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Chapter 8: Social Determinants Affecting Health Outcomes

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Chapter 8: Social Determinants Affecting Health Outcomes

10 problems · 0 figures

8-1 §8.RQ source ↗

Which of the following is a social determinant of health?
  1. a.
    Where you live
  2. b.
    Health behaviors
  3. c.
    Genetic makeup
  4. d.
    Age

Answer

A. Where you live
The social determinants of health are the conditions in environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

8-2 §8.RQ source ↗

What is the main driver of economic stability?
  1. a.
    Health
  2. b.
    Food cost
  3. c.
    Employment
  4. d.
    Transportation access

Answer

C. Employment
Stable employment with a living wage is the key to economic stability.

8-3 §8.RQ source ↗

Which of the following neighborhood factors is considered an adverse childhood experience?
  1. a.
    Absence of sidewalks to walk to school safely
  2. b.
    Access to green spaces
  3. c.
    Relying on readily accessible public transportation
  4. d.
    Exposure to crime and violence

Answer

D. Exposure to crime and violence
Exposure to crime and violence is an adverse childhood experience, as it is a traumatic event that undermines a child’s sense of safety, security, and bonding.

8-4 §8.RQ source ↗

What is the connection between education and health?
  1. a.
    Attending a lower-quality school is associated with health literary
  2. b.
    Higher education means higher socioeconomic position
  3. c.
    Higher educational attainment is associated with higher health literacy rates
  4. d.
    Health is not adversely impacted by the quality of education

Answer

B. Higher education means higher socioeconomic position
A higher education is associated with higher-paying jobs and therefore a higher socioeconomic position (SEP). SEP is a main driver of better health outcomes. Individuals with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely to live longer and healthier lives.

8-5 §8.RQ source ↗

Which of the following activities is an example of building social capital?
  1. a.
    Volunteering at the local community center
  2. b.
    Attending parent-teacher conferences at the school
  3. c.
    Composting in your own backyard
  4. d.
    Utilizing the library to check out movies

Answer

A. Volunteering at the local community center
Volunteering and giving back to the community is a prime example of building social capital. This is a form of civic participation and benefits both the individual and community.

8-6 §8.RQ source ↗

Which of the following scenarios is an example of health equity?
  1. a.
    Providing mobile health screenings for individuals without transportation
  2. b.
    Offering clinic appointments during standard business operating hours
  3. c.
    Providing a health education session in English only
  4. d.
    Offering all clients a fasting glucose screening at age 40

Answer

A. Providing mobile health screenings for individuals without transportation
By providing mobile health screenings for individuals who are unable to make it to the clinic, the health care team is thinking from a health equity lens, recognizes that everyone is not the same, and distributes the exact resources or opportunities (in this case, a mobile health screening unit) needed by each individual to reach an equal outcome among individuals.

8-7 §8.RQ source ↗

Which of the following is an example of a health disparity?
  1. a.
    BIPOC clients who are pregnant experience the highest rates of infant mortality
  2. b.
    Heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death across race, gender, and ethnicity
  3. c.
    Older adults have worse overall health outcomes compared with young adults
  4. d.
    Professional tennis players tend to have a higher prevalence of elbow injuries

Answer

A. BIPOC clients who are pregnant experience the highest rates of infant mortality
Health disparities are preventable differences in health between groups of individuals, usually as a result of social or economic factors, geographic location, and environment. BIPOC clients who are pregnant experience the highest rates of infant mortality due to a myriad of social and economic disadvantages including racism.

8-8 §8.RQ source ↗

How much does clinical care impact an individual’s health outcomes?
  1. a.
    34 percent
  2. b.
    10 percent
  3. c.
    20 percent
  4. d.
    47 percent

Answer

C. 20 percent
Clinical care impacts only 20 percent of health outcomes.

8-9 §8.RQ source ↗

Why does the nurse assess the SDOH when caring for individuals and their families in the community?
  1. a.
    The SDOH have a significant impact on the health, wellness, and quality of life of individuals and families
  2. b.
    By assessing the SDOH, the nurse can standardize interventions based on where the individual and family reside
  3. c.
    Because nursing is founded on the principle of social justice
  4. d.
    The nurse wants to investigate the reasons why certain individuals and families have asthma

Answer

A. The SDOH have a significant impact on the health, wellness, and quality of life of individuals and families
The SDOH affect the health and wellness of individuals and contribute to many risk factors for disease and premature death. There is a large inequity in the distribution of disease in this country, and the way to address these disparities is by being equitable and not just focusing on equality.

8-10 §8.RQ source ↗

The community health nurse is looking for a way to improve heart health. Within the framework of the SDOH and upstream thinking, what contributing factor to improving heart health would the nurse most likely focus on within the community?
  1. a.
    Vaping
  2. b.
    Low levels of physical activity
  3. c.
    Lack of safe places to exercise
  4. d.
    Unhealthy diet

Answer

C. Lack of safe places to exercise
Upstream thinking refers to looking beyond lifestyle choices and instead addressing the root causes of some of the health style choices. For this scenario, having a lack of safe places to exercise is the main driver of the low levels of physical activity.

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Problems and answers are adapted from Population Health for Nurses by Jessica Ochs, Sherry L. Roper and Susan M. Schwartz, OpenStax, and are used under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/population-health/pages/1-introduction. Illustrations: Copyright Rice University, OpenStax, under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. This adaptation is released under the same licence, is non-commercial, and is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by OpenStax or Rice University.