Question 1

Why has population health as a concept continued to develop and evolve?

Accepted Answer

The concept of population health has continued to develop and evolve to foster change strategies toward improved and sustainable societal health systems that encompass and extend beyond improved outcomes and epidemiological indicators.

Question 2

In considering the various approaches to defining health, which phrase most clearly links to the goal of achieving health for all?

Accepted Answer

Defining health as a resource for everyday life profiles opportunities for changing and enhancing a wide range of circumstances, leading most directly to action on achieving health for all.

Question 3

Which approach to understanding health influences, integrates, and considers the effects of geographic space, community context, and choices available?

Accepted Answer

The socioenvironmental model of health is a comprehensive approach in which health is seen holistically as being a product of one's environment (political, economic, psychosocial)-the social determinants of health. These determinants of health influence one's behaviour. Thus, achieving good health for all means focusing on policy change, advocacy, and community development and mobilization in multiple sectors, in addition to focusing on individual-level behavioural change.

Question 4

What key concern is common among communities with higher levels of inequality and demonstrates that inequality affects us all?

Accepted Answer

Community safety is of paramount concern in communities that have higher levels of inequality. People's sense of safety is usually affected by high rates of crime, which in turn negatively affect everyone in the community.

Question 5

What does research on the social gradient in health provide for health care planners?

Accepted Answer

Data from Canada and other countries (such as data found in the Black Report from the United Kingdom) demonstrate the linkages between a variety of health indicators and socioeconomic position, helping health care planners to monitor the overall health of a population.

Question 6

Which understanding of health equity and action has been identified as being important to include within each of the existing seven domains in expanding the public health core competencies?

Accepted Answer

Experts have identified that social justice can and should be explicitly included within the existing public health competencies and have provided examples of how essential attributes of social justice can be integrated within each of the existing domains.

Question 7

What does public health ethics consider that makes its focus unique and consequently different from a biomedical ethics focus?

Accepted Answer

In public health, the focus is on populations, communities, and the determinants of health, while biomedical ethics emphasizes causes and treatment of ill health and disease in terms of biological cause and effect. Therefore, public health ethics factors in unique community considerations that are not addressed in biomedical ethics.

Question 8

A number of provinces in Canada have implemented legislation that prohibits smoking in public spaces. In applying a public health ethics framework, what other strategies would be reasonable to implement when enforcing this policy, which is intended to limit exposure to secondhand smoke and improve health?

Accepted Answer

Under the principle of reciprocity, the stress and hardship experienced by cigarette smokers in response to smoking restrictions in public spaces can be somewhat compensated for by making smoking cessation programs more accessible, therefore providing an option to those who endure the burden of these policies.

Question 9

Understanding health inequities within population groups requires a consideration of which factors? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Understanding health inequities involves a consideration of unjust or unfair practices that are often located in policy, population group assets or opportunities, and system-related or structural determinants that often link to policies.

Question 10

Which of the following mechanisms contribute to a healing approach when working to improve or maintain population health? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Healing applies to all dimensions of a person's existence. Therefore, it requires considerations and approaches to health beyond the physical aspects, including spiritual dimensions (e.g., mindfulness), illness experiences, and psychosocial aspects (e.g., social connectedness).

Quiz 1: Foundational Concepts in Population and Public Health