2 Unit Pd/h/pe HSC
Assessment Task
Module: Core 1 - Health Priority in Australia
1. Outline TWO indicators of morbidity. Include examples in your answer. (3 Marks)
Morbidity is the incidence or level of illness, disease or injury in a given population.
Two indicators of morbidity include:
Hospital use, by the cause and number of admissions. It provides a measure of the rates of illness and accidents to the community, major reasons for ill health and information on serious diseases. Yet, it is not descriptive of less serious illnesses and ill health. For example, hospitalisation statistics have limitations as an indicator of morbidity because they treat each episode as a new case rather than having re-admissions of the same condition.
Disability and handicap, which is lead to by the incidence of disease or injury. An example of handicap could be an individual injured in an accident which has become impaired, resulting in an abnormal function or loss of physical or mental capacities. This could cause disability by disturbing the individual's normal activity or performance. An example of disability can be loss of ability in verbal communication.
2. What should consumers consider before choosing complementary and/or alternative health care approaches? (4 Marks)
Prior to choosing complementary and/or alternative health care approaches, consumers should investigate the service offered and the credibility of the practitioner. Making informed choices should be completed by gathering information specific to the nature of the alternative medicine, credibility as an effective type of treatment, questioning friends and the community about experiences and recommendations and also the qualifications and experience of practitioners.
Alternative medicines have endeavoured the highest quality of treatment by providing courses within the technique. For example, the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia offers an introductory