Question 1

Labeling theory, as applied to the study of health and illness, is most closely associated with the functionalist perspective.

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory is most closely associated with the conflict perspective, which emphasizes the role of power and inequality in society.

Question 2

Key international markers often measure the status of a nation's health and medical care. Which of the following represents the two health markers discussed in the text?

Accepted Answer

The text mentions that international markers often measure a nation's health and medical care, and specifically mentions two health markers: life expectancy and infant mortality. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer as it includes both of these markers. Option A and B only mention one of these markers, and option D includes a different marker (fecundity) that was not mentioned in the text.

Question 3

Meso-level analyses of health are concerned, in part, with how other institutions affect health care.

Accepted Answer

Meso-level analyses focus on the level between micro-level (individual) and macro-level (society as a whole) and examine how institutions, organizations, and communities affect health care. Therefore, they are concerned with how other institutions affect health care.

Question 4

Allopathy is medical treatment supported by the American Medical Association and most Western medical organizations involving remedies based on directly countering a patient's symptoms with drugs or surgery.

Accepted Answer

Allopathy is indeed a medical treatment supported by the American Medical Association and most Western medical organizations involving remedies based on directly countering a patient's symptoms with drugs or surgery.

Question 5

Africa has the highest percentage of people who are infected with HIV/AIDS in the world.

Accepted Answer

According to UNAIDS, in 2019, an estimated 38 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS, and 67% of them lived in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, Africa has the highest percentage of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the world.

Question 6

The ______ has led to the decline of United States citizens who do not have health insurance.

Accepted Answer

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was a healthcare reform law that aimed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for Americans. One of the main objectives of the law was to decrease the number of uninsured individuals in the United States. As a result of the ACA, millions of previously uninsured Americans have gained health insurance coverage.

Question 7

According to the text, the role of the curandero combines elements of healer and ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, the role of...

Question 8

According to the text, functional theorists focus primarily on the micro-level of the health care system.

Accepted Answer

Functional theorists focus primarily on the macro-level of the health care system, examining how different parts of the system work together to achieve an overall goal of providing health care to society.

Question 9

Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the greatest criticism of the U.S. system was:

Accepted Answer

Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the greatest criticism of the U.S. system was the inaccessibility of health care insurance for many. Many Americans were uninsured or underinsured, which meant they either couldn't afford health care at all, or had to pay high out-of-pocket costs for medical services. This led to a higher rate of untreated illnesses and preventable deaths compared to other developed countries.

Question 10

Tyson lives in a large city. Recently, the medical clinic that treated Tyson and his family closed and reopened as a big, fancy clinic in the suburbs. Tyson's story is an illustration of ______.

Accepted Answer

Tyson's story is an illustration of maldistribution of services, where medical services are not evenly distributed among various regions or populations. The closure of the clinic in the city has forced Tyson and his family to travel to the suburbs for medical care, which may not be accessible or affordable for everyone living in the city. This highlights the unequal distribution of medical resources, often influenced by factors such as economics, politics, and social power.

Question 11

About 80% of the budget for Medicare goes toward the final year of life.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a common misconception. While end-of-life care can be expensive, studies have shown that the majority of Medicare spending is actually focused on beneficiaries with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, who require ongoing care and management. In fact, only a small percentage (around 5%) of Medicare beneficiaries account for nearly half of all program spending due to their complex medical needs.

Question 12

Labeling some behaviors as illnesses can be beneficial for patients' care.

Accepted Answer

Labeling certain behaviors as illnesses can help healthcare professionals better understand and treat patients. It can also help remove stigma associated with certain conditions and provide access to necessary resources and treatments.

Question 13

The high infant mortality rate in the United States compared with rates in other affluent countries is largely attributed to ______.

Accepted Answer

The high infant mortality rate in the United States is largely attributed to the lack of adequate health care, including access to prenatal care and support during pregnancy and childbirth. Other factors such as harmful lifestyles and lack of education may contribute to infant mortality, but they are not the primary reason for the high rates in comparison to other affluent countries.

Question 14

Which of the following about the British health care system is true?

Accepted Answer

All citizens in the UK have access to free health care through the National Health Service (NHS). While there may be waiting times and some services may require a referral from a general practitioner, there is no cost to patients for most health care services. However, some services such as cosmetic surgery or some types of dental care may be provided by private providers and may require payment.

Question 15

Which of the following is true about the new health care plan in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The new health care plan in the United States, commonly known as Obamacare, has led to a gradual decrease in the number of uninsured Americans. This is largely due to the individual mandate, which requires most people to have health insurance or pay a penalty. As more people gain coverage through the marketplace or Medicaid expansion, the uninsured rate has gone down.

B, C, and D are all false statements about the new health care plan. Insurance companies are still able to set their own reimbursement rates and decide which services are covered, although there are some regulations in place to prevent excessive costs or denials. Discrimination based on preexisting conditions is generally prohibited, with no exceptions for obesity or smoking. Taxes are still required to fund the subsidies and other provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Question 16

Which type of health care does the government regulate but not operate?

Accepted Answer

Decentralized national health care is a system where the government regulates the health care industry but does not operate it. In this system, there are multiple private providers of health care services that patients can choose from. The government sets certain regulations and standards that these providers must adhere to in order to ensure quality of care for patients. This system is different from socialized medicine, where the government both regulates and operates the health care system, and from PPOs and HMOs, which are types of managed care organizations that provide health care services to members directly.

Question 17

All of the following countries have socialized medicine systems EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the following countries have socialized...

Question 18

After the American Medical Association (AMA) was established, it became the means to gain legitimacy and power of health care practice. As a result, only one health approach, ______, was granted legitimacy.

Accepted Answer

Allopathy, also known as modern Western medicine, was the approach granted legitimacy by the AMA. Homeopathy and osteopathy were regarded as alternative medicine approaches and were not recognized by the AMA. Midwifery was also not recognized as a legitimate healthcare approach by the AMA.

Question 19

All of the following countries have decentralized health care systems EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Great Britain has a centralized health care system, known as the National Health Service (NHS), where the government provides and funds health care for all citizens. Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands have decentralized health care systems where health care is provided by a mix of private and public entities.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about gender patterns in Western cultures is false?

Accepted Answer

In Western cultures, women actually use more medications than men, as they tend to seek medical care more often and are more likely to be prescribed medication for their health issues.

Quiz 11: Health Care: an Anatomy of Health and Illness