VCE Exam Preparation 2011

Units 3 and 4

Part A

Unit3:Australia’shealth

Australiansgenerallyenjoygoodhealthandareamongthehealthiestpeopleintheworldwhencompared tootherdevelopedcountries.ThehealthstatusofAustralianscanbemeasuredinmanyways,such asconsiderationofburdenofdisease,healthadjustedlifeexpectancy,disabilityadjustedlifeyears (DALYs),lifeexpectancy,under-fivemortalityrate,mortalityandmorbidityrates,incidenceand prevalenceofdisease.DespiteAustralia’sgoodhealthstatus,thereisstillpotentialforimprovements. TheNationalHealthPriorityAreas(NHPAs)initiativeprovidesanationalapproachthataimsto improvehealthstatusintheareasthatcontributemostoftheburdenofdiseaseinAustralia.Regardless ofhowhealthismeasured,healthisnotsharedequallybyallAustralians.Differentlevelsofhealth areexperiencedbydifferentgroups,whichcanbeattributedtobiological,behaviouralandsocial determinantsofhealth.

FundingfortheAustralianhealthsysteminvolvesacombinationofbothgovernmentandnon- governmentsources.TheAustralianGovernmentmakes asignificantcontributiontothehealthsystem throughthefundingofMedicare.Bothgovernmentandnon-governmentorganisationsplayanimportant role in the implementation of arange of initiatives designed to promote health inAustralia.

AREAOFsTUDy1

Understanding Australia’shealth

InthisareaofstudystudentsdevelopanunderstandingofthehealthstatusofAustraliansbyinvestigating theburdenofdiseaseandthehealthofpopulationgroupsinAustralia.Studentsusekeyhealthmeasures tocomparehealthinAustraliawithotherdevelopedcountries,andanalysehowbiological,behaviouraland social determinants of health contribute to variations in health status.

The NHPAsinitiativeseekstobringanationalhealthpolicyfocustodiseasesorconditionsthathave amajorimpactonthehealthofAustralians.TheNHPAsrepresentthediseasegroupswith thelargest burdenofdiseaseandpotentialcosts(direct,indirectandintangible)totheAustraliancommunity. StudentsexaminethedevelopmentoftheNHPAsandtheirrelationshiptoburdenofdiseaseinAustralia. TheyanalyseinitiativesdesignedtopromotehealthrelevanttotheNHPAs,andcometounderstand that nutrition isan important factor for anumber of the NHPAs.

Outcome1

Oncompletionof thisunitthestudentshouldbeabletocomparethehealthstatusofAustralia’s populationwithotherdevelopedcountries,explainvariationsinhealthstatusofpopulationgroupsin AustraliaanddiscusstheroleoftheNationalHealthPriorityAreasinimprovingAustralia’shealth status.

Keyknowledge

This knowledge includes

  • definitionsof physical, social and mental dimensions of health and health status;
  • differentmeasuresofhealthstatusofAustralians,includingthemeaningofburdenofdisease, healthadjustedlifeexpectancyandDALYs,lifeexpectancy,under-fivemortalityrate,mortality, morbidity,incidence,prevalence;
  • healthstatusofAustralianscomparedwithotherdevelopedcountries,includingSweden,United States ofAmerica, United Kingdom and Japan;
  • variationsinthehealthstatusofpopulationgroupsinAustralia,includingmalesandfemales, higherandlowersocio-economicstatusgroups,ruralandremotepopulationsandindigenous populations;
  • biological,behaviouralandsocialdeterminantsofhealthinexplainingvariationsinhealth status;
  • the NHPAsincluding:

–key features, determinants that act as risk factors and reasons for selection of each NHPA

–direct, indirect and intangible costs to individuals and communities of NHPAs

–one health promotion program relevant to each NHPA;

  • glycaemicindexandfunctionandfoodsourcesofmajornutrientsasadeterminantofhealth, includingprotein,carbohydrate(includingfibre),fats(mono,poly,saturatedandtrans),water, calcium,phosphorus,iron,fluoride,iodine,sodium,vitaminA,vitaminD,vitaminC,folateand B12;
  • theroleofnutritioninaddressingthefollowingconditionsrecognisedintheNHPAs:cardiovascularhealth,diabetesmellitus,colorectalcancer,obesityandosteoporosis.

Keyskills

These skills include the ability to

  • definekey health terms;
  • analysedataaboutthehealthstatusofAustralia’spopulationandthatofotherdeveloped countries;
  • interpretandanalysedatatocomparethehealthstatusofselectedpopulationgroupsin Australia;
  • usethedeterminantsofhealthtoexplaindifferencesinthehealthstatusofAustraliansandbetween population groups;
  • explain and then justify one health promotion program that addresses each NHPA;
  • explain the functions and identify food sources of the major nutrients required for health;
  • explaintheroleofnutritioninaddressingspecificconditionswithintheNHPAs.

