Public Health Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Define public health: - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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: - CORRECT ANSWER "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"
WHO 1948
Define disability, impairment and handicap: - CORRECT ANSWER *Disability*
Physical problem caused by an illness
,*Impairment*
The function that cannot be carried out because of the disability
*Handicap*
The impact of the lack of function on the individuals life and daily activities
This is different for different people - e.g. a musician will have a bigger handicap from losing one
finger than someone else
Give examples of general health standardised questionnaires: - CORRECT ANSWER *1)
Short-form 36 (SF-36)*
*2) General health questionnaire (GHQ)*
3) EQ5D
4) NHP
Define demographic transition: - CORRECT 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: - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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 Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) - CORRECT ANSWER Measure that includes
the years of potential life lost due to premature mortality and years of productive life lost due to
disability
Define fertility rate: - CORRECT ANSWER Number of live births per 1000 women of child-
bearing age (15-44)
Define infant mortality rate: - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Congenital conditions and accidents
2) Infectious diseases and malnutrition
Define years of potential life lost (YPLL): - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Define public health: - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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: - CORRECT ANSWER "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"
WHO 1948
Define disability, impairment and handicap: - CORRECT ANSWER *Disability*
Physical problem caused by an illness
,*Impairment*
The function that cannot be carried out because of the disability
*Handicap*
The impact of the lack of function on the individuals life and daily activities
This is different for different people - e.g. a musician will have a bigger handicap from losing one
finger than someone else
Give examples of general health standardised questionnaires: - CORRECT ANSWER *1)
Short-form 36 (SF-36)*
*2) General health questionnaire (GHQ)*
3) EQ5D
4) NHP
Define demographic transition: - CORRECT 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: - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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 Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) - CORRECT ANSWER Measure that includes
the years of potential life lost due to premature mortality and years of productive life lost due to
disability
Define fertility rate: - CORRECT ANSWER Number of live births per 1000 women of child-
bearing age (15-44)
Define infant mortality rate: - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Congenital conditions and accidents
2) Infectious diseases and malnutrition
Define years of potential life lost (YPLL): - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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.
