Unit 3 – Australia’s Health in a Globalised World (Revision)

These question-and-answer flashcards cover key definitions, models, indicators, risk factors, health promotion frameworks and components of Australia’s health system outlined in Unit 3: Australia’s Health in a Globalised World.

What is meant by the statement that health is ‘dynamic’ and exists on a continuum?

Health can change over time and includes varying degrees of wellness and ill-health rather than a simple healthy / unhealthy dichotomy.

Define ‘illness’ in the context of health and wellbeing.

Illness is an individual’s subjective experience of poor health or disease.

Which five dimensions make up health and wellbeing?

Physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Describe the physical dimension of health and wellbeing.

It relates to the functioning of the body and its systems, including the capacity to perform daily tasks.

What does social health and wellbeing involve?

The ability to form meaningful, satisfying relationships and adapt to different social situations.

How is emotional health and wellbeing defined?

The ability to positively express, manage and display resilience in response to emotions.

Differentiate mental health and wellbeing from emotional health.

Mental health concerns intellect, cognition and the wellness of the mind (thinking, learning, decision-making), whereas emotional health deals with feelings and their expression.

What is spiritual health and wellbeing?

It encompasses ideas, beliefs, values and ethics that provide meaning, purpose, hope and a sense of one’s place in the world.

According to the Ottawa Charter, why is health viewed as a resource?

Because it enables individuals, communities and nations to achieve goals, economic growth and development rather than being valued only for its own sake.

Give one global reason optimal health and wellbeing is important today.

Globalisation and increased travel mean communicable diseases can spread rapidly, so global health enhances worldwide safety and productivity.

What is ‘incidence’ in health measurement?

The number of new cases of a disease or condition within a specified period.

Define ‘prevalence’.

The total number of existing cases of a disease or condition in a population at a given time.

What does DALY stand for and measure?

Disability-Adjusted Life Year; it quantifies the total burden of disease by combining years of life lost (YLL) and years lived with disability (YLD).

Explain HALE.

Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy estimates the average number of years a person can expect to live in full health based on current rates of illness and death.

List the three categories of health status indicators.

Death-related, ill-health-related and combined indicators.

Give two examples of sociocultural factors influencing health status.

Socio-economic status, social inclusion/exclusion, media, cultural traditions, education or employment (any two).

Provide two biological factors that can affect health status.

Body weight, blood pressure, blood lipids, impaired glucose tolerance, genetics (any two).

Name two environmental factors linked to health variations.

Air quality, housing conditions, climate, urban design, infrastructure (any two).

Why do Indigenous Australians generally experience lower health status than non-Indigenous Australians?

They are more exposed to adverse sociocultural, biological and environmental factors such as lower SES, remoteness, discrimination and overcrowded housing.

List three major health risks related to tobacco smoking.

Cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (plus low birth weight or infectious disease).

What emerging behaviour has similar presumed risks to smoking?

Vaping (e-cigarette use).

State two health impacts of excessive alcohol consumption.

Increased risk of high BMI, liver disease, injuries, certain cancers, mental health issues, prenatal problems (any two).

How does high BMI contribute to Australia’s burden of disease?

It raises rates of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, kidney disease, asthma, mental health issues and maternal complications.

Which two fats are considered ‘healthier’, and why?

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats because they lower LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and, in the case of polyunsaturated fats, raise HDL (‘good’) cholesterol and reduce clotting and inflammation.

Identify one condition linked to excess salt intake.

Hypertension, heart failure, stroke, heart attack or osteoporosis (any one).

Why is fibre important for health?

It aids digestive health and helps lower blood glucose and cholesterol; low fibre intake increases risk of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer.

What was the primary focus of Australia’s ‘old’ public health measures?

Controlling infectious and parasitic diseases by improving sanitation, water quality and waste management.

Contrast the biomedical and social models of health.

The biomedical model treats illness through diagnosis, medication and technology (‘fix-it’), whereas the social model addresses physical, sociocultural and political determinants to prevent disease and reduce inequities.

Name the five action areas of the Ottawa Charter.

Build healthy public policy, create supportive environments, strengthen community action, develop personal skills, reorient health services.

What is the main aim of ‘Closing the Gap’?

To achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by 2033 across health, housing, education and economic participation.

Define social justice in health promotion.

Ensuring all people have their human rights protected, equal access to resources and opportunities, community participation and equity of outcomes.

What visual tool supports Australian Dietary Guidelines 2 and 3?

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.

Give one reason dietary change is difficult from a sociocultural perspective.

Low socioeconomic status, peer influence, family habits, cultural food traditions or unemployment (any one).

Provide an environmental challenge to changing diets.

Geographic isolation, lack of transport, limited healthy options in workplaces or poor housing facilities (any one).

How does commercial marketing hinder healthy eating?

Through persuasive advertising, product placement, labelling tactics, price promotions and lobbying that favour less nutritious foods.

What does Medicare cover at 100% of the Schedule fee?

Bulk-billed GP (general practitioner) consultations.

Explain the purpose of the Medicare Safety Net.

To reduce patient out-of-pocket costs once a threshold of gap payments is reached within a calendar year.

What is the main advantage of private health insurance for consumers?

Greater choice of health care services, shorter waiting times and potential coverage of extras not funded by Medicare.

How does the PBS improve access to medicines?

By subsidising listed drugs so patients pay only a co-payment, with further reductions after the PBS Safety Net threshold is reached.

What is the goal of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?

To provide lifetime support and equitable access to services that improve the quality of life for Australians with permanent and significant disabilities.