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BIOLOGY, M8 2024 HSC 24

  1. Outline the cause of a disease due to environmental exposure.   (2 marks)

  2. Explain how an educational program or campaign can be used to decrease the incidence of a disease caused by environmental exposure.   (3 marks)

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a.   Answers could include one of the following:

→ Lung cancer can be caused by exposure to inhalation of smoke from cigarettes.

→ Environmental exposure to asbestos can result in some microscopic fibres becoming lodged in the lining of a person’s lungs and cause mesothelioma (cancer).
 

b.   Educational program on the dangers of UV radiation:

→ An educational program in schools could teach students about the link between UV exposure and skin cancer, emphasising protection through hats and sunscreen.

→ This preventative approach helps students understand the risks and increases the chances of them modifying their behaviour to be more sun safe.

→ Overall, the program should contribute to less DNA damage in cells of participants and a reduction in their chances of developing skin cancer.

Show Worked Solution

a.   Answers could include one of the following:

→ Lung cancer can be caused by exposure to inhalation of smoke from cigarettes.

→ Environmental exposure to asbestos can result in some microscopic fibres becoming lodged in the lining of a person’s lungs and cause mesothelioma (cancer).
 

b.   Educational program on the dangers of UV radiation:

→ An educational program in schools could teach students about the link between UV exposure and skin cancer, emphasising protection through hats and sunscreen.

→ This preventative approach helps students understand the risks and increases the chances of them modifying their behaviour to be more sun safe.

→ Overall, the program should contribute to less DNA damage in cells of participants and a reduction in their chances of developing skin cancer.

BIOLOGY, M8 2021 VCE 34 MC

The World Health Organization (WHO) runs a campaign to eliminate cervical cancer globally. In response to this campaign, a study was conducted to model the impact of cervical cancer screening along with a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. HPV is the cause of most cervical cancers. The results of the modelling are shown below.
 

Which one of the following conclusions is supported by the data in the graph?

  1. The incidence of cervical cancer would be unaffected by a cervical cancer screening program.
  2. The largest factor in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in the long term is vaccination.
  3. With vaccination only, it is possible to achieve fewer than 10 cervical cancer cases per 100,000 women by 2050 .
  4. Vaccination and one lifetime screen would be more effective than vaccination and two lifetime screens by 2070 .
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\(B\)

Show Worked Solution

Consider each option:

Option A:  The evidence shows an effect from screening programs → Incorrect

Option B:  The graph shows the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased since the introduction of the vaccination. Screening has only added to this marginally → Correct

Option C:  With vaccination only fewer than 10 cases per 100,000 women could be achieved by 2060 not 2050 → Incorrect

Option D:  The graph shows that vaccination and two lifetime screens is more effective in 2070 → Incorrect
 

\(\Rightarrow B\)

BIOLOGY, M8 EQ-Bank 12

Polio is a disease that can both kill people and leave others scarred and disabled for life.

The poster below is part of an educational program that targets polio.

What are the benefits of such campaigns to the broader society.   (3 marks)

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→ Educational programs can take the form of school lessons, television advertisements or posters like the one above. They aim to reduce incidence of a disease by targeting and promoting the uptake of polio vaccines.

→ The poster highlights vulnerable babies, encouraging their parents to vaccinate them against the disease. It emphasises the zero cost involved to remove hurdles for positive action.

→ The benefit of the poster is that it is cheap to produce and easy to target a large group of people if placed in high foot-traffic areas.

→ Reducing polio incidence will benefit families of potential sufferers that do not become ill by allowing them to contribute to the economy and not require ongoing medical assistance.

→ Reducing polio incidence will also benefit the government through reduced health costs.

Show Worked Solution

→ Educational programs can take the form of school lessons, television advertisements or posters like the one above. They aim to reduce incidence of a disease by targeting and promoting the uptake of polio vaccines.

→ The poster highlights vulnerable babies, encouraging their parents to vaccinate them against the disease. It emphasises the zero cost involved to remove hurdles for positive action.

→ The benefit of the poster is that it is cheap to produce and easy to target a large group of people if placed in high foot-traffic areas.

→ Reducing polio incidence will benefit families of potential sufferers that do not become ill by allowing them to contribute to the economy and not require ongoing medical assistance.

