Year 9 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 13
Apply Worksheet
Learning Goals
Compare two
Complete the table to compare infectious and non-infectious diseases. Fill in both columns for each feature.
| Feature | Infectious Disease | Non-Infectious Disease |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | ||
| Can it spread between people? | ||
| Main prevention strategies | ||
| Role of lifestyle choices | ||
| Australian example |
Real-world context
Two Australian cities are compared for disease burden. City A (population 1,000,000) reported 500 new bowel cancer diagnoses in one year. City B (population 200,000) reported 120 new diagnoses in the same year. A national newspaper headline reads: "City A's bowel cancer crisis, five times more cases than City B." A public health expert says this headline is misleading. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) sends free faecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits to Australians aged 50–74 every two years. If detected at Stage I, bowel cancer has a 99% five-year survival rate; at Stage IV, survival drops to 13%.
(a) Calculate the incidence rate per 100,000 for each city. Show your working, then explain why the newspaper headline is misleading.
(b) Explain why the NBCSP screening program is an effective non-infectious disease prevention strategy. Use the survival rate data in your answer.
(c) Write a scientific hypothesis in if–then–because format for the question: "Does participation in the NBCSP screening program reduce bowel cancer mortality in Australians aged 50–74?"
1. Explain why lifestyle modification is considered one of the most powerful prevention tools for many non-infectious diseases. Give two specific examples of lifestyle changes and the diseases they help prevent.
2. Australia has among the world's highest rates of skin cancer. Identify ONE modifiable and ONE non-modifiable risk factor for skin cancer in Australia, and explain the difference between these two types of risk factor.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?