NRSG138 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Malnutrition, Dental Caries, Equal Opportunity
Politicoeconomic Factors
● Can have a direct or indirect impact on the health of individuals
● Factors to consider are;
○ Politics
○ Legislation
○ Law
○ Economy
○ Industry
Political consideration
● Politics is considered to be the process of allocation of scarce resources, the
distribution of the countries wealth and resources
● Politics is governed by the government elect, state and federal, but is influenced by
lobbyist, political action groups, and advocacy groups
● Health policy in Australia has been a major issue at every election (Federal and
State) since the 1940s
Australian Health Care
● The premise for the Australian Health care system is universal access for all citizens
and permanent residents
● The question is, does this mean just access or free access for all?
● The other consideration is, those who aren’t citizens or permanent residents
○ Is it right that refugees and those with work visas do not have access to
health care?
● Yet the World Health Organisation states that access to health care is a fundamental
human right
Consider
● Does the Australian Health Care system deliver on the premise of universal access?
● Should healthcare funding be subject to the influence of industry and political
lobbyist?
○ The debated Sugar tax
■ Industry contributes to political parties
■ Health care advocacy groups have minimal political power
■ Sugar production is economic consideration
○ The decade of lobbying by the tobacco industry
Legislation Considerations
● The legislation concerning healthcare is many and varied. It includes legislation to
protect as well as to ensure equity of access and delivery of service
● The registration and regulation of practitioners is governed by Acts of Parliament
○ National law act of 2012
● Medicines Act
● Human Tissue Act
● Mental Health Act
● Coroners Act
● Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act
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● Medical Treatment Act
● Privacy Act
Legal Considerations
● Consent
○ In consent law, children and young people can consent and refuse treatment
independently
● Capacity
○ An adult of sound mind is said to have capacity or to be legally competent
● Legal Competence
○ Threshold test of capacity - has to understand the nature, effect and
treatment, voluntarily given, of own free will, and can communicate the
decision to another
Economic Considerations
● Health care is not the only consideration to ensure well being of the Australian
population
● National funds are allocated on priority of needs. But who determines the needs
● Employment is critical factor
○ High rates of employment reflect a positive trend in healthcare
○ Growth economies
○ Disposable income
○ Affordable healthcare
○ Financial security
Industrial Consideration
● Pollution
● Climate change
● Workforce consideration
● Political influence
● Industry is a big political lobby group
○ Yet without industry we have no electricity, no food and no means for delivery
of fundamental basic needs
RLT Model for Nursing Activities of Living
● It has been noted that it is important to consider lifespan when people move through
the model
● It has also been noted previously that the activities of living are interrelated and
independent
● This is true for the factors that influence the activities of living and this is very evident
in consideration of political economic factors
● No one activity and thus no one influencing factor can be taken in isolation when
planning and delivering care
Politicoeconomic Factors affecting Maintaining a Safe Environment
The primary responsibility for Politicoeconomic factors aligned with maintaining a safe
environment rest with the individual. However it is evident that safety is enhanced by the
support of national policy, legislation and financial support
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Document Summary
Can have a direct or indirect impact on the health of individuals. Politics is considered to be the process of allocation of scarce resources, the distribution of the countries wealth and resources. Politics is governed by the government elect, state and federal, but is influenced by lobbyist, political action groups, and advocacy groups. Health policy in australia has been a major issue at every election (federal and. The premise for the australian health care system is universal access for all citizens and permanent residents. The other consideration is, those who aren"t citizens or permanent residents. Yet the world health organisation states that access to health care is a fundamental human right. Health care advocacy groups have minimal political power. The decade of lobbying by the tobacco industry. The legislation concerning healthcare is many and varied. It includes legislation to protect as well as to ensure equity of access and delivery of service.
