Epidemiology: Overview of Public Health

Question 1

Public Health

Answer 1

science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts

deals with preventing disease and prolonging life

Question 2

Population Health

Answer 2

The health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group

Includes health outcomes, patterns of health determinants, and policies and interventions that link these

Question 3

How is Public Health obtained

Answer 3

Sanitation 
Nutrition 
Infection Control 
Personal Hygiene
Prevention 
Early Diagnosis 
Healthy Standard of Living

Question 4

IOM definition of Public Health

Answer 4

An organized community effort to address public health by applying scientific and technical Knowledge to promote health

Question 5

WHO definition of Health

Answer 5

The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Question 6

Origin of Public Health

Answer 6

John Snow - Major Cholera outbreak in Soho neighborhood of london

Question 7

Ten Greatest Achievements in Public Health of 20th Century

Answer 7

• Immunizations
• Motor Vehicle Safety (and Pedestrian Safety
• Workplace Safety
• Control of infectious disease
• Declines in death from heart disease and stroke
• Safer and healthier foods
• Healthier mothers and babies ( we still have highest infant mortality rate of developed countries)
• Family planning
• Fluoridation of drinking water
• Tobacco as a health hazard

Question 8

Assessment

Answer 8

• Monitor environmental and health status to identify and solve community health problems
• Diagnose and investigate environmental health problems and health hazards in the community

Question 9

Policy Development

Answer 9

• inform, educate, and empower people about health issues
• Mobilize community partnerships and actions to identify and solve health problems
• Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts

(usually more at federal/State level)

Question 10

Assurance

Answer 10

• Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
• Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health services when otherwise unavailable
• Assure a competent personal and public healthcare workforce
• Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility , and quality of personal and population-based health services
• Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

Question 11

State Roles

Answer 11

“Boots on the ground type screening”

• Screen for diseases and conditions
• Treatment of diseases
• Technical assistance and training
• State lab services (infectious disease tests)
• Epidemiology and surveillance