in the burden of mortality and
morbidity from *infectious diseases and malnutrition* characteristic of
underdevelopment to *non-communicable diseases* characteristic of development
What is life expectancy? - Answer Average length of time that babies born today can
expect to live if today's age and sex-specific mortality rates are applied throughout their
lifetime
What is healthy life expectancy? - Answer Combines measures of morbidity and
mortality to give an average length of time that a person in a specified population can
expect to live free of disease
Define fertility rate: - Answer Number of live births per 1000 women of child-bearing age
(15-44)
Define infant mortality rate: - Answer Infant mortality rate (not true rate) = Probability of
dying before *first* birthday
*= number of death of liveborn infants/ number of live births x 1000*
Can be further divided into:
1) Perinatal mortality (still birth after 28 weeks gestation + deaths in first 7 days after
birth)
2) Neonatal mortality (death <28 days)
What are the main causes of infant mortality in:
1) Developed countries
2) Developing countries - Answer 1) Congenital conditions and accidents
2) Infectious diseases and malnutrition
Define years of potential life lost (YPLL): - Answer A way of summarising mortality rates
that takes into account the age at which death occurs
Calculated as the years of potential life lost before age 75 (∴ deaths occurring at
younger age carry more weight than older ages)
e.g. dying at 20 incurs a YPLL of 55
What is the Dahlgren and Whitehead model? - Answer A model that maps the
relationship between the individual, their environment and health.
Health is determined by a range of factors. Some are modifiable, others are non
modifiable.
EXAM STUDY SET
Define public health: - Answer The science and art of preventing disease, promoting
health and well-being and prolonging life through the organised efforts of society
What methods can be used to address determinants of health? - Answer 1) Legislation
2) Local and national social initiatives (↑ literacy, housing improvement)
3) Specific disease prevention programmes (e.g. immunisation)
What are the three domains of public health? - Answer *1) Health protection*
- Communicable diseases
- Environmental hazards (exposure to toxic chemicals/poison)
*2) Health improvement*
- Understanding wider determinants of health
- Housing/education/poverty/etc
- Seeks to improve health via *health promotion*
*3) Improving services*
- How quality of health services may be improved through *evidence-based planning*
Define health: - Answer "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"
WHO 1948
Give examples of general health standardised questionnaires: - Answer *1) Short-form
36 (SF-36)*
*2) General health questionnaire (GHQ)*
3) EQ5D
4) NHP
Define demographic transition: - Answer The change in the birth and death rates as a
country develops. This alters the shape of population pyramids
The demographic transition model describes the changes that occur as a country
moves through stages of development from a population with high fertility and mortality
, to one with low fertility and mortality
Define epidemiological transition: - Answer The *shift* in the burden of mortality and
morbidity from *infectious diseases and malnutrition* characteristic of
underdevelopment to *non-communicable diseases* characteristic of development
What is life expectancy? - Answer Average length of time that babies born today can
expect to live if today's age and sex-specific mortality rates are applied throughout their
lifetime
What is healthy life expectancy? - Answer Combines measures of morbidity and
mortality to give an average length of time that a person in a specified population can
expect to live free of disease
Define fertility rate: - Answer Number of live births per 1000 women of child-bearing age
(15-44)
Define infant mortality rate: - Answer Infant mortality rate (not true rate) = Probability of
dying before *first* birthday
*= number of death of liveborn infants/ number of live births x 1000*
Can be further divided into:
1) Perinatal mortality (still birth after 28 weeks gestation + deaths in first 7 days after
birth)
2) Neonatal mortality (death <28 days)
What are the main causes of infant mortality in:
1) Developed countries
2) Developing countries - Answer 1) Congenital conditions and accidents
2) Infectious diseases and malnutrition
Define years of potential life lost (YPLL): - Answer A way of summarising mortality rates
that takes into account the age at which death occurs
Calculated as the years of potential life lost before age 75 (∴ deaths occurring at
younger age carry more weight than older ages)
e.g. dying at 20 incurs a YPLL of 55
What is the Dahlgren and Whitehead model? - Answer A model that maps the
relationship between the individual, their environment and health.
Health is determined by a range of factors. Some are modifiable, others are non
modifiable.
