SmarterEd

Aussie Maths & Science Teachers: Save your time with SmarterEd

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 032

Discuss the benefits and challenges of using health apps to improve the health status of young Australians.   (6 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • [P] A key advantage is the accessibility of mental health support for young Australians.
  • [E] Health apps provide 24/7 assistance that aligns with young people’s digital preferences and removes traditional healthcare barriers.
  • [Ev] For example, Beyond Now offers immediate crisis planning for suicidal thoughts, while FoodSwitch enables healthier eating through barcode scanning.
  • [L] This accessibility directly improves health outcomes by meeting young people where they are most comfortable – on their devices.
     
  • [P] However, this must be weighed against the credibility crisis in health apps.
  • [E] The overwhelming number of apps (estimated at 200k+ globally) makes it difficult for young users to distinguish quality health tools from harmful ones.
  • [Ev] Social media influencers promote unverified apps similar to how e-cigarette marketing targets youth, often normalising risky behaviours.
  • [L] These issues undermine the potential health benefits.
     
  • [P] Despite these challenges, properly vetted apps offer significant potential for youth health improvement.
  • [E] When young people do access quality-assured apps, these tools effectively complement traditional healthcare services, particularly for prevention and early intervention.
  • [Ev] Mental health apps provide crucial early support for conditions like anxiety and depression, which affect almost half of females aged 16-24.
  • [L] This demonstrates that health apps can meaningfully improve young Australians’ health status when quality and access barriers are overcome.
Show Worked Solution
  • [P] A key advantage is the accessibility of mental health support for young Australians.
  • [E] Health apps provide 24/7 assistance that aligns with young people’s digital preferences and removes traditional healthcare barriers.
  • [Ev] For example, Beyond Now offers immediate crisis planning for suicidal thoughts, while FoodSwitch enables healthier eating through barcode scanning.
  • [L] This accessibility directly improves health outcomes by meeting young people where they are most comfortable – on their devices.
     
  • [P] However, this must be weighed against the credibility crisis in health apps.
  • [E] The overwhelming number of apps (estimated at 200k+ globally) makes it difficult for young users to distinguish quality health tools from harmful ones.
  • [Ev] Social media influencers promote unverified apps similar to how e-cigarette marketing targets youth, often normalising risky behaviours.
  • [L] These issues undermine the potential health benefits.
     
  • [P] Despite these challenges, properly vetted apps offer significant potential for youth health improvement.
  • [E] When young people do access quality-assured apps, these tools effectively complement traditional healthcare services, particularly for prevention and early intervention.
  • [Ev] Mental health apps provide crucial early support for conditions like anxiety and depression, which affect almost half of females aged 16-24.
  • [L] This demonstrates that health apps can meaningfully improve young Australians’ health status when quality and access barriers are overcome.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 015

Explain the challenges for both patients and medical professionals of online medical consultations.   (4 marks)

Show Answers Only

Challenges for patients:

  • Technology barriers create difficulties accessing online consultations. This occurs because patients may lack reliable internet or struggle with digital platforms. Consequently, older patients or those in low-income areas face exclusion from telehealth services.
  • Privacy concerns lead to reluctance in sharing sensitive health information. The reason for this is uncertainty about data security and who might access medical records. Therefore, patients may withhold important symptoms.

Challenges for medical professionals:

  • Limited physical examination capabilities result in diagnostic challenges. This happens when doctors cannot palpate, listen to chest sounds, or observe subtle physical signs. As a result, conditions requiring hands-on assessment may be missed.
  • Communication barriers generate misdiagnosis risks. This is due to poor video quality or patients struggling to describe symptoms accurately. Hence, doctors must rely on incomplete information, potentially compromising care quality.
Show Worked Solution

Challenges for patients:

  • Technology barriers create difficulties accessing online consultations. This occurs because patients may lack reliable internet or struggle with digital platforms. Consequently, older patients or those in low-income areas face exclusion from telehealth services.
  • Privacy concerns lead to reluctance in sharing sensitive health information. The reason for this is uncertainty about data security and who might access medical records. Therefore, patients may withhold important symptoms.

Challenges for medical professionals:

  • Limited physical examination capabilities result in diagnostic challenges. This happens when doctors cannot palpate, listen to chest sounds, or observe subtle physical signs. As a result, conditions requiring hands-on assessment may be missed.
  • Communication barriers generate misdiagnosis risks. This is due to poor video quality or patients struggling to describe symptoms accurately. Hence, doctors must rely on incomplete information, potentially compromising care quality.

HMS, HAG 2018 HSC 23

Discuss the impact of emerging new treatments and technologies in relation to health care in Australia. Use examples to support your answer.   (5 marks)

Show Answers Only

  • [P] Positive Impact: Emerging technologies improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
  • [E] New treatments provide better therapeutic options and reduce recovery times.
  • [Ev] For example, keyhole surgery allows minimally invasive procedures with shorter hospital stays and faster healing. Telemedicine enables rural patients to access specialist consultations without travelling long distances. Artificial intelligence assists doctors in diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.
  • [L] These advances enhance healthcare quality and accessibility across Australia.
      
  • [P] Negative Impact: However, new technologies create challenges for healthcare equity and sustainability.
  • [E] High costs and limited availability can worsen health disparities between different population groups.
  • [Ev] For example, expensive robotic surgery equipment is typically only available in major metropolitan hospitals, disadvantaging rural patients. Training healthcare professionals to use new technologies requires significant time and financial investment, straining healthcare budgets.
  • [L] These factors can create unequal access to advanced treatments and increase overall healthcare costs.

Show Worked Solution

  • [P] Positive Impact: Emerging technologies improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
  • [E] New treatments provide better therapeutic options and reduce recovery times.
  • [Ev] For example, keyhole surgery allows minimally invasive procedures with shorter hospital stays and faster healing. Telemedicine enables rural patients to access specialist consultations without travelling long distances. Artificial intelligence assists doctors in diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.
  • [L] These advances enhance healthcare quality and accessibility across Australia.
      
  • [P] Negative Impact: However, new technologies create challenges for healthcare equity and sustainability.
  • [E] High costs and limited availability can worsen health disparities between different population groups.
  • [Ev] For example, expensive robotic surgery equipment is typically only available in major metropolitan hospitals, disadvantaging rural patients. Training healthcare professionals to use new technologies requires significant time and financial investment, straining healthcare budgets.
  • [L] These factors can create unequal access to advanced treatments and increase overall healthcare costs.