Unit 2 - Australia's Health Programs

Old Public Health

Government actions that focused on changing the physical environment to prevent the spread of disease.

Old Public Health Inititives

• Safer working conditions

• More Hygienic birthing practices

• Mass immunisation programs

• Improved water and sanitation

• Better quality housing and fewer slums

• Better quality food and nutrition

• Introduction of quarantine laws

Sanitation

Process of eliminating contact between humans and hazardous materials.

Health Promotion

The process of enabling people to increase control overland improve their health

Changes in Injury + Poisoning Rates

• More than halved with the implication of work place safety and housing regulations

• Compulsory wearing of seatbelts

Changes in Infectious Diseases Rates

• Decrease as living conditions and sanitation have improved, less pathogens entering the body though contaminated food and water.

• Infant + Under-5 Mortality rates have also decreased as less smallpox and whooping cough s transmitted because of vaccinations and more sanitary birthing conditions.

Changes in Cancer Rates

• Increase in the 80s of lung cancer due to high rates of smoking

• Reduced incidence and mortality rates of cervical and breast cancer from screening and vaccinations.

What is the Biomedical Approach

Focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness; a medical model practiced by doctors and health professionals.

Strengths of the Biomedical Model

Life Expectancy - infectious disease can now be treated and cured

Quality of Life - many chronic conditions can now be managed with medication, therapy and treatments.

Limitations of the Biomedical Model

Not every condition can be treated - chronic conditions like cancer and lime cannot be cured or treated effectively.

Not always Affordable - because treatment uses specialised machinery and professionals it often costs a lot and can not always be affordable for individuals.

Social Model

An approach that recognises improvements in health + wellbeing can only be achieved by directing effort towards addressing the physical, sociocultural and political environments of health that have an impact on individuals and populations.

Ottowa Charter

An approach to health developed by the WHO, aiming to reduce inequalities in health. Reflecting the social model, providing 5 action areas as a basis for improving health.

List 5 Action Areas of the Ottawa Charter

1. Build Healthy Public Policies

2. Create Supportive Environments

3. Strengthen Community Action

4. Develop Personal Skills

5. Reorient Health Services

Build Healthy Policies

Government and organisation laws and policies that make it more difficult for people to undertake unhealthy behaviours, making healthier choices easier.

Create Supportive Environments

Aims to provide a healthy supportive physical and sociocultural environment for all members of the community.

Strengthen Community Actions

Building links between individuals and the community, entering around working together to achieve a common goal.

Develop Personal Skills

People gaining health-related knowledge and skills that allow people to make informed designs.

Reorient Health Services

Promoting root causes and factors that influence hmb, rather than diagnosis and treatment fixing the issue not the cause.

Strengths of the Social Model of Health

Promotes good health - often prevents certain lifestyle conditions from developing

Less expensive than the Biomedical Approach - although health promotion campaigns cost a lot to roll out, they are less expensive compared to treating individual symptoms once they arise.

Limitations of the Social Model of Health

Not every Illness can be Prevented - the cause of some conditions may be genetic and thus difficult to prevent.

Health Promotion Messages may be Ignored - the social model of health relies on public cooperation, thus if people ignore health messages their health may not be improved.

How does the Biomedical + Social Model reduce Infectious Diseases

Biomedical: antibiotics, vaccines

Social: sanitation, immunisation program

How does the Biomedical + Social Model reduce Cancer

Biomedical: chemo, surgery

Social: sunsmart, quit smoking campaigns

How does the Biomedical + Social Model reduce Cardiovascular Diseases

Biomedical: medications, surgery

Social: diet, exercise

How does the Biomedical + Social Model reduce Injury + Poisoning

Biomedical: surgery, emergency care, X-ray scans

Social: road laws, safety campaigns

How does the Biomedical + Social Model reduce Respiratory Diseases

Biomedical: antibiotics, asthma puff

Social: quit smoking campaigns, governments reducing air pollution

Public Health

The ways in which the government monitors, regulates and promotes health status and prevents disease

What does Human Rights refer to in Social Justice

freedoms and conditions every person is entitled to, regardless of their race, sex, gender identity and age.

What does Access refer to in Social Justice

all people must hav adequate access to resources and services, to participate in their community and to participate in the descions that affect their lives.

What does Participation refer to in Social Justice

everyone in society has the opportunity to participate in their community and have their voice represented

What does Equity refer to in Social Justice

Disadvantaged groups need to have their specific challenges addressed to achieve the same level of health and well being as others in the population.

What is required for a Indigenous health program to be effective?

• Accessibility - free of widely available

• Actual Improvements - whether the program is making effective progress in adressing health inequalities

• Cultural appropriation

• Targets key need - addresses a key factor contributing to gap in health status

• Feedback - provide insight into the successfulness and effectiveness of programs

• Funding - adequate funding to ensure the program can achieve what it aims to without financial barriers.

