HKDSE HMSC key terms

A state of physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease, shaped by biological, psychological, social, economic and environmental factors acting together over the life course.

An approach treating body, mind and social circumstances as one interacting system, so that care addresses the whole person rather than isolated symptoms or organs.

The extent to which a person feels satisfied with life and functions well emotionally, socially and physically; used to judge outcomes beyond illness and survival statistics.

The conditions and forces that influence health status, including income, education, housing, employment, physical environment, lifestyle, genetics and access to services.

Social and economic circumstances such as poverty, schooling, job security and neighbourhood conditions that shape health chances and explain differences between population groups.

The stepwise pattern in which health improves as socioeconomic position rises, so that even middle groups fare better than those below them, not only the poorest.

Avoidable, unfair differences in health status or access to care between groups defined by income, gender, ethnicity, disability or geography, judged against standards of equity.

A difference in health that is unjust and avoidable, arising from structural arrangements rather than biology, and therefore a legitimate target for policy and advocacy.

Fairness in distributing resources and opportunities, so that people with greater need receive proportionately more support rather than identical treatment for everyone.

Treating everyone the same and giving identical shares, which can preserve existing disadvantage when starting points differ; contrasted with equity in resource allocation debates.

A framework explaining health and illness through the interaction of biological factors, psychological states and social context, commonly used in mental health and rehabilitation planning.

The degree to which people can obtain needed services, determined by availability, affordability, distance, waiting time, cultural appropriateness and information about entitlements.

First-contact, continuous, community-based services covering prevention, treatment and referral, intended to be affordable and close to where people live.

Planned action enabling people to increase control over and improve their health, using education, policy, environments and community participation rather than clinical treatment alone.

A 1986 international statement naming five health promotion strategies: healthy public policy, supportive environments, community action, personal skills and reorientation of health services.

Policy across sectors such as housing, transport and taxation that explicitly considers health consequences, recognising that ministries outside health shape population health outcomes.

Planned communication that builds knowledge, attitudes and skills so people can make informed choices about their health and act on them.

The ability to find, understand, judge and use health information to make decisions and navigate services, including reading labels, instructions and risk messages.

Measures taken to stop illness before it occurs, detect it early, or limit disability and relapse; usually divided into primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

Action taken before disease develops, such as immunisation, safe water, tobacco control and exercise promotion, aimed at reducing incidence in the whole population.

Testing apparently healthy people to identify those at higher risk of a condition so that early intervention can follow; requires evidence that benefit outweighs harm and cost.

The study of how often diseases occur in populations and what factors influence their distribution, providing the evidence base for prevention and service planning.

The number of new cases of a condition arising in a defined population over a stated period, useful for judging whether prevention is reducing the flow of new illness.

The total number of existing cases in a population at a point or period, reflecting both new cases and how long people live with the condition.

Continuous systematic collection and analysis of health data so that outbreaks, trends and service gaps are detected early and responded to promptly.

A physical and psychological response to demands perceived as exceeding one's resources, which can protect in the short term but damage health when prolonged.

The thoughts and behaviours a person uses to manage a stressful situation, ranging from problem-solving and seeking support to avoidance or reappraisal.

The capacity to adapt and recover when facing adversity, sustained by personal skills, supportive relationships, meaning and access to resources.

Practical help, information and emotional reassurance available through family, friends, peers and organisations, buffering stress and improving adherence to treatment.

The web of relationships linking a person to relatives, friends, colleagues and groups, whose size, closeness and diversity affect the support available.

Resources embedded in relationships and group membership, such as trust, shared norms and mutual obligation, which can be drawn on to solve collective problems.

The process by which individuals or groups gain confidence, skills and power to influence decisions affecting their lives, moving from dependency toward self-determination.

Involvement of residents in identifying needs, planning and delivering services, which improves relevance and ownership and builds local capacity.

A systematic process of gathering data on a population's health problems, existing services and gaps, to set priorities and allocate resources defensibly.

Speaking or acting on behalf of people who lack power or voice, or supporting them to speak for themselves, to secure rights and needed services.

A mark of social disapproval that discredits a person or group, leading to avoidance, discrimination and reluctance to seek help for conditions such as mental illness.

Unequal treatment of people based on characteristics such as disability, ethnicity, gender or age, which restricts opportunities and damages health.

Arrangements ensuring that people at risk of exclusion can take part in work, education, social life and decision-making, and can use mainstream services.

A state of well-being in which a person can cope with normal stresses, work productively and contribute to the community, not simply the absence of disorder.

A person's own evaluation of physical, psychological, social and environmental aspects of living, increasingly used alongside clinical measures to judge care outcomes.

A coordinated approach in which one worker assesses needs, plans services, links the person to providers and reviews progress, especially for complex or long-term conditions.

Deciding what services are required, in what quantity and location, on the basis of population needs, existing provision, workforce capacity and available funding.

Holistic care for people with life-limiting illness that relieves pain and other symptoms and addresses emotional, social and spiritual needs, including bereavement support for families.