HSC Core 1: Health Priorities in Australia

Q1. What is epidemiology?
A) Study of individual health choices
B) Study of disease patterns and causes in populations
C) Measurement of hospital waiting times
D) Study of nutrition only

✅ Answer: B — Study of disease patterns and causes in populations

Q2. What can epidemiology tell us?
A) Which diseases exist, affected groups, and emerging issues
B) People’s happiness and quality of life
C) Only how many people die each year
D) Social determinants of health

✅ Answer: A — Which diseases exist, affected groups, and emerging issues

Q3. Who uses epidemiology data?
A) Only universities
B) Government, health organisations, researchers, practitioners
C) Patients only
D) Private companies only

✅ Answer: B — Government, health organisations, researchers, practitioners

Q4. Which is NOT a limitation of epidemiology?
A) Doesn’t show quality of life
B) Doesn’t measure social determinants of health
C) Doesn’t show positive aspects of health
D) Clearly shows causes of health inequities

✅ Answer: D — Clearly shows causes of health inequities

Q5. What does morbidity measure?
A) Death rate in a population
B) Illness/disease rates in individuals or populations
C) Birth rates in a country
D) Levels of happiness

✅ Answer: B — Illness/disease rates in individuals or populations

Q6. What’s the difference between incidence and prevalence?
A) Incidence = total cases, Prevalence = new cases
B) Incidence = new cases, Prevalence = total cases
C) Both mean the same thing
D) Incidence = death rate, Prevalence = life expectancy

✅ Answer: B — Incidence = new cases, Prevalence = total cases

Q7. What does life expectancy measure?
A) Average years someone is expected to live
B) Number of deaths in 1 year
C) Childbirth survival rates
D) Quality of life

✅ Answer: A — Average years someone is expected to live

Q8. What does mortality measure?
A) Number of hospital visits
B) Number of deaths in a population over time
C) Number of diseases diagnosed
D) Life satisfaction

✅ Answer: B — Number of deaths in a population over time

Q9. What does infant mortality measure?
A) Number of stillbirths per 1000 births
B) Number of deaths of infants under 1 per 1000 live births
C) Number of miscarriages per population
D) Number of pregnant women with health issues

✅ Answer: B — Number of deaths of infants under 1 per 1000 live births

Q10. Which is NOT a social justice principle?
A) Equity
B) Diversity
C) Supportive environments
D) Morbidity

✅ Answer: D — Morbidity

Q11. Which group is a priority population group in Australia?
A) Wealthy Australians
B) ATSI peoples
C) People with gym memberships
D) People who don’t vote

✅ Answer: B — ATSI peoples

Q12. Which health condition has high prevalence and is a priority issue?
A) Musculoskeletal disease
B) CVD (Cardiovascular disease)
C) Acne
D) Colds and flu

✅ Answer: B — CVD (Cardiovascular disease)

Q13. Why are preventable conditions given priority?
A) They are harder to treat
B) They affect fewer people
C) They can be reduced with lifestyle changes & early action
D) They have no connection to lifestyle

✅ Answer: C — They can be reduced with lifestyle changes & early action

Q14. Which is a direct cost to the individual?
A) Medicare levy
B) Ongoing medical bills & medication costs
C) Employer retraining costs
D) Emotional stress on the community

✅ Answer: B — Ongoing medical bills & medication costs

Q15. Which is an indirect cost to the community?
A) Medical intervention
B) Taxes for health system
C) Emotional strain & loss of valuable members
D) Pharmaceutical subsidies

✅ Answer: C — Emotional strain & loss of valuable members