Community Health Nursing Flashcards

What is the DOTS strategy for tuberculosis control?

Answer: Directly Observed Therapy Short-course: supervised medication-taking to ensure adherence

DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy Short-course) is the WHO-recommended TB control strategy. A healthcare worker or trained observer watches the patient swallow each dose, ensuring adherence and preventing drug resistance. Treatment is 6 months minimum.

What is the most important risk factor for non-communicable disease prevention that community nurses should address?

Answer: Tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and harmful alcohol use

WHO identifies four shared modifiable risk factors responsible for 80% of premature NCD deaths: tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet (high salt, saturated fat, sugar), and harmful alcohol use. Community nurses can address all four through education and behavioral change support.

A community health nurse is conducting a needs assessment. Which data source provides the most comprehensive population health information?

Answer: National health surveys, vital statistics, and census data combined

Comprehensive needs assessments combine multiple data sources: national health surveys (burden of disease, risk factors), vital statistics (birth/death rates, mortality causes), census data (demographics, socioeconomic factors), and community input for a complete picture.

Which infectious disease is required to be reported to Saudi public health authorities?

Answer: All notifiable diseases including tuberculosis, hepatitis, meningitis, and foodborne outbreaks

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health maintains a list of notifiable diseases including TB, hepatitis A/B/C, meningococcal disease, typhoid, foodborne outbreaks, sexually transmitted infections, and others. Mandatory reporting enables outbreak detection, contact tracing, and public health response.

What does 'primary healthcare' mean according to the Alma-Ata Declaration?

Answer: Essential, accessible, community-based care that is the first point of contact with the health system

The Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) defined primary healthcare as essential, evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and community-participatory health services serving as the first contact with the health system. It emphasized equity, community participation, intersectoral action, and appropriate technology.

What is the nursing role in disaster preparedness?

Answer: Participate in planning, train in triage and emergency response, and educate communities

Nurses play critical roles before (planning, training, community education), during (triage, emergency care, mass casualty management), and after (continuity of care, mental health support, rehabilitation) disasters. Preparedness requires advance training and planning.