AREAOFsTUDy2

PromotinghealthinAustralia

Inthisareaofstudystudentsexaminedifferentmodelsofhealthandhealthpromotion.Theyinvestigate the roles and responsibilities of governments in addressing health needs and promoting health for all throughtheprovisionofanationalhealthsystemandhealthpromotioninitiatives.Studentsexamine theroleof governmentandnon-governmentorganisationsin providingprogramsandsupportforthe promotion of healthy eating.

Outcome2

Oncompletionofthisunitthestudentshouldbeabletodiscussandanalyseapproachestohealthand healthpromotion,anddescribeAustralia’shealthsystemandthedifferentrolesofgovernmentand non-governmentorganisationsinpromotinghealth.

Keyknowledge

  • This knowledge includes
  • models of health and health promotion including:

–biomedicalmodelofhealth

–socialmodelofhealth

–the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion;

  • theroleofVicHealthinpromotinghealthincludingits mission,prioritiesandhowitreflectsthe social model of health;
  • potential health outcomes of aVicHealthfunded project;
  • Australia’shealth system including

–local, state and federal governments’responsibility for health including funding

–the values that underpin theAustralian health system

–Medicare,PharmaceuticalBenefitsScheme(PBS)andprivatehealthinsurance;

  • the role ofAustralia’sgovernments in promoting healthy eating through:

–the information provided by nutrition surveys and how itisused

–thepurposeofNutrientReferenceValuestoguidedietaryintake

–theAustralian Guide to Healthy Eating and Dietary Guidelines

  • legislationdevelopedbyFoodStandardsAustraliaandNewZealandgoverningthesafetyand quality of food;
  • theroleofAustralia’snon-governmentagencies,includingNutritionAustraliaandtheHeart
  • Foundation, in providing dietary advice to promote healthy eating.

Keyskills

These skills include the ability to

  • analyse the different approaches to health and health promotion;
  • identify and explain key components ofAustralia’shealth system;
  • describetherole,missionandprioritiesofVicHealthandpotentialhealthoutcomesof aVicHealth funded project for promoting health;
  • identify the principles of the social model of health evident in aproject used byVicHealth;
  • explainanddrawinformedconclusionsabouttheroleofgovernmentandnon-governmentagencies in promoting healthy eating.

nit4:Globalhealthandhuman development

Thisunittakesaglobalperspectiveonachievingsustainableimprovementsin healthandhuman development.Inthecontextofthisunithumandevelopmentisaboutcreatinganenvironmentin whichpeoplecandeveloptotheirfullpotentialandleadproductive,creativelivesinaccordwith theirneedsandinterests.Itisaboutexpandingpeople’schoicesandenhancingcapabilities(therange ofthingspeoplecanbeanddo),havingaccesstoknowledge,healthandadecentstandardofliving, andparticipatinginthelifeoftheircommunityanddecisionsaffectingtheirlives(adaptedfromthe UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,1990).‘Sustainabilityreferstomeetingtheneedsofthe presentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds’(United Nations, 1992).

TheUnitedNations(UN)humandevelopmentworkisencapsulatedintheMillenniumDevelopment Goals,wheretheworld’scountrieshaveagreedtoasetofmeasurablegoalsandtargetsforcombattingpoverty,hunger,disease,illiteracy,environmentaldegradationanddiscriminationagainstwomen. A significant focusoftheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsisreducingtheinequalitiesthatresultin human poverty and lead to inequalities in health status and human development.

TheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)isthedirectingandcoordinatingauthorityforinternational healthwithintheUnitedNations.BoththeWHOandtheUNhavearangeofstrategiesaimedat reducingglobalburdensofdiseaseandpromotinghumandevelopmentthroughtheachievementof theMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.TheAustralianAgencyforInternationalDevelopment(AusAID) managestheAustralianGovernment’soverseasaidprogram.AusAIDaimstoreducepovertyin developingcountriesandimprovehumandevelopment,withafocusonassistingdevelopingcountries toachievetheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.Non-governmentorganisationsalsoplayarolein promoting sustainable human development.

AREAOFsTUDy1

Introducingglobalhealthand humandevelopment

Inthisareaofstudystudentsexploreglobalhealth,humandevelopmentandsustainabilityandtheir interdependencies.Theyidentifysimilaritiesanddifferencesinthehealthstatusbetweenpeople livingindevelopingcountriesand Australians,andanalysereasonsforthedifferences.Theroleof theUnitedNationsMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsisinvestigatedinrelationtoachievingsustainable improvements in health status and human development.

