Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
Key Topics is a short, easy-to-read text that provides basic information about twelve key topics in public health, such as diabetes, cancer, smoking and teenage pregnancy, and how prevention and health promotion should be tackled at community and one-to-one levels. The twelve topics are the 'must-dos' of public health action. They have been selected because they are those addressed in current national public health strategies such as Saving Lives: our healthier nation , and comparable strategies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many are the subject of National Service Frameworks and other national policies and plans; they are often accompanied by targets which health workers are expected to meet.
- Accessible and useful, in clear plain English.
- Provides a foundation for further study, planning a work programme, or planning a strategy to meet targets.
- Practical focus: on health inequalities and how to tackle them, and on help for practitioners who work at a community and one-to-one level.
- Explicit links to national current public health policy and targets. Reflects recommendations based on best practice and evidence of effectiveness.
- Focuses on a topic framework (except for the last two chapters) in contrast to other frameworks for health promotion and public health.
- Attractive layout making full use of bullet points and boxes.
- Simple line diagrams or tables to illustrate each chapter.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Cover | Cover | ||
| Key Topics in Public Health: Essential Briefings on Prevention and Health Promotion | iii | ||
| Copyright Page | iv | ||
| Table of Contents | v | ||
| About the editor and contributors | vii | ||
| Foreword | xi | ||
| REFERENCES | xii | ||
| Editor’s preface | xiii | ||
| WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR? | xiv | ||
| WHY WAS IT WRITTEN? | xiv | ||
| MAKING THE CHAPTERS HANG TOGETHER | xiv | ||
| DECISIONS AND DILEMMAS | xv | ||
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | xvi | ||
| FINALLY... | xvi | ||
| REFERENCES | xvi | ||
| Chapter 1. Cancer | 1 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 1 | ||
| WHAT IS CANCER? | 2 | ||
| WHAT CAUSES CANCER? | 3 | ||
| WHY IS CANCER AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 5 | ||
| HOW IS IT ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 6 | ||
| WHAT ARE THE KEY TRENDS IN CANCER? | 7 | ||
| DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN CANCER? | 8 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL? | 10 | ||
| HOW CAN WE BEST HELP INDIVIDUALS? | 12 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 13 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS AND QUESTIONS | 14 | ||
| WHAT DON’T WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT YET? | 15 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 15 | ||
| References | 16 | ||
| Chapter 2. Coronary heart disease and stroke | 19 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 19 | ||
| CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND STROKES EXPLAINED | 20 | ||
| WHY ARE CHD AND STROKES AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 21 | ||
| WHAT ARE THE CAUSES, RISK FACTORS AND AT-RISK GROUPS? | 21 | ||
| WHAT ARE THE CURRENT TRENDS IN CHD AND STROKE PREVALENCE? | 28 | ||
| HOW ARE CHD AND STROKES ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 30 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION? | 31 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 35 | ||
| WHAT QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERS? | 36 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 36 | ||
| References | 37 | ||
| Chapter 3. Diabetes | 39 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 39 | ||
| WHAT IS DIABETES? | 40 | ||
| WHAT CAUSES DIABETES? | 42 | ||
| WHY IS DIABETES AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 43 | ||
| HOW IS DIABETES ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 47 | ||
| WHO IS AT RISK OF DIABETES? | 48 | ||
| DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE FOR DIABETES? | 48 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT DIABETES AND ITS COMPLICATIONS AT COMMUNITY LEVEL? | 50 | ||
| HOW CAN WE BEST HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DIABETES? | 51 | ||
| CONTROVERSIES, DILEMMAS AND MYTHS | 54 | ||
| WHAT QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERS? | 55 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 56 | ||
| References | 56 | ||
| Chapter 4. Smoking | 59 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 59 | ||
| WHAT IS SMOKING? | 60 | ||
| WHY DO PEOPLE SMOKE? | 61 | ||
| WHY IS SMOKING AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 62 | ||
| HOW IS SMOKING ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 63 | ||
| WHAT’S THE CURRENT PICTURE – WHO IS AT RISK? | 64 | ||
| IS THE PREVALENCE OF SMOKING INCREASING OR DECREASING? | 66 | ||
| DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN SMOKING? | 67 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL? | 68 | ||
| HOW CAN WE BEST HELP INDIVIDUALS? | 69 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 71 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS AND QUESTIONS | 73 | ||
| WHAT QUESTIONS ABOUT SMOKING STILL NEED ANSWERS? | 75 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 76 | ||
| References | 76 | ||
| Chapter 5. Obesity | 79 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 79 | ||
| WHAT IS OBESITY? | 80 | ||
| CAUSES OF OBESITY | 82 | ||
| WHY IS OBESITY AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 83 | ||
| WHO IS AT RISK? DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN OBESITY? | 85 | ||
| TRENDS IN PREVALENCE OF OBESITY | 86 | ||
| NATIONAL POLICY | 87 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION? | 88 | ||
| CURRENT DEBATES AND DILEMMAS | 97 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS AND QUESTIONS | 98 | ||
| WHAT DON’T WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT YET? | 98 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 99 | ||
| References | 100 | ||
| Chapter 6. Physical activity | 103 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 103 | ||
| WHAT IS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY? | 104 | ||
| WHY IS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 106 | ||
| WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM OF SEDENTARY LIVING? | 108 | ||
| HOW IS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 108 | ||
| WHAT’S THE CURRENT PICTURE – WHO IS AT RISK? | 110 | ||
| IS THE PROBLEM OF INACTIVITY GETTING BETTER OR WORSE? | 110 | ||
| DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY? | 111 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY? | 112 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 115 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS AND QUESTIONS | 115 | ||
