Patho Basics
What is pathophysiology?
Study of cellular/organ changes occurring with disease and their effects on total body function; study of disease processes
Fill in the blank: The cause or origin of a disease is its ______.
Etiology
What is a diagnosis?
Investigation and identification of a disease from signs and symptoms
MC: Which level of prevention focuses on removing risk factors? A) Primary B) Secondary C) Tertiary
A — Primary prevention
Fill in the blank: Giving everyone the same resources or opportunities is called ______.
Equality
MC: Which is subjective evidence of disease? A) Sign B) Symptom C) Morphology D) Etiology
B — Symptom
Put these in order: initial injury, etiological agent, defective organ function, defective tissue function, systemic effects
Etiological agent → initial injury → defective tissue function → defective organ function → related systemic effects
Name the 4 types of clinical history discussed in the lecture.
Current Hx, PMHx, familial Hx, social Hx
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Incidence: new cases arising in an at-risk population over a specified time.
Prevalence: people who have the disease at a given point in time.
What is the difference between equality and equity?
Equality: same resources/opportunities. Equity: resources/opportunities allocated according to different circumstances to reach an equal outcome.
Define morbidity and mortality.
Morbidity: effects an illness has on a person's life. Mortality: death statistics.
Name the 5 categories of etiological factors of disease.
Biologic agents, physical forces, chemical agents, genetic inheritance, nutritional excesses/deficits
Name 3 things included in clinical findings.
Patient history, physical examination, diagnostic test results
Give 4 examples of factors affecting health from the lecture.
Any 4 listed: income/social status, employment/working conditions, education/literacy, childhood experiences, physical environment, social supports/coping, healthy behaviours, access to health services, biology/genetics, gender, culture, race/racism
Name the 3 categories of barriers to equitable healthcare.
Intrapersonal, interpersonal, structural
MC: A disease suddenly increases above the number normally expected in one geographic area. This is a(n): A) Endemic B) Epidemic C) Pandemic D) Incidence
B — Epidemic
A patient was born with a heart defect, but symptoms did not appear until adulthood. Is this congenital or acquired, and why?
Congenital. Congenital defects are present at birth but may not become evident until later in life or may never manifest.
A patient receives antibiotics to eliminate a bacterial infection and medication to relieve pain. Classify each treatment as specific or symptomatic.
Antibiotics = specific treatment; pain medication = symptomatic treatment
Explain the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
Primary: remove risk factors/prevent disease. Secondary: early detection and treatment. Tertiary: reduce complications of established disease.
A patient avoids healthcare because of previous discrimination and now distrusts healthcare providers. Which type of barrier is this, and why?
Interpersonal barrier. Previous mistreatment/discrimination can affect the patient-provider relationship and make healthcare socially inaccessible.
Explain the difference between etiology, pathogenesis, morphology, and histology.
Etiology: cause/origin. Pathogenesis: how the disease process evolves. Morphology: structure/form of cells or tissues. Histology: study of cells and extracellular matrix of tissues.
Starting with the cause of disease, describe the pathogenesis sequence through the development of signs and symptoms/systemic effects.
Etiological agent → initial injury → defective tissue function → defective organ function → related systemic effects, with signs/symptoms developing as disease progresses.
A patient has symptoms but the cause is unclear. Explain how clinical history, physical examination, clinical findings, and differential diagnosis work together to reach a diagnosis.
History and physical examination gather information and identify abnormalities → clinical findings combine history, examination and diagnostic testing → the information is interpreted to develop/narrow the differential diagnosis.
A screening test identifies disease before clinical symptoms appear. What level of prevention is this, and what is the ultimate goal of screening/early treatment?
Secondary prevention. Early detection/treatment aims to prevent or minimize late-stage organ damage and can reduce discomfort/disability and improve survival.
Scenario: A patient living in a remote community cannot easily access specialized healthcare because services are far away and treatment is not covered. Identify the barrier category and 2 specific structural factors involved.
Structural barrier. Geography limits physical access to care, and policy/legislation/socioeconomic factors can affect whether services/treatments are covered or accessible.