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Introduction to Public Health eBook

Introduction to Public Health eBook

Mary Louise Fleming | Elizabeth Parker

(2015)

Additional Information

Book Details

Abstract

This third edition of Introduction to Public Health by Fleming and Parker continues to cement itself as a highly-respected resource for public health students. This title provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the key concepts and principles of public health from a multidisciplinary perspective. This highly anticipated new edition of Introduction to Public Health addresses topical issues, including epidemiology, ethics and evidence-based practice. Parker and Fleming also includes a new focus on infectious diseases and disease presence. The inclusion of the new chapter 'Public health and social policy' will help broaden the readers’ understanding of the influence policy has on public health.

Evolve resources for students and instructors:

  • Student Quiz

Evolve resources for instructors only:

  • PowerPoint slides
  • Lesson and tutorial plans
  • Image bank (tables and figures from book)
  • New chapter: 'Public health and social policy'
  • Focus on infectious diseases and disease prevention

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Front cover cover
Evolve page IFC2
Introduction to Public Health i
Copyright page iv
Table of Contents v
Introduction vii
Why is public health important? vii
Defining and understanding ‘public health’ viii
How this book is organised ix
References xi
About the authors xii
Acknowledgements xiv
Reviewers xv
1 1
1 Defining health and public health 3
Learning objectives 3
Introduction 3
Defining health and ill health 4
Health and illness 4
General public definitions of ‘health’ 5
A critical perspective 5
Defining ‘public health’: an art and a science? 6
Public health vision and values 9
Core functions of public health 10
What do public health practitioners do? 12
The World Health Organization agenda for public health 13
Public health in the Australian context 16
Australian Government Department of Health 16
State and territory governments 18
Local government 19
Non-government organisations, community organisations, professional associations, and public health advocacy groups 19
The future for public health? 20
A final word 20
Review Questions 20
Useful websites 21
References 21
2 History and development of public health 24
Learning objectives 24
Introduction 24
The importance of the past in public health 25
Advancing population health—individual intervention or collective action? 26
For the sake of the public’s health? The ancient history of public health 27
Changing definitions of ‘disease’ 29
The colonial era: colonisation and health 30
Colonisation and health, and a maturing Australia 30
A general history of public health: evolution and influences 31
Environment protection 36
Individualism and State involvement 36
Therapeutic era 37
Contemporary notions: ecological public health 38
Applying the models 40
A final word 41
Review Questions 42
References 42
3 Contemporary public health policy 44
Learning objectives 44
Introduction 44
What is ‘policy’? 45
Stages of the policy process 45
Types of public policy 47
Distributive policies 47
Regulatory policies 48
Self-regulatory policies 48
Redistributive policies 48
What is policy for? 48
Politics and policy 49
Health economics 50
International developments and their impact on contemporary health policies 50
Health policy and the Australian healthcare system 52
Management and reform of healthcare 54
National public health priorities—an evolving agenda 56
The National HIV/AIDS Strategy 57
The National Chronic Disease Strategy 58
The role of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 60
A final word 60
Review Questions 61
Endnotes 61
Useful websites 62
References 62
4 Public health and social policy 66
Learning objectives 66
Introduction 66
Health policy: a key foundation of the welfare state 68
Health policy, social justice and risk 69
History of Australian health policy—policy design and funding arrangements 75
Disability, Indigenous health and equity considerations 77
Social determinants of health and environmental health discourses 78
A final word 80
Review Questions 81
Useful websites 81
References 81
2 85
Introduction 85
References 87
5 Epidemiology 89
Learning objectives 89
Introduction 89
Defining epidemiology 90
Objectives of epidemiological studies 91
Measuring the occurrence of exposures of interest and of health outcomes 91
Epidemiological study design 96
Observational epidemiology 96