Outcome1

Oncompletionofthisunitthestudentshouldbeabletoanalysefactorscontributingtovariations inhealthstatusbetweenAustraliaanddevelopingcountries,evaluateprogresstowardstheUnited Nations’MillenniumDevelopmentGoalsanddescribetheinterrelationshipsbetweenhealth,human development and sustainability.

Keyknowledge

This knowledge includes

definitionsof developedanddevelopingcountriesaccordingtotheWHO,includinghigh/low mortality strata;

definitionsofsustainabilityandhumandevelopmentaccordingtotheUN,includingthehuman development index;

similaritiesanddifferencesinhealthstatusandhumandevelopmentbetweendevelopingcountries andAustraliainrelationtomorbidity,mortality,lifeexpectancy,burdenofdiseaseandhuman development index;

theinfluenceofincome,gender equality, peace, education,access tohealthcare,politicalstability, globalmarketingandphysicalenvironmentsonthehealthstatusofdevelopingcountriesand Australia;

theeightUN’sMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,theirpurposeandthereasonswhytheyare important;

theinterrelationships betweenhealth,humandevelopmentandsustainabilitytoproducesustainable human development in aglobal context.

Keyskills

These skills include the ability to

  • definehuman development and sustainability concepts;
  • use,interpretandanalysedatatodrawinformedconclusionsaboutthehealthstatusandhuman development of developing countries compared toAustralia;
  • compare factorsthatinfluencethehealthstatusandhumandevelopmentofAustraliaanddeveloping countries;
  • describetheeightUN’sMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,theirpurposeandreasonswhytheyare important;
  • evaluate the progress towards the Millennium Development Goals;
  • analyseindifferentscenariostheinterrelationshipsbetweenhealth,humandevelopmentandsustainability.

AREAOFsTUDy2

Promotingglobalhealthand humandevelopment

StudentsexploretheroleofinternationalorganisationsincludingtheUNandWHOin achieving sustainableimprovementsinhealthandhumandevelopment.Studentsconsiderstrategiesdesigned topromotehealthandsustainablehumandevelopmentglobally,aswell asAustralia’scontributionto international health programs throughAusAid and contributions to non-government organisations.

Outcome2

Oncompletionofthisunitthestudentshouldbeabletodescribeandevaluateprogramsimplemented byinternationalandAustraliangovernmentandnon-governmentorganisationsinpromotinghealth, human development and sustainability.

Keyknowledge

This knowledge includes

  • differenttypesofaid,includingemergencyaid,bilateralandmultilateral,andhowtheyareused to achieve global health and sustainable human development;
  • theroleoftheUNinprovidingglobalhealthandsustainablehumandevelopmentthroughthe followingareasofaction:worldpeaceandsecurity,humanrights,humanitarianassistanceand social and economic development;
  • the core functions of theWHO in providing global health and sustainable human development;
  • theaimsandobjectivesoftheAustralianGovernment’sAusAIDandtheroleitplaysinprograms to improve global health and sustainable human development;
  • theroleofnon-governmentorganisationsbasedinAustraliainpromotingglobalhealthand sustainable human development;
  • waystoensuresustainabilityofprogramsincludingelementsofappropriateness,affordability, equity;
  • programsfocusingonliteracy,food security,HIV/AIDSandmalaria,safe waterandsanitationintermsof:

– reasons for the programs

– types of aid involved in the programs

– implementation of the programs.

Keyskills

These skills include the ability to

  • identifyandexplaindifferenttypesofaidandevaluatetheircontributiontoachievingsustainable improvements in global health and human development;
  • describetheroleofinternationaland Australiangovernmentandnon-governmentagenciesand organisationsinglobalhealthandsustainablehumandevelopment;
  • interpret and analysedata;
  • analyseandevaluateaidprogramsintermsoftheircontributiontohealthandsustainablehuman development.

Study Design Glossary

TermDefinition

BehaviouraldeterminantsActionsorpatternsofliving ofanindividualoragroup thatimpactonhealth,suchassmoking,sexualactivity, participationin physicalactivity,eating practices.

Biological determinantsFactorsrelatingtothe bodythatimpacton health,such asgenetics, hormones,bodyweight, bloodpressure, cholesterollevels,birthweight.

TermDefinition

Biomedical model ofhealthFocusesonthephysicalorbiologicalaspectsofdisease and illness.Itis amedicalmodelofcarepractisedby doctorsand/orhealthprofessionalandisassociatedwith thediagnosis,cureand treatmentofdisease.

