Approaches to Health
Ottawa Charter
Australia's Health System (Public)
Australia's Health System (Private, Sustainability, Funding, Equity & Access)
Road Safety
100
Explain a key aspect of the biomedical approach
referred to as 'band-aid' or 'quick-fix' approach
Involves diagnosing the disease or illness, then treatment of the disease or illness
Individuals are the focus of the biomedical approach
Relies on technology to diagnose, treat and cure
100
Identify the acronym of the Ottawa Charter
Bad Cats Smell Dead Rats
100
Identify a service not covered by Medicare
most costs associated with private hospital care. Medicare will pay 75 per cent of the schedule fee for treatment in private hospitals but will not contribute to accommodation and other costs.
most dental examinations and treatment. Although some children aged 2–17 can qualify for Medicare-funded dental care, most individuals are responsible for meeting their own costs associated with dental healthcare.
home nursing care or treatment
ambulance services
most allied health services (unless referred by a GP or carried out in a public hospital).
100
Identify one advantage and disadvantage of private health insurance
Advantages
Enables access to private hospital care
Choice of doctor while in public or private hospital
Shorter waiting times for some medical procedures such as elective surgery
Depending on the level of cover purchased, services such as dental, chiropractic, physiotherapy, optometry and dietetics could be paid for
Helps to keep the costs of operating Medicare under control
High income earners with private health insurance do not have to pay the additional tax, called the Medicare levy surcharge
Government rebate for eligible policy holders
‘Lifetime Health Cover’ incentive
Disadvatages:
Costly in terms of the premiums that have to be paid
Sometimes have a ‘gap’, which means the insurance doesn’t cover the whole fee and the individual must pay the difference
Qualifying periods apply for some conditions (such as pregnancy)
Policies can be complex to understand and so create confusion for the average person
100
Identify a population group that is disproportionately affected by road-related deaths.
Males — are almost 3 times more likely to die on the road than females.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — the death rate for Indigenous males due to transport accidents was more than double the rate for non-Indigenous males.
People living outside Australia’s major cities — rates were more than four times higher for those in remote areas compared to those living in major cities.
Low socioeconomic groups — those in the lowest socioeconomic group experienced a death rate 2.2 times higher than that for the highest socioeconomic group.
Young people — in 2020, 208 drivers aged 17–25 years were killed in road crashes. People in this age group account for 19 per cent of drivers killed on Australia’s roads yet represent only 16 per cent of the adult population.
200
Identify two policies or practices of old public health
Establishment of government-funded water & sewage systems and better sanitation
Quarantine Laws
Elimination of housing slums
Improved food & nutrition
Improved working conditions
Establishment of public health campaigns
More hygienic birthing practices
Provision of antenatal and infant welfare services
200
Does the Ottawa Charter reflect the social model of health or the biomedical model of health?
Social Model
200
Explain the Medicare & PBS safety net
Once a patient has contributed a certain amount of out of their own pocket to Medicare services or PBS listed medicines, the Government & PBS will subsidies the rates of medicines or medical services.
200
Explain the role of access for Medicare
Medicare provides access to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to services such as doctors’ consultations and treatment in public hospitals.
Medicare provides funding for telephone and video consultations, which can assist those living outside major cities in accessing health services.
200
Explain why road safety is deemed preventable
All road crashes are deemed to be preventable because the causes can be identified and targeted by health promotion activities, including:
driver fatigue, distraction and error
non-compliance with road laws such as alcohol and drug use, speeding and failure to use adequate restraints
infrastructure including road quality, barriers and lighting
vehicle quality.
300
List three principles of the social model of health (AREAS)
Addresses the broader determinants (or factors) of health
Involves intersectoral collaboration
Acts to reduce social inequities
Acts to enable access to healthcare
Empowers individuals and communities
300
Identify where the Ottawa Charter was developed, and in what year.
Ottawa Canada, 1986
300
Identify three services covered by Medicare
300
Explain how private health insurance can promote health outcomes.
Health & Wellbeing
- By providing access to extra health services, private health insurance can contribute to a greater range of conditions being treated, which can promote physical health and wellbeing.
- People with private health insurance may not experience as much anxiety if they require surgery because they normally do not have to wait as long for the procedure, therefore enhancing mental health and wellbeing.
HEALTH STATUS:
- By providing shorter waiting times, people are more likely to have conditions operated on earlier, which can reduce the risk of it causing death. This can reduce mortality rates and increase life expectancy.
- By being able to have a greater range of conditions treated, morbidity rates may decrease overall as people recover from treatable conditions.
300
The Driver Reviver campaign has been operating for 26 years with one objective: to reduce road collisions by alleviating driver fatigue. State Emergency Services (SES) and Lions volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year towards providing Driver Reviver as a way to reduce driver fatigue and resulting car crashes.
The above information about the Driver Reviver campaign reflects which action area of the Ottawa Charter?
Under the Ottawa Charter, this is an example of the ‘Strengthen community action’ action area.
The State Emergency Services (SES) and Lions volunteers are examples of groups working together to improve health and wellbeing.