Ecological studies 103
Cross-sectional studies 103
Case-control studies 104
Cohort studies 105
Experimental epidemiology 106
Randomised controlled trials 106
Community trials 107
Measures of association 107
Relative risk 108
Odds ratios 110
Sources of error in epidemiological studies 110
Random error 110
Systematic error 112
Selection bias 112
Information bias 112
Confounding 113
Why are confounding and error important to an epidemiologist? 114
Summing it up 114
A final word 115
Review Questions 115
Acknowledgements 115
Useful websites 115
References 116
6 Biological and environmental determinants 117
Learning objectives 117
Introduction 117
A complex web of determinants 118
Genetics and screening 121
Biological and behavioural determinants 123
Biological determinants 123
Behavioural determinants 123
Tobacco 123
Alcohol 124
Injuries 124
Mental health 125
Diet and physical activity 125
Environmental determinants 126
Human interaction with the environment 128
Ecosystem services 128
Ecosystem services and human wellbeing 129
Environmental burden of disease 130
Food quality and safety 132
Water quality 132
Air pollution 133
Built environment 134
Global climate change 134
A final word 134
Review Questions 135
Useful websites 135
References 136
7 Social and emotional determinants of health 140
Learning objectives 140
Introduction 140
Socioeconomic determinants and the health inequalities jigsaw 141
Socioeconomic characteristics that influence health 143
Education 143
Income 144
Work and employment status 144
Place or geographical location 145
Gender 146
A public health framework to address the social determinants of health 147
Reducing health inequalities 147
Upstream factors 149
Midstream factors 149
Downstream factors 149
Social and economic disadvantage and emotional health 150
The lifecourse approach 151
Role of social cohesion and social capital 153
Social cohesion 153
Social capital 154
A final word 155
Review Questions 155
Endnotes 156
Useful websites 156
References 156
3 161
Introduction 161
Reference 162
8 Ethics and public health 163
Learning objectives 164
Introduction 164
Ethical frameworks, theories and concepts 166
Normative ethics in public health 166
Themes and debates in the development of ethics in public health 167
Public health law and human rights 168
Applied ethics 169
Codes of ethics 169
The application of ethics in public health practice 171
Public health research 171
Anthropological research 172
Screening 173
Disease control 173
Social networking for public health 174
Health promotion 175
Advocacy 175
Ethical relativism 175
Contemporary and future public health ethics 176
A final word 177
Review Questions 178
Acknowledgement 179
Endnote 179
References 179
9 Evidence-based practice 183
Learning objectives 183
Introduction 183
The evolution: evidence-based medicine 184
The nature of evidence, and key concepts of evidence-based practice 185
The nature and scope of knowledge 185
Key concepts of evidence-based practice 187
What is ‘evidence-based practice’? 188
Putting evidence into practice 191
Why is there a gap between research and practice? 191
Organisational structures 194
Finding the evidence 195
Evidence and policy development 205
A final word 207
Review Questions 207
Useful websites 207
References 207
10 Planning and evaluation 210
Learning objectives 210
Introduction 210
Planning and evaluation in public health 211
Models of planning 212
Identifying needs and priorities 213
Beginning your program plan 215
Writing goals and objectives 215
Writing strategies 217
Identifying a target group 217
Identifying resources—or program ‘inputs’ 217
Planning the evaluation methods 217
Purposes of evaluation 218
Methods 220
Evaluation designs in practice 223
Process evaluation to measure program strategies and activities 223
Evaluability assessment 223
Impact evaluation to measure program objectives 224
Outcome evaluation to measure program goals 225
Evaluation designs for impact and outcome evaluation 225
A final word 226
Review Questions 228
Useful websites 229
References 229
4 231
Introduction 231
Reference 233
11 Disease control and management 234
Learning objectives 234
Introduction 234
Defining chronic condition and chronic disease 235
Continuum of care/integrated approach to chronic disease 237
Chronic disease management programs 239
Early detection and early treatment 239
Integration and continuity of prevention and care 240
Self-management 240
Chronic disease prevention and management—some issues 241
Defining infectious disease 241
Models of infectious disease 242
Mechanism of infectious disease 244