BurdenofdiseaseAmeasureoftheimpactofdiseasesand injuries, specifically itmeasuresthegapbetweencurrenthealth statusandanidealsituationwhereeveryonelivestoan

oldagefreeofdiseaseand disability.Burden ofdiseaseis measuredinaunitcalledtheDALY.

Determinantsofhealth‘Factorsthatraiseorloweralevelofhealthinapopulation or individual. Determinantsofhealthhelptoexplain

orpredicttrendsin healthand whysome groupshave betterorworsehealththan others.’Determinants can be classifiedin many ways suchasbiological,behaviouralandsocial.(AIHW,2006).

Disabilityadjustedlifeyear(DALY)Ameasureofburdenofdisease,oneDALYequalsone yearofhealthylifelostdue toprematuredeathand time lived withillness,diseaseorinjury.

Food security‘The statein whichallpersons obtainnutritionally adequate, culturallyappropriate,safefoodregularly throughlocalnon-emergencysources.’(VicHealth,2008)

Health‘Acompletestate ofphysical, social andmentalwellbeing, and notmerelytheabsence ofdiseaseorinfirmity.’(WHO,

1946)

HealthAdjustedLifeExpectancy(HALE)A measureofburdenofdiseasebased on lifeexpectancy at birth,butincluding anadjustment fortime spent inpoor health.Itis thenumber ofyearsin fullhealththataperson can expecttolive,basedoncurrentratesofill healthand mortality.

Healthstatus ‘Anindividual’sorapopulation’soverallhealth,takinginto accountvariousaspectssuchaslifeexpectancy,amount ofdisabilityand levelsofdiseaseriskfactors.’(AIHW, 2008)

Human developmentCreating anenvironmentin whichpeoplecan develop totheirfull potentialandleadproductive,creativelives in accordwiththeir needsand interests. Itis about expanding people’schoices andenhancingcapabilities

(therangeofthingspeoplecan beand do),havingaccess toknowledge,healthand adecentstandardofliving, and participatingin thelifeoftheir communityand decisions affectingtheir lives.(adapted fromtheUN Development Programme,1990)

TermDefinition

Human Development IndexA measurementofhumandevelopment whichcombines indicatorsoflifeexpectancy,educationallevelsand income.TheHumanDevelopmentIndexprovidesa

singlestatisticwhichcan beused asa referenceforboth socialandeconomicdevelopment.(UNDevelopment Programme,1990)

Lifeexpectancy‘Anindicationofhowlongapersoncan expectlive,it

is thenumber ofyearsofliferemaining toapersonata particularageifdeathratesdonotchange.’(AIHW,2008)

Mental dimensionsofhealth‘Stateofwell-beingin whichtheindividualrealiseshis or herownabilities, can copewiththenormal stressesoflife, can workproductivelyand fruitfully,and is abletomake a contribution tohisorhercommunity.’ (WHO,2009)

Morbidity‘Referstoill healthin anindividualand thelevelsofill healthina populationorgroup.’(AIHW,2008)

MortalitystrataTheWHOclassifiescountriesintofivemortalitystrata basedonthemortalityratesofchildrenunder fiveyearsof ageandadults.

• MortalitystrataA–verylow childmortalityandlow

adultmortality.

• MortalitystrataB–low childmortalityandlowadult

mortality.

• MortalitystrataC–low childmortalityandhighadult

mortality.

• MortalitystrataD–highchildmortalityandhighadult

mortality.

• MortalitystrataE–highchildmortalityandveryhigh

adultmortality.

NationalHealthPriorityAreas(NHPAs)Acollaborative initiativeendorsed bythe Commonwealth andallStateandTerritorygovernments.TheNHPA initiativeseekstofocusthe healthsector’sattentionon diseasesorconditionsthathaveamajor impactonthe healthofAustralians.TheNHPAs representthedisease groupswiththelargestburdenofdiseaseand potential costs(direct,indirectand intangible)totheAustralian community.

OttawaCharterforHealthPromotionAnapproachtohealthdevelopmentbytheWorldHealth Organizationwhichattemptstoreduceinequalities in health.TheOttawaCharterforHealthPromotionwas developedfromthesocialmodelofhealthand defines healthpromotionas‘theprocessofenabling peopleto increasecontrolover,and toimprove,their health’(WHO

1998).TheOttawaCharteridentifiesthreebasicstrategies forhealthpromotionwhichareenabling, mediating,and advocacy.

TermDefinition

Physicaldimensions ofhealthRelatestotheefficientfunctioningofthebodyand its systems,andincludes the physical capacitytoperform tasksand physicalfitness.