| WHAT QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERS? | 115 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 116 | ||
| References | 116 | ||
| Chapter 7. Injury prevention | 119 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 119 | ||
| WHAT IS INJURY PREVENTION? | 120 | ||
| WHAT CAUSES INJURIES? | 120 | ||
| WHY IS INJURY PREVENTION AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 121 | ||
| HOW IS INJURY PREVENTION ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 122 | ||
| WHAT IS THE CURRENT PICTURE – WHO IS AT RISK? | 122 | ||
| IS THE PROBLEM GETTING BETTER OR WORSE? | 124 | ||
| DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN THIS TOPIC? | 125 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PREVENTING INJURIES AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL? | 126 | ||
| HOW CAN WE BEST HELP INDIVIDUALS? | 127 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 128 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS AND QUESTIONS | 129 | ||
| WHAT QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERS? | 130 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 132 | ||
| References | 133 | ||
| Chapter 8. Teenage pregnancy | 135 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 135 | ||
| WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ‘TEENAGE PREGNANCY’? | 136 | ||
| WHAT IS THE CURRENT PICTURE? | 136 | ||
| WHO BECOMES PREGNANT AS A TEENAGER? | 137 | ||
| WHY IS TEENAGE PREGNANCY A ‘PROBLEM’ AND AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 138 | ||
| WHY ARE RATES IN THE UK SO HIGH? | 139 | ||
| A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR TACKLING TEENAGE PREGNANCY | 140 | ||
| CURRENT TRENDS AND A LOOK TO THE FUTURE | 150 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES AND COMMON MYTHS | 151 | ||
| WHAT RESEARCH QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERS? | 153 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 154 | ||
| References | 154 | ||
| Chapter 9. Sexually transmitted infections | 157 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 157 | ||
| SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND HIV | 158 | ||
| HOW IS SEXUAL HEALTH ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 160 | ||
| WHAT IS THE CURRENT PICTURE AND WHAT ARE THE TRENDS IN STI TRANSMISSION? | 160 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT STIs AND HIV? | 169 | ||
| WHAT ARE THE GAPS IN CURRENT KNOWLEDGE? | 172 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 173 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 174 | ||
| References | 175 | ||
| Chapter 10. Alcohol use and misuse | 177 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 177 | ||
| WHAT IS ALCOHOL MISUSE? | 178 | ||
| WHAT CAUSES ALCOHOL MISUSE? | 180 | ||
| WHY IS ALCOHOL MISUSE AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 182 | ||
| HOW IS ALCOHOL MISUSE ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 186 | ||
| DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN ALCOHOL MISUSE? | 188 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT ALCOHOL MISUSE? | 189 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 192 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS | 193 | ||
| QUESTIONS THAT STILL NEED ANSWERS | 194 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 194 | ||
| References | 195 | ||
| Chapter 11. Drug use and misuse | 197 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 197 | ||
| WHAT IS DRUG MISUSE? | 198 | ||
| WHAT CAUSES DRUG MISUSE? | 200 | ||
| WHY IS DRUG MISUSE AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 200 | ||
| IS DRUG MISUSE GETTING BETTER OR WORSE? | 205 | ||
| WHO IS AT RISK? DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN THIS TOPIC? | 206 | ||
| HOW IS DRUG ABUSE ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 206 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION? | 209 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 214 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS | 216 | ||
| WHAT DON’T WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT YET? | 216 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 217 | ||
| References | 218 | ||
| Chapter 12. Mental health and mental health promotion | 221 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 221 | ||
| WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH? | 222 | ||
| WHAT CAUSES POOR MENTAL HEALTH? | 223 | ||
| WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION? | 225 | ||
| WHY IS MENTAL HEALTH AND ITS PROMOTION AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE? | 226 | ||
| HOW IS MENTAL HEALTH ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 227 | ||
| PREVALENCE AND TRENDS IN MENTAL HEALTH | 228 | ||
| DO HEALTH INEQUALITIES FEATURE IN MENTAL HEALTH? | 229 | ||
| WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION? | 231 | ||
| CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES | 236 | ||
| COMMON MYTHS AND QUESTIONS | 237 | ||
| WHAT QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERS? | 238 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 239 | ||
| References | 239 | ||
| Chapter 13. Tackling inequalities in health | 243 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 243 | ||
| WHAT ARE INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH? | 244 | ||
| WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH? | 245 | ||
| WHY ARE INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH IMPORTANT? | 246 | ||
| WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF INEQUALITY IN HEALTH? | 246 | ||
| ARE INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH GETTING BETTER OR WORSE? | 247 | ||
| HOW ARE INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH ADDRESSED IN NATIONAL POLICY? | 248 | ||
| HOW EFFECTIVE HAS UK POLICY BEEN IN REDUCING INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH? | 249 | ||
| ARE THERE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN TACKLING INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH? | 250 | ||
| WHAT CHOICES DO WE FACE IN TRYING TO REDUCE INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH? | 251 | ||
| WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A PRACTITIONER ABOUT INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH? | 252 | ||
| WHAT QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERING? | 256 | ||
| CONCLUSION | 256 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 257 | ||
| References | 258 | ||
| Chapter 14. Helping individuals to change behaviour | 261 | ||
| SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND LINKS TO OTHER TOPICS | 261 | ||
| WHY IS BEHAVIOUR CHANGE IMPORTANT? | 262 | ||
| WHAT IS THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL’S ROLE? | 263 | ||
| WHAