HLTH 501 WEEK 5 MIDTERM EXAM
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS ANSWERS
◉ The high-risk approach. Answer: focuses on those with the
highest probability of developing disease and aims to bring their risk
close to the levels experienced by the rest of the population
ex: homeless have a high risk of TB - focusing on them and testing
rather than everyone including sheltered, generally healthy people
with regular healthcare, people who smoke and lung cancer
◉ Improving-the average-approach. Answer: assumes that everyone
is at some degree of risk and the risk increases with the extent of
exposure
ex: outbreak of unknown disease
◉ Contributory causes (immediate) and Determinants (causes of
causes)
o Social determinants of Health: BIG GEMS. Answer: Contributory
cause: A definition of causation that is established when all three of
the following have been established:
1. The existence of an association between the "Cause" and the
"Effect" at the individual level
2. The "cause" precedes the "Effect" in the time
,3. Altering the "cause" alters the probability of the "Effect"
Determinants: underlying factors that ultimately bring about
diseases; has been referred to as the causes of causes
BIG GEMS: a mnemonic that summarizes the determinants of
disease, including *behavior, infection, genetics, geography,
environment, medical care, and socioeconomic-cultural status*
◉ behavior
infection
genetics
geography
environment
medical care
socioeconomic-cultural status. Answer: Name the BIG GEMS
◉ behavior. Answer: implies actions that increase exposure to the
factors that produce disease or protect against disease
- smoking cigarettes
- exercising
- eating a particular diet
- alcohol consumption
- unprotected sex
- using seatbelt
,◉ infection. Answer: often the direct cause of disease
- can include diverse diseases
- microbiome can reduce disease
◉ genetics. Answer: revolution of heredity
- play role in development and progression of disease
◉ geography. Answer: location influences the frequency and
presence of disease
- malaria, Lyme disease only are in certain areas
- alsi conditions such as radon production/radiation exposure
◉ environment. Answer: natural disasters, altered by humans,
indoor air pollution, infant proofed homes, hazards on highway
◉ medical care. Answer: access to and quality
- vaccination, non vaccinated, cigarette smoking quoting, treatments
◉ socio-economic cultural status. Answer: education, income,
occupational stays, culture, religion
influence decisions about treatments
, breast cancer, tb, occupational injury
◉ The Life Course approach. Demographic situation in the U>S.
Aging as a public health issue. By 2030, proportion of people over 65
is expected to be 25 percent of the population.. Answer:
demographic transition:
describes the impact of falling childhood death rates and extended
life spans on the size of populations and the age of distribution of
populations
- Consider the impact on health throughout the life cycle
Health risks extend from pre-natal to postmortem
The real challenges of caring for the elderly in 2030 will involve: (1)
making sure society develops payment and insurance systems for
long-term care that work better than existing ones, (2) taking
advantage of advances in medicine and behavioral health to keep the
elderly as healthy and active as possible, (3) changing the way
society organizes community services so that care is more
accessible, and (4) altering the cultural view of aging to make sure
all ages are integrated into the fabric of community life.
Age is an important factor influencing causes of death and disability
- baby boomers are going to be elderly, more nursing
homes/treatment and care are going to be needed for this time
◉ Determinants. Answer: - causes of causes, underlying factors
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS ANSWERS
◉ The high-risk approach. Answer: focuses on those with the
highest probability of developing disease and aims to bring their risk
close to the levels experienced by the rest of the population
ex: homeless have a high risk of TB - focusing on them and testing
rather than everyone including sheltered, generally healthy people
with regular healthcare, people who smoke and lung cancer
◉ Improving-the average-approach. Answer: assumes that everyone
is at some degree of risk and the risk increases with the extent of
exposure
ex: outbreak of unknown disease
◉ Contributory causes (immediate) and Determinants (causes of
causes)
o Social determinants of Health: BIG GEMS. Answer: Contributory
cause: A definition of causation that is established when all three of
the following have been established:
1. The existence of an association between the "Cause" and the
"Effect" at the individual level
2. The "cause" precedes the "Effect" in the time
,3. Altering the "cause" alters the probability of the "Effect"
Determinants: underlying factors that ultimately bring about
diseases; has been referred to as the causes of causes
BIG GEMS: a mnemonic that summarizes the determinants of
disease, including *behavior, infection, genetics, geography,
environment, medical care, and socioeconomic-cultural status*
◉ behavior
infection
genetics
geography
environment
medical care
socioeconomic-cultural status. Answer: Name the BIG GEMS
◉ behavior. Answer: implies actions that increase exposure to the
factors that produce disease or protect against disease
- smoking cigarettes
- exercising
- eating a particular diet
- alcohol consumption
- unprotected sex
- using seatbelt
,◉ infection. Answer: often the direct cause of disease
- can include diverse diseases
- microbiome can reduce disease
◉ genetics. Answer: revolution of heredity
- play role in development and progression of disease
◉ geography. Answer: location influences the frequency and
presence of disease
- malaria, Lyme disease only are in certain areas
- alsi conditions such as radon production/radiation exposure
◉ environment. Answer: natural disasters, altered by humans,
indoor air pollution, infant proofed homes, hazards on highway
◉ medical care. Answer: access to and quality
- vaccination, non vaccinated, cigarette smoking quoting, treatments
◉ socio-economic cultural status. Answer: education, income,
occupational stays, culture, religion
influence decisions about treatments
, breast cancer, tb, occupational injury
◉ The Life Course approach. Demographic situation in the U>S.
Aging as a public health issue. By 2030, proportion of people over 65
is expected to be 25 percent of the population.. Answer:
demographic transition:
describes the impact of falling childhood death rates and extended
life spans on the size of populations and the age of distribution of
populations
- Consider the impact on health throughout the life cycle
Health risks extend from pre-natal to postmortem
The real challenges of caring for the elderly in 2030 will involve: (1)
making sure society develops payment and insurance systems for
long-term care that work better than existing ones, (2) taking
advantage of advances in medicine and behavioral health to keep the
elderly as healthy and active as possible, (3) changing the way
society organizes community services so that care is more
accessible, and (4) altering the cultural view of aging to make sure
all ages are integrated into the fabric of community life.
Age is an important factor influencing causes of death and disability
- baby boomers are going to be elderly, more nursing
homes/treatment and care are going to be needed for this time
◉ Determinants. Answer: - causes of causes, underlying factors