Prevalence‘The number orproportionofcasesofaparticulardisease orconditionpresentinapopulationatagiventime.’(AIHW,2008)

Social determinantsAspects ofsociety andthe social environmentthatimpact onhealth,suchaspoverty,earlylifeexperiences,social networksand support.

Social developmentTheincreasingcomplexityofbehaviour patternsused in relationshipswithother people.

SocialdimensionsofhealthBeingabletointeract withothers andparticipateinthe communityin bothanindependentand cooperativeway.

Socialmodel ofhealthAconceptualframeworkwithinwhichimprovements inhealthandwellbeingareachievedbydirecting efforttowardsaddressingthe social, economicand

environmentaldeterminantsofhealth.Themodel isbased ontheunderstandingthatin orderforhealthgainsto occur,social,economicand environmentaldeterminants mustbe addressed.

Sustainability‘Meetingthe needsofthe presentwithoutcompromising the ability offuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds.’(UN,1992)

Under-fivemortalityrate‘The number ofdeathsofchildrenunder fiveyearsofage per1000livebirths.’(WHO,2008)

ValuesthatunderpinAustralia’shealthsystemThevaluesareeffective,appropriate,efficient,responsive, accessible, safe,continuous,capable,sustainable.

YouthTwelvetoeighteenyearsofage;however,itshould be acknowledge thatclassifications forthe stageofyouth can differacrossagencies.

Crossword: Unit 3

Crossword: Unit 3

Clues

Across

1. These types of vitamins are able to be carried around the body dissolved in the blood plasma.

3. This model of health focuses on action to avoid illness occurring or returning and to detect illness at the earliest time possible.

5. An example of VicHealth’s key work and health promotion campaign.

6. This health determinant refers to factors relating to the body including genetics and body weight.

8. Recognised as the predominant components of cells, and necessary for the growth, repair and maintenance of body tissues.

9. This dimension of health refers to an individual’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.

10. This Charter outlines five elements or priority actions that are deemed important in achieving health for all.

11. Organic and inorganic substances found in food that are required by the body for the growth and maintenance of body systems.

13. Australia’s healthcare system that aims to provide access to adequate healthcare at little or
no cost.

15. A type of carbohydrate that the body does not digest.

16. This model of health focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness and is associated with the diagnosis, cure and treatment.

Down

2. This determinant of health includes the physical and social factors, situations and surroundings.

4. The body’s way of signalling that it is running short of food and needs something to eat.

7. Costs that cannot be associated with a dollar value and relate to the human costs of loss of quality of life.

8. There are three dimensions of health: mental, social and ______.

12. The most recently added National Health Priority Area.

14. Costs that can be accurately quantified and resulting from the prevention, treatment or diagnosis of disease or illness.

Crossword: Unit 4

Crossword: Unit 4

Clues

Across

4. A method of measuring the purchasing power of currencies of different countries, which allows more accurate comparisons of standards of living.

7. The four main causes of this are severe bleeding, infections after delivery, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and obstructed labour.

11. To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs.

13. This increases individual empowerment, decision-making skills and increased health.

16. The barriers to accessing this in developing countries include: culture, cost, distance/location, availability, knowledge and gender inequality.

18. This mortality rate refers to the number of deaths that occur in the first year of life.

20. This organisation manages Australia’s international aid program.

21. The state in which all persons obtain nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate, safe food.

Down

1. According to the WHO, the leading causes of death in developing countries are associated
with this.

2. The interconnectedness of the world through the transfer of goods, service, capital, people
and information.

3. This combines the indicators of life expectancy, educational levels and income.

5. This refers to the absence of violence, and the presence of wellbeing, justice, equity and
human rights.

6. A measure of the minimum level of income required to cover the basic costs of living and achieve an adequate standard of living.

8. This enables an individual to develop immunity to infection by the use of antigens that stimulate the body to produce its own antibodies.

9. This type of aid provides essential infrastructure like electricity supply, establishing roads and medical facilities.

10. Countries with well-developed industry, mining or agriculture sectors, and a healthy economy based on trade.

12. A serious concern for many developing countries and a focus of the Millennium
Development Goals.

14. Different types of this include: emergency, bilateral and multilateral.

15. This means ‘many sides’ and involves governments giving money to organisations that fund programs to improve health in developing countries.

16. This is a serious social, economic and medical issue in many developing countries and a significant cause of mortality and morbidity.

17. Ill-health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a population or group.

19. Countries that generally have a low gross domestic product, less access to technology, poor industry and limited trade arrangements.