HSCBiology

Inquiry Question 4: How can non-infectious disease be prevented?

Content Descriptor: Use secondary sources to evaluate the effectiveness of current disease-prevention methods and develop strategies for the prevention of a non- infectious disease, including but not limited to:

Educational programs and campaigns: (8.4.1)

Slip! Slop! Slap!:

Key findings:

• Melanomacases among young people has fallen 5% a year since the 
• Therehas also been a drop in some skin cancers in those aged up to 45.

Slip-slop-slap is an education campaign targeted at reducing cases of melanoma amongst Australians. Since the beginning of the education campaign in 1981, the campaign has seen significant success with melanoma cases has falling from 25 per 100,000 in 1996 to 14 per 100,000 in 2010 among people aged 20 to 24. This decrease can most likely be attributed to the increased awareness as a result of the campaign, allowing for the simple steps to mitigate the risk of UV exposure.

It is further estimated that the campaign will have prevented more than 43,000 skin cancers and 1,400 skin cancer deaths in Victoria between 1988 and 2011. Studies also showed SunSmart has saved money as well as lives, returning $2.20 to the public for every dollar invested in the program, in terms of reduction of treatment cost.

Genetic engineering: (8.4.2)

Treatment of diabetes using genetic engineering:

Through recombinant DNA methods, humans have been able to artificially produce insulin using bacteria. This synthetic insulin, known as Humulin has been licensed for human use since 1982. This Humulin is identical to the insulin produced in the pancreas of humans, and thus has been effective in treating diabetes patients.

Inquiry Question Review: How can non-infectious disease be prevented? (8.4.3)

You should be able to:

• Describedifferent ways to treat non infectious diseases