→ Reducing polio incidence will also benefit the government through reduced health costs.

BIOLOGY, M8 EQ-Bank 5 MC

Which of the following is an example of an educational program to reduce the incidence of skin cancer?

  1. An advertising campaign on TV to promote sun safety
  2. Making sunscreen freely available at pools and beaches
  3. Increasing the availability of free skin checks
  4. Providing free training to doctors to help them diagnose skin cancers
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`A`

Show Worked Solution

By Elimination

→ Options C and D primarily increase the chances of diagnosing skin cancer rather than constituting an educational program.

→ Making sunscreen freely available will reduce the risk of skin cancer but is not an educational campaign.

→ The advertising campaign promotes safe lifestyle decisions surrounding sun safety (e.g. the benefits of using sunscreen, wearing a hat) that will reduce the likelihood of individuals getting skin cancer when following the advice.

`=>A`

BIOLOGY, M8 2019 HSC 23

Explain how educational programs can be effective in reducing the incidence of non-infectious diseases. Support your answer with examples.   (5 marks)

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→ Educational programs show individuals the risks of exposure to certain factors, encouraging them to change their behaviour to prevent their effects.

→ The Grim Reaper campaign shows a series of ‘scare’ advertisements, which encourage check ups and safe sex to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

→ Slip Slop Slap is an advertisement campaign, run by the Cancer Council to help reduce the incidence of melanoma by encouraging sun safe behaviours such as applying sunscreen and wearing a hat and shirt outdoors.

Show Worked Solution

→ Educational programs show individuals the risks of exposure to certain factors, encouraging them to change their behaviour to prevent their effects.

→ The Grim Reaper campaign shows a series of ‘scare’ advertisements, which encourage check ups and safe sex to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

→ Slip Slop Slap is an advertisement campaign, run by the Cancer Council to help reduce the incidence of melanoma by encouraging sun safe behaviours such as applying sunscreen and wearing a hat and shirt outdoors.

BIOLOGY, M8 2022 HSC 27

The incidence of cervical cancer in the Australian population is shown in the graph from 1985-2015. Public health campaigns commenced during this period to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. This included a national screening program to detect pre-cancerous cells and a vaccination program against human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes most cervical cancers.

Evaluate the success of these campaigns in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in Australian women. Include reference to the data in your answer.  (6 marks)

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In 1991, a national screening program for women aged 20-69 years was introduced to try and lower the incidence of cervical cancer.

→ Screening programs work by detecting pre-cancerous cells so they can be treated before they spread.

→ The graph above shows that the incidence of cervical cancer almost halved from 1990 to 2002, showing that the screening program was most likely successful in reducing incidence.
 

In 2007 and 2013, HPV vaccine programs for girls and boys respectively were introduced.

→ HPV is a virus that is responsible for most cervical cancers. A national vaccine rollout may help to reduce the incidence of HPV, thus reducing cervical cancers.

→ The graph only shows the incidence of cervical cancer per 100 000 women, so based on this graph alone, it is impossible to determine if the boys program was successful.

→ After the girls rollout in 2007, the incidence of cervical cancer has not shown noticeable fluctuations.

→ Extending the data up until the present day should be undertaken for a more accurate analysis of the programs’ effectiveness.

Show Worked Solution

In 1991, a national screening program for women aged 20-69 years was introduced to try and lower the incidence of cervical cancer.

→ Screening programs work by detecting pre-cancerous cells so they can be treated before they spread.

→ The graph above shows that the incidence of cervical cancer almost halved from 1990 to 2002, showing that the screening program was most likely successful in reducing incidence.
 

In 2007 and 2013, HPV vaccine programs for girls and boys respectively were introduced.

→ HPV is a virus that is responsible for most cervical cancers. A national vaccine rollout may help to reduce the incidence of HPV, thus reducing cervical cancers.

→ The graph only shows the incidence of cervical cancer per 100 000 women, so based on this graph alone, it is impossible to determine if the boys program was successful.

→ After the girls rollout in 2007, the incidence of cervical cancer has not shown noticeable fluctuations.

→ Extending the data up until the present day should be undertaken for a more accurate analysis of the programs’ effectiveness.


Mean mark 61%.