• Participation Rate

What does Culturally Appropriate refer to?

programs involving Indigenous peoples and views in the construction, implementation and feedback of programs to ensure health interventions are culturally appropriate.

What are the Initiative that promote healthy eating?

• Australian Dietary guidelines

• Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide to Healthy Eating

What is the 1st Australian dietary Guideline

To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and choose amounts nutritious foods and drink to meet energy needs.

What is the 2nd Australian dietary Guideline

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups

What is the 3rd Australian dietary Guideline

Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugar and alcohol.

What is the 4th Australian dietary Guideline

Encourage, support and promote breastfeeding

What is the 5th Australian dietary Guideline

Care for your food; prepare and store it safely

What are the Strengths of the Australian Dietary Guidelines?

• available and free to download form the eat well website, reducing geographical and financial barriers

• Give advice to individuals of different ages and cultural backgrounds on their nutritional needs

What is a limitation of the Australian Dietary Guidelines

• They are written and may be harder for people with low literacy levels to understand

• Based on the average person and their requirements, meaning serving sizes are not appropriate for all people.

How can the Australian Dietary guidelines promote Health Status

guideline number 3 encourages people to reduce the amount of added sugar they consume, this can decrease the incidence and prevalence of cavities among people, especially children.

What is the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating?

a food selection tool representing the proportion of the 5 foods groups.

What is a Strength of the Food Selection Models?

• Provide a visual representation of Australian Dietary Guidelines 2+3 to make it easy to follow

• Free to access and download of the Internet, reducing geographical and financial Barries to health literacy.

What is a Limitation of the Food Selection Models?

• They do not outline specific serving sizes for food groups and thus hard to implement into eating habits

• General guidelines that can’t be applied to individuals with specific dietary/medical needs

What is the Indigenous Guide to Healthy Eating?

an adaption of the Guide to healthy eating to help encourage and promote healthy eating practices for indigenous people by including cultural foods.

What are Personal factors challenging bring about Nutritional change?

• Will power and taste preferences

• Attitudes and Beliefs

What are Sociocultural factors challenging bring about Nutritional change?

• Socio-economic Status

• Employment status

• Commercial factors

What are Environmental factors challenging bring about Nutritional change?

• Geographic location

• Workplace

• House environment

• Transport

What are Commercial factors challenging bring about Nutritional change?

• supply chains

• affordability

• marketing

What is included under the Public Sector of Health?

• Public Hospitals

• Medicare

• PBS

• NDIS

What is included under the Private Sector of Health?

• Private Hospitals

• Private Health Insurance

• Private practitioners/GPs

What is Universal Health care?

system ensuring all citizens have access to necessary health services with experiencing financial burden or hardship.

What are the Strengths of Medicare

• Choice of doctor for out of hospital services

• covers certain tests and examinations

• safety net provides extra funding

What are limitations of Medicare

• No choice in doctor for in-hospital care

• waitlist for many treatments

• doesn’t cover alternative therapies

What are the main four focuses in Health services implementation?

• Sustainability

• Access

• Funding

• Equity

What is Social Justice?

fairness within society, relating to the 4 principles: human rights, access, participation, equity

What does Equity mean?

how does the system focus on giving support to those disadvantaged to obtain a descent standard of living?

What does Funding refer to?

how is the system funded and what services does the funding provide

What does Access refer to?

how the system provide timely access to services for people form all socioeconomic backgrounds and locations

What does Sustainability refer to?

how the system is set up to ensure serves are available now and into the future

What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?

aims to provide essential medicines to people who need them, regardless of their ability to pay

How does PBS uphold Sustainability?

PBS medicines are regularly reviewed to ensure medicines provide sufficient health benefits and are cost-effective, helping the scheme remain financially sustainable.

How does PBS uphold Access?

How does PBS uphold Funding?

Essential medicines are subsidised through the PBS, providing treatment for many conditions and promoting health outcomes.

How Does PBS uphold Equity?

How does NDIS uphold Sustainability?

Each person receives an individualised NDIS plan, so funding is only provided for their specific needs. Reducing unnecessary spending and helps keep the NDIS sustainable while improving access and health outcomes.

How does NDIS uphold Access?

How does NDIS uphold Funding?

Helps provide funding for a range of resources that promote and support lives of people with disabilities

How does NDIS support Equity?

How does Medicare uphold Sustainability?

Determining which services will be subsidised through Medicare can preserve funds for the most necessary services.

How does Medicare uphold Access?

How does Medicare uphold Funding?

Medicare funds part or all of the fees associated with health services, including doctor and specialist consultations, pathology tests and fee-free treatment in public hospitals.

How does Medicare uphold Equity?

How does Private Heath Insurance uphold Sustainability?

Government incentives encourage more people to use private health insurance, increasing private-sector funding and reducing pressure on the public health system, which can improve health outcomes.

How does Private Health Insurance uphold Access?

How does Private Health Insurance uphold Funding?

The federal government funds the private health insurance rebate, which means private health insurance is more affordable for more people.

How does Private Health Insurance uphold Equity?