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Introduction to Public Health - E-Book

Introduction to Public Health - E-Book

Mary Louise Fleming | Elizabeth Parker

(2012)

Additional Information

Abstract

This text introduces students to the core concepts and principles of public health: the nature and scope of public health; its history; an introduction to health determinants and epidemiology; evidence-based practice in public health and understanding public health data plus more.

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Front cover cover
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 x
References xi
About the authors xiii
Acknowledgements xvi
Reviewers xvii
Section 1: History and History and Definitions of Public Health 1
Chapter 1: Defining health and public health 3
Learning objectives 3
Introduction 3
Defining health and ill-health 4
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
The future for public health? 20
A final word 20
References 21
Chapter 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 – medical intervention or collective action? 27
For the sake of the public’s health? The ancient history of public health 28
The changing history of definitions of disease 29
The colonial era: colonisation and health 30
The Australian experience: colonisation and health 31
How Australia matured: influences on public health development 32
A general history of public health: evolution and influences 32
Applying the models 42
A final word 42
References 44
Chapter 3: Contemporary public health policy 46
Learning objectives 46
Introduction 46
What is policy? 47
Stages of the policy process 47
Types of public policies 50
What is policy for? 51
Politics and policy 52
Health economics 53
International developments and their impact on contemporary health policies 54
Health policy and the Australian health care system 56
Management and reform of health care 58
National public health priorities – an evolving agenda 60
The National HIV/AIDS strategy 62
The National Chronic Disease Strategy 63
The role of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 64
A final word 65
Acknowledgement 66
Endnotes 66
Useful websites 66
References 67
Section 2: Determinants of Health 71
Chapter 4: Epidemiology 75
Learning objectives 75
Introduction 75
Defining epidemiology 76
Objectives of epidemiological studies 77
A brief history of epidemiology (1700s onwards) 78
Measuring the occurrence of exposures of interest and of health outcomes 78
Epidemiological study design 83
Observational epidemiology 84
Experimental epidemiology 88
Measures of association 90
Relative risk 91
Odds ratios 93
Sources of error in epidemiological studies 93
Summing it up 99
A final word 101
Acknowledgements 101
Useful websites 101
References 101
Chapter 5: Biological and environmental determinants 103
Learning objectives 103
Introduction 103
A complex web of determinants 104
Genetics and screening 106
Biological and behavioural determinants 108
Human interaction with the environment 113
Ecosystem services 114
Ecosystem services and human wellbeing 115
Ecosystem assessment 116
Environmental burden of disease 117
Environmental determinants in Australia 119
A final word 123
Useful websites 125
References 125
Chapter 6: Social and emotional determinants of health 128
Learning objectives 128
Introduction 128
Socioeconomic determinants and the health inequalities jigsaw 129
Socioeconomic characteristics that influence health 131
A public health framework to address the social determinants of health 135
Social and economic disadvantage and emotional health 138
The lifecourse approach 140
Role of social cohesion and social capital 142
A final word 144
Endnotes 144
Useful websites 144
References 145
Section 3: Ethics, Evidence and Practice 149
Chapter 7: Ethics and public health 151
Learning objectives 151
Introduction 151
Ethical frameworks, theories and concepts 154
Themes and debates in the development of ethics in public health 156
Related law and human rights discourse 157
Human rights 157
Applied ethics 158
The application of ethics in public health practice 160
Can ethical criteria be absolute? 166
Contemporary and future public health 166
A final word 167
Acknowledgement 168
Endnote 168
References 168
Chapter 8: Evidence-based practice 172
Learning objectives 172
Introduction 172
The evolution: evidence-based medicine 173
The nature of evidence and key concepts of evidence-based practice 174
The nature and scope of knowledge 175
Key concepts of evidence-based practice 177
What is evidence-based practice? 178
Putting evidence into practice – what is working? 181
Organisational structures 185
So what can we do about it? Finding the evidence 187
Evidence and policy development 193
A final word 195
Useful websites 196
References 196
Chapter 9: Planning and evaluation 199
Learning objectives 199
Introduction 199
Planning and evaluation in public health 200
Models of planning 201
Evaluation designs in practice 211
A final word 215
Useful websites 218
References 218
Section 4: Health Protection and Promotion 221
Chapter 10: Disease control and management 224
Learning objectives 224
Introduction 224
Defining chronic conditions and chronic disease 225
Continuum of care/integrated approach to chronic disease 227
Disease management programmes 229
Early detection and early treatment 229
Integration and continuity of prevention and care 229
Self-management 230
Chronic disease prevention and management – some issues 230
Defining infectious diseases 231
Medical microbiology 232
Microorganisms 234
Mechanism of infectious disease 235
Infectious disease management 237
Disease prevention 237
Surveillance, early recognition and early intervention 241
Infection control 242
Outbreak investigation and contact tracing 243
Barriers to effectively managing infectious diseases 244
A final word 246
Useful websites 246
References 247
Chapter 11: Environmental health 250
Learning objectives 250
Introduction 250
What is environmental health? 251
Environmental health hazards 251
The built environment 257
The occupational environment 259
The global environment 261
Global climate change 263
Environmental health management tools 266
A final word 270
Useful websites 271
References 272
Chapter 12: Disaster preparedness and public health 275
Learning objectives 275
Introduction 275
Defining disasters 275
Context 277
Principles of disaster management 279
Systems and structures 290
Special considerations 291
The role of the public health practitioner 294
A final word 294
References 295
Chapter 13: Health promotion 296
Learning objectives 296
Introduction 296
History of health education 297
The concept of wellness 298
Evolution and evidence for health promotion 298
Principles of health promotion 300
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s concepts of health promotion 302
Strategies for health promotion 305
Health promotion in practice 309
Emerging challenges for health promotion 315
A final word 317
Endnote 317
Useful websites 317
References 317
Section 5: Contemporary Issues 323
Chapter 14: The impact of globalisation on health 326
Learning objectives 326
Introduction to globalisation 326
Globalisation in population health 330
The global public health community 340
A final word 346
Acknowledgement 346
References 346
Chapter 15: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health 350
Learning objectives 350
Introduction 350
Who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? 351
Government policy 353
The National Aboriginal Health Strategy 353
Close the Gap 354
The Northern Territory Intervention 356
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today 357
Community and gendered health 359
Community-controlled health service sector 363
Research 364
Indigenous people in other parts of the world 365
A final word 368
Useful websites 368
References 368
Chapter 16: The future for public health 373
Learning objectives 373
Introduction 373
Public health challenges in the twenty-first century: balancing re-emerging issues and new developments 376
Solutions to public health issues 377
Future public health activity: the challenges 377
Globalisation and health 379
Dietary imbalance and physical inactivity 379
Population ageing 380
Sustainable ecological public health 380
Emerging and re-emerging infections 381
Genetics, biotechnology and information technology 382
The public health workforce: skills for a complex future 382
Strategic planning for public health: political will and action 383
Leadership and public health: establishing a research agenda 383
References 385
Reflection: Public health achievements and challenges in the twenty-first century 388
Introduction 388
Globalisation and health 389
Future challenges 389
Conclusion 391
References 392
Glossary 393
References 399
Index 401