Infectious disease management 246
Disease prevention 246
Societal and environmental structures 246
Immunisation 246
Vector control 248
Personal Protection 250
Surveillance, early recognition and early intervention 250
Infection control 251
Outbreak investigation and contact tracing 252
Barriers to effectively managing infectious diseases 253
A final word 255
Review Questions 255
Useful websites 256
References 256
12 Environmental health 260
Learning objectives 260
Introduction 260
What is ‘environmental health’? 261
Environmental health hazards 261
Air pollution 262
Safe water 264
Safe food 266
The built environment 268
The occupational environment 269
The global environment 271
Global climate change 272
Health and social impacts of climate change 274
Sustainable environmental health 275
Risk assessment and risk perception 276
A final word 278
Review Questions 278
Useful websites 278
References 279
13 Disaster preparedness and public health 283
Learning objectives 283
Introduction 283
Defining ‘disasters’ 283
Context 285
Epidemiology 285
Health impacts 287
Principles of disaster management 287
An engaged and prepared community 288
Risk-based approach 289
All-hazards approach 289
All-agencies approach 290
Familiarity 290
Comprehensive approach 290
Prevention and mitigation 290
Preparedness and planning 291
Response and relief 292
Recovery, rehabilitation and redevelopment 295
Systems and structures 298
Special considerations 299
Floods 299
Pandemics 300
Mass gatherings 300
Mental health 300
Public health considerations 300
Displaced persons 301
International aid 301
Volunteers and donations 301
Vulnerable populations 301
Management of exercises 302
The role of the public health practitioner 302
A final word 302
Review Questions 303
References 303
14 Health promotion 304
Learning objectives 304
Introduction 304
History of health education 304
The concept of wellness 305
Evolution and evidence for health promotion 306
Principles of health promotion 307
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ concepts of health promotion 309
Strategies for health promotion 312
Levels of prevention in public health and health promotion 315
Health promotion in practice 316
Settings for health promotion 316
Why a settings approach? 316
Schools 317
Communities 317
Workplaces 319
The internet and interactive technologies 319
Emerging challenges for health promotion 321
Self-management 322
A final word 323
Review Questions 323
Useful websites 324
References 324
5 329
Introduction 329
References 330
15 The impact of globalisation on health 332
Learning objectives 332
Introduction 332
Global communication 333
National and international air travel 334
Globalisation in population health 335
Globalisation of infectious diseases 336
Globalisation and chronic diseases 337
Tobacco use 338
Overweight and obesity 339
Refugee health 342
The global public health community 344
A final word 349
Review Questions 350
Acknowledgement 350
References 350
16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health 355
Learning objectives 355
Introduction 355
Who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? 356
Government policy 357
The National Aboriginal Health Strategy 358
Close the Gap 358
The Northern Territory Intervention 360
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today 361
Community and gendered health 363
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s health 363
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men’s health 365
Community-controlled health service sector 366
Research 368
Indigenous people in other parts of the world 370
A final word 371
Review Questions 371
References 372
17 Grand challenges for public health 377
Learning objectives 377
Introduction 377
Grand challenges in the twenty-first century 380
Twenty-first-century solutions 381
Globalisation and health 384
Dietary imbalance, physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour 384
Population ageing 385
Sustainable ecological public health 386
Emerging and re-emerging infections 386
Genetics, biotechnology and information technology 387
The public health workforce: skills for a complex future 387
Strategic planning for public health: political will and action 388
Leadership and public health: establishing a research agenda 388
Grand challenges for public health: what is the future? 389
A final word 390
Review Questions 391
References 391
Glossary 394
References 401
Index 403
A 403
B 404
C 404
D 407
E 408
F 410
G 410
H 411
I 412
J 413
K 413
L 413
M 414
N 414
O 415
P 416
Q 417
R 417
S 418
T 419
U 420
V 420
W 420
Y 421
Z 421