Public Perceptions of Health

INTRODUCTION

Studies shows that self-perception is a paramount indication of health outcomes. The degree to which self-perception to health is related with personality trait is, though, largely untold. We aim to study the connection between self-perception, personality and trait among people on Health.

Health defines a person that is free from pain, injury and illness in both mind and body. Based on World Health Organization (1946) Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

THE PUBLIC CONCEPTS OF WHAT HEALTH IS

According to the public, health means the ability of a person or communities to cope and manage their own health when physical, mental and social challenges occur.

On the other hand, some of the people believe that being healthy has something to do with physical condition of the body, in fact it has to do with the whole condition of an individual both mind and body. Lots of people makes a great effort to live healthy and feel good for doing so.

Thus with this kind of concept, man’s health is like an open system that continuously affected or influenced by external and internal factors. Factors such as coming from the environment, social dynamics and physical and mental state of health play a role in man’s ability to cope.

Consequently these pose a challenge on putting an effective health management strategies. These are reasons why a multi-disciplinary approach to health care is paramount to public health. The involvement of multiple teams and other helth allied health professionals into public health management caters to the diverse needs and factors affecting the genral health of the public. In most first world countries, multidisciplinary approach to healthcare has been proven to provide best outcome of care and very cost effective.

THE PUBLIC CONCEPTS OF WHAT ILLNESS IS

Illness is a disease or a period of sickness affecting the body. But this does not only refer to physical health. Social conditions like poverty, inadequate nutrition, inappropriate housing, rising pollution and unhygienic and unsafe play areas for children fall into the first stage of illness. Each of these illnesses has different views from the public in New Zealand. People with illness tend to be less motivated the moment when they know about their illness while people around them only give minimal support. Some people tend to refuse or hide illness to prevent others to know their illness out of shame or embarrassment which makes matters worst. Therefore these concepts of illness compliment on how public view health, as completely the opposite. And public’s behaviour towards illness greatly affect the healthcare delivery system. Fears, anxiety, social stigma and poor understanding or lack of awareness are factors that are hard to overcome by health professionals in getting services to the public and often the cause of poor compliance to treatment. Thus, management or treatment of illness should not only focus on the physical symptoms and organic causes but also on the emotional and social impact of them to the person. Health professionals practicing under a multidisciplinary team recognize the importance of a support system for someone who is sick especially once they are in the community.

For example, smokers in the pacific region give less effort to programs that helps to put an end on their smoking habits by substituting cigarettes with Nicotine replacement therapy. This program was tested when 24.6% of the smokers believe that nicotine replacement therapy can cause more harm than smoking itself and strongly believe that smoking can be stopped even without the program. Basically, Nicotine replacement program became ineffective for the pacific people, as a matter of fact, there was a high proportion of people believes on its ineffectiveness and only a relatively low proportion of pacific people especially in South Auckland that made claims for subsidized nicotine replacement therapies. Even though the campaigns and programs are set, more people are still likely to smoke that contributed to the rising air pollution and risking the health others through second hand smoke. In a research conducted by the Counties Manukau study that Māori parents have low to no awareness of options for stopping the smoking habit. This indicates that these group of smokers should be better aware in order for them to address their mental illness in smoke addiction.

The Ministry of Health and World health Organization as well as the health care professional works hand in hand to help people quit from smoking. To encourage the public quit from smoking Policy on health should strictly manage a tobacco-free environment (i.e. workplaces, school etc…) and regulate a policy to stop advertising, promoting tobacco products and also to provide more awareness to the public about the negative effect of smoking.

THE IMPORTANCE THE PUBLIC PUT ON HEALTH

Life threatening diseases, illness and injury may occur in many instances than any of us would expect, but no one ever know when to happen. In public, insurance has a big impact on their health. According to research, around 32 percent of NZ has health insurance. It may not be big part of the population, but considering that public health here is government funded for primary and acute health needs, this number tells us that health really matters for NZ people. People invest for their health to get a better and quicker health service to avoid queuing up for rationed health services shouldered by the government in public health facilities. As compared to getting public health service where services are prioritized according to needs and acuity or urgency, health insurance caters to the individual need of the public without having to to be on a waiting list.

PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS HEALTH AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

According to a recent studies conducted by Reader’s Digest NZ, a popular general interest magazine, out of the Top 10 most trusted profession here in NZ 5 of them are from the health and medical field. Nurses, doctors, rescue volunteers, pharmacists and Paramedics that topped the lists, were on the 2013 list. This means a confirmation of the quality of service and the public being happy of it. However trust creates expectation, a bigger expectation to maintan the quality and standard of health services. This is a challenge not just by the profesionals themselves but more so to the top management and government health or regulatory agancies to ensure public safety is always protected.

CONCLUSION

Self-perception to health is associated with attitude and personality regardless if there were self-reported medical condition or none. It was highly suggested that personal characteristic has a major contribution to the attitude and personality of the individual between self-perceived health and health outcomes.

References:

http://www.healthfunds.org.nz/pdf/Fact%20File%20oct2010.pdf

http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/pacific_peoples/pacific-progress

www.stuff.co.nz

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0508/S00119.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3576258

http://www.shareyouressays.com/113393/short-essay-on-illness

http://www.readersdigest.co.nz/most-trusted-professions-2013