Critical Quest 1: How are priority issues for Australia’s health identified?
Which of the following terms describes the level of illness in a given population? (2014)
(A) Mortality
(B) Morbidity
(C) Prevalence
(D) Health status
What is the purpose of epidemiology? (2014)
(A) To identify causes and patterns of disease in a population
(B) To track hospital admission rates and ambulance response times
(C) To determine how health care budgets are managed by governments
(D) To monitor prescription medicines being administered by doctors to their patients
Which combination of factors is most likely to account for the difference in life expectancy of females and males in Australia today? (2015)
(A) Males are less likely to engage in unsafe behaviours and less likely to visit a doctor regularly.
(B) Females are less likely to engage in unsafe behaviours and more likely to visit a doctor regularly.
(C) Males are more likely to work in lower risk occupations and more likely to participate in organised physical activity.
(D) Females are more likely to work in lower risk occupations and less likely to participate in organised physical activity.
Which of the following does the government consider to be most significant when prioritising funding for Australia’s health issues? (2017)
A. The mortality rate and the individual’s ability to deal with it
B. The burden of illness and the potential for reducing this burden
C. The morbidity rate and the number of health services already available
D. The prevalence of illness and the socioeconomic capacity of the affected community
In Australia, women have a higher health status than men. What is the most likely reason for this? (2017)
A. Females are more likely to seek medical assistance than males
B. Females have much higher rates of health literacy than males
C. The types of health care services available for males and females differ
D. Heredity and lifestyle factors have a greater effect on males compared to females
Critcal Quest 2: What are the priority issues for improving Australia’s health?
Which type of skin cancer is most closely linked to increased mortality? (2014)
(A) Solar keratosis
(B) Basal cell carcinoma
(C) Malignant melanoma
(D) Squamous cell carcinoma
Which of the following has contributed most to the declining prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia? (2014)
(A) Improved community awareness and treatment of CVD
(B) Improved nutritional quality of food consumed by Australians
(C) Increased levels of organised sport participation and exercise by those at risk of CVD
(D) Increased numbers of alternative health professionals and volunteers working with those at risk of CVD
Which of the following is an environmental determinant that best explains why Indigenous Australians have a shorter life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians? (2014)
(A) The types of illness Indigenous Australians develop are more likely to result in death.
(B) Traditional forms of medicine are no longer widely used by Indigenous Australians.
(C) Indigenous Australians are less likely to have access to primary health care and adequate treatment.
(D) Indigenous Australians have higher rates of unemployment so they cannot afford to visit the doctor regularly.
What major considerations do governments and health authorities take into account when prioritising health issues? (2014)
(A) The burden of illness in the community and the potential for reducing this burden
(B) The cost of illness to the community and the socioeconomic capacity of the affected community
(C) The mortality rate and the ability to deal with mortality in a community
(D) The morbidity rate and the number of health services already available for a community
What is the most likely consequence of a growth in the percentage of aged people in the Australian population? (2014)
(A) Higher demand for medical services provided by hospitals
(B) Better research into the effects of medication for aged people
(C) Increased revenue from private patients in Australia’s health care sector
(D) More employment opportunities for aged people in the health care sector
Which of the following best defines the process of metastasis? (2015)
(A) Scanning to locate a tumour
(B) Cells dividing and multiplying
(C) Malignant cells invading body tissue or organs
(D) Differentiating between different types of cancers
Which of the following is a sociocultural determinant that explains the increased risk of respiratory diseases for some Australians? (2015)
(A) Being unemployed
(B) Affordability of medical care
(C) Exposure to smoking in the family
(D) Presence of hazardous chemicals at work
Which of the following is an example of a socioeconomic determinant that influences the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? (2016)
(A) Racism from peers and the community
(B) Remoteness of some of their communities
(C) Lower completion rate of Year 12 education
(D) Lack of access to appropriate health services
Which of the following best describes atherosclerosis? (2016)
(A) Dilation of the arterial walls
(B) Increased elasticity of blood vessels
(C) Damage to the blood vessels in the hands and feet
(D) A build-up of plaque on the interior walls of arteries
Which of the following lists the most common risk factors associated with both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and breast cancer? (2016)
(A) Ethnicity, gender, lack of physical activity
(B) Family history, smoking, low sugar intake
(C) Family history, obesity, lack of physical activity
(D) Ethnicity, high fat diet, early onset of menstruation
Which of the following is an example of an indirect cost of chronic disease? (2016)
(A) Purchasing medicine
(B) Bulk billing a visit to the doctor
(C) Purchasing a gym or health club membership
(D) Training replacement workers to cover sick days
Which of the following best describes healthy ageing? (2016)
(A) Ageing at a healthy rate and trying to look younger
(B) Increasing the proportion of people who consume healthy foods throughout their life
(C) Reducing the risk of illness and disease when growing older by maintaining physical, dietary and mental health
(D) Reducing the number of people who die at a young age from illnesses related to hereditary and genetic factors
Which set of socioeconomic determinants has the greatest influence on the health inequities experienced by indigenous population groups? (2017)
A. Income and high-density living
B. Religious and cultural influences
C. Levels of education and employment
D. Media access and geographical location
What is cerebrovascular disease? (2017)
A. A bacterial infection affecting heart valves
B. A problem with the circulation of blood to the lungs
C. A problem where the heart begins to function less effectively in its role of pumping blood
D. A condition where the arteries supplying oxygen to the brain become impaired in their function
Which group is most at risk of developing breast cancer? (2017)
A. Women who take the contraceptive pill and exercise regularly
B. Women over the age of 50 with high levels of circulating oestrogen
C. Women who have given birth to multiple children and breastfed them
D. Women with early onset menopause and using hormone replacement therapies
Critical Quest 3: What role do health care facilities and services play in achieving better health for all Australians?