400
Use the example of cardiovascular diseases to explain how the biomedical approach and medical technology has contributed to improvements in health status since 1900
(Think about diagnosis, treatment & cure - be specific to cardiovascular disease)
How the biomedical approach and technology have contributed to improvements in health in 1900 in relation to cardiovascular diseases:
- The introduction of the sphygmomanometer and stethoscope in 1910 enabled doctors to measure blood pressure for the first time.
- In 1941 new X-ray techniques enabled doctors to view the action of the heart using dye inserted into a blood vessel.
- In the mid-1950s the heart–lung bypass machine allowed surgeons more time to undertake complicated heart procedures.
- From 1967 surgery was being used to bypass obstructions in the coronary arteries, which helped relieve pain, improve individual’s quality of life and decrease mortality.
- The development of antihypertensive drugs helped reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease by managing hypertension.
400
Outline 4 of the Ottawa Charter Action Areas.
Build healthy public policy
Create supportive environments
Strengthen community action
Develop personal skills
Reorient health services
400
Explain how Medicare is funded
the Medicare levy: additional 2 per cent tax placed on the taxable income
the Medicare levy surcharge: People without private health insurance earning more than a certain amount have to pay an extra tax called the Medicare levy surcharge (1-1.5%)
general taxation: income collected through general taxation is also used to help fund the cost of Medicare.
400
Explain the role of sustainability within the NDIS
Each participant in the NDIS receives an individualised plan, which means that only necessary funds are spent on each person. As a result, more people can access the NDIS and experience improved health outcomes.
400
Briefly explain how improving road safety can promote health in Australia
E.g.
Improving road safety can mean that fewer people are involved in road accidents which can reduce the incidence of road injuries. Reduced rates of injuries mean that people are more able to work towards their purpose in life by working or caring for family members which can enhance spiritual health and wellbeing. Given that a lot of road fatalities involve young people, improving road safety can increase life expectancy.
500
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for the biomedical and social model of health
BIOMEDICAL
+ Funding brings about improvements in technology and research.
+ It enables many illnesses and conditions to be effectively treated.
+It extends life expectancy.
+It improves quality of life and health adjusted life expectancy.
- It relies on professional health workers and technology and is therefore costly.
- It doesn’t always promote good health and wellbeing.
-Not every condition can be treated.
- Affordability
SOCIAL MODEL
+ It promotes good health and wellbeing and assists in preventing diseases.
+It takes a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
+ It is less expensive than the biomedical approach.
+It focuses on vulnerable population groups.
+ Education can be passed on from generation to generation.
+ The responsibility for health and wellbeing is shared.
- Not every illness or condition can be prevented.
- It does not promote the development of technology and medical knowledge.
- It does not address the health and wellbeing concerns of individuals.
- Health promotion messages may be ignored
500
Using examples, explain how 3 of the Ottawa Charter action areas have been applied to Road Safety.
Build healthy public policy
+ Road laws such as seatbelts, speed limits and drink-driving laws.
+ The Ten Point Plan saw the progressive implementation of a range of road-related laws.
Create supportive environments
+ Random breath testing reduces the number of drivers on the road affected by alcohol or drugs, making it safer for all road users.
+ Road safety education Victoria provides a variety of teaching and learning activities organised into modules.
Strengthen community action
+ The Driver Reviver program involves a range of organisations such as State Emergency Services volunteers, rural and volunteer fire services, Lions Club and Apex members, State Police forces and the TAC.
+ Road safety education Victoria encourages all members of the school and general community to share the responsibility for the safety of children when they are travelling.
Develop personal skills
+ TAC campaigns work to provide education relating to young drivers, fatigue, drug-driving, motorcycle safety, distractions, vehicle safety, speeding and drink-driving.
+ The P.A.R.T.Y. program seeks to educate young people by providing a real experience of a major trauma service.
Reorient health services
+ Through the TAC, ambulance officers assist in presenting seminars to community groups, schools and businesses, to educate individuals about the risks associated with road use.
+ The P.A.R.T.Y. program utilises the experiences of presenters including emergency services, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and researchers.
500
Explain two ways the NDIS' individualised plans assist participants
Access mainstream services and supports — These are the services available for all Australians from people such as doctors or teachers through the health and education systems. It also covers areas such as public housing and the justice and aged care systems. The NDIS provides information about appropriate support options and assists participants in accessing such services.
Access community services and supports — These are activities and services available to everyone in a community, such as sports clubs, community groups, libraries or charities. Many individuals wish to be socially connected by accessing services and supports within the community.
Maintain informal support arrangements — This is the help that people get from their family and friends. It is support people don’t pay for and is generally part of most people’s lives.
Receive reasonable and necessary funded supports — The NDIS can pay for supports that are reasonable and necessary. This means they are related to a person’s disability and are required for them to live an ordinary life and achieve their goals. Funding is provided for assistive technology such as a mobility cane, nonslip bathmat, talking watch, shower stool/chair, over-toilet frame, bed rails and wheelchairs. Funding is also provided to pay for carers if the individual requires assistance with daily tasks.
500
Explain the incentive of Age Based Discount
In 2019, the Australian government introduced a fourth incentive referred to as the ‘Age-based discount’. Under this initiative, insurers have the option of offering young people aged 18–29 a discount of up to 10 per cent for hospital cover.
500
Using information in the graph, draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of health promotion that targets road safety. 
Using information in the graph, draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of health promotion that targets road safety.