Online Program

Oral

This session will look at the concept of place as a determinate of health from the viewpoint of two nations: the United Kingdom and the United States. It will explore some initiatives in each nation to tackle geographical differences in health and wellbeing. The United Kingdom has some astounding geographical differences in health, in large part explained by variations in the social determinants of health, but not wholly so explained. These differences are also not explained simply by issues of access to universal health care, which has been a right of all UK citizens since 1948. One example of these differences is the infamous ‘Glasgow effect’ whereby some parts of Glasgow have life expectancy up to a century behind much of the rest of the UK. The causes seem to go beyond the well-known determinants into reasons that are not yet fully understood. Just identifying geographical differences is of little use unless one can address them, bringing the experience of the worse areas up towards the experience of the best. In the United States, a person’s zip code can also be more indicative of life expectancy than his or her genetic code. The US component of this session will explore the role prevention plays in improving the health of individuals and address the importance of prevention as a tool to improve health.

Session Objectives: Describe and explore the geographical differences in health and well-being in the UK and the US.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)