How do Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme support the principles of social justice? (2014)
(A) They are funded by the Australian government to supply health care services.
(B) They provide resources only to those most in need of health services and treatment.
(C) They allocate resources according to the needs of the population in order to promote equality of health outcomes.
(D) They empower individuals and communities to be involved in planning and decision making to achieve good health.
Which of the following is the main benefit of emerging treatments and technologies in health care? (2015)
(A) Reduced costs for health care
(B) Reduced dental health problems
(C) Improved early detection and screening procedures
(D) Improved waiting times for surgery in public hospitals
What is the most appropriate advice to give people who are making a decision about an alternative health care service or product? (2015)
(A) Investigate the credibility of the service, product and practitioner
(B) Cease the conventional medication and medical advice they have been receiving
(C) Combine alternative health care services with complementary health care products
(D) Seek recommendations from friends and family who have experienced success with alternative health care services and products
Meditation techniques are used by some patients while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. What type of approach to treatment is this? (2015)
(A) Diversionary
(B) Pain management
(C) Alternative health care
(D) Complementary health care
Which of the following is a health benefit of using emerging technologies for health care in Australia? (2016)
(A) Reduced expenditure in medical research
(B) Reduced costs of medical treatment for individuals
(C) Faster recovery of patients from less-invasive procedures
(D) Increased availability of medical services in regional and remote areas
In which list are all the factors perceived advantages of choosing private health insurance? (2016)
(A) Private room, reduced time on waiting lists, assigned medical practitioners
(B) Choice of doctor, reduced time on waiting lists, access to ancillary services
(C) Private room, decreased cost to the individual, assigned medical practitioners
(D) Choice of doctor, increased cost to the government, access to ancillary services
Who is responsible for funding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)? (2017)
A. State government
B. Local government
C. Federal government
D. Private health insurance
Which level of government is responsible for the administration of public hospitals? (2017)
A. State
B. Local
C. Federal
D. Regional
Critical Quest 4: What actions are needed to address Australia’s health priorities?
Which of the following is an example of reorienting health services as specified in the Ottawa Charter? (2014)
(A) Redirecting services from cure to prevention
(B) Redirecting services from private to public health care
(C) Allowing health service professionals to focus on curing ill health
(D) Supporting individuals to identify personal networks and services
For a health promotion strategy to be classified as strengthening community action, it must (2014)
(A) focus on a targeted health promotion for those most at risk.
(B) focus policy direction and public discussion on the health promotion strategy.
(C) facilitate participation from all government departments for the health promotion strategy.
(D) facilitate the funds and infrastructure for the health promotion strategy to be carried through successfully.
In which action area of the Ottawa Charter does the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) belong? (2015)
(A) Developing personal skills
(B) Reorienting health services
(C) Building healthy public policy
(D) Strengthening community action
Which combination of factors has contributed most to a decreasing smoking rate in Australia? (2015)
(A) Taxation and increased prevalence of lung cancer
(B) Targeted legislation and health promotion campaigns
(C) Education programs and participation in organised sport
(D) Public perceptions of smoking and decreased access to tobacco products
Immunisation information is provided in a range of languages. Which of the following best relates to the principle of social justice that is being applied in this case? (2016)
(A) Reducing equity
(B) Recognising diversity
(C) Reorienting health services
(D) Establishing supportive environments
Members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are trained to deliver Quit Smoking programs. Which action area of the Ottawa Charter is most likely being addressed? (2016)
(A) Developing personal skills
(B) Reorienting health services
(C) Building healthy public policy
(D) Strengthening community action
From December 2012, the Australian Government required all tobacco products to be sold in plain packaging. Why did the government do this? (2016)
(A) To increase costs at the point of sale
(B) To increase taxation on tobacco products
(C) To provide a mix of strategies aimed at developing personal skills
(D) To implement a health promotion strategy directed at changing behaviour
How does Medicare reflect the principles of social justice? (2017)
A. It provides resources only to those most in need of health services and treatment.
B. It is funded by the Australian government to supply equality in health care services to all Australians. C. It allocates resources according to the needs of the population in order to promote equity of health outcomes.
D. It empowers individuals and communities to be involved in planning and decision making to achieve good health.
A health promotion initiative educates doctors to refer mental health patients to a social support group. Which area of the Ottawa Charter does this represent? (2017)
A. Developing personal skills
B. Reorienting health services
C. Strengthening community action
D. Creating supportive environments