Determinants of Health and Inequalities
Recognise how social, environmental, behavioural and biological factors shape adult health and access to care.
How to prepare for the NMC Adult Nursing CBT
Combine reliable unit-aware calculation with newly qualified adult-nurse judgement grounded in the Code, current UK practice and the person in front of you.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Health outcomes arise from interacting determinants, not solely individual choices.
Exam cue: Connect the determinant to a specific health risk or access barrier.
Concept 2
Assessment should identify structural and personal barriers that change risk, access, adherence and prevention.
Exam cue: Choose a realistic support or referral rather than blame.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Framing poverty, culture or health literacy as patient non-compliance.
Guardrail: Do not select a familiar task if it ignores deterioration, consent, medicines risk, scope, communication or follow-up.
Offering advice that is impossible within the person's resources.
Guardrail: Do not select a familiar task if it ignores deterioration, consent, medicines risk, scope, communication or follow-up.
Memory anchors
What are determinants of health?
Social, economic, environmental, behavioural and biological influences on health.
What is a health inequality?
A systematic difference in health status or access between groups.
How should low health literacy change care?
Use plain language, accessible formats, teach-back and practical support.
What makes prevention equitable?
Interventions are adapted to barriers, risk and available resources.
What is the nurse's role?
Assess need, provide support, advocate, signpost and coordinate appropriate services.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
A patient with poorly controlled asthma lives in damp housing. What should the nurse include in assessment?
A patient repeatedly misses appointments because bus fares are unaffordable. What is the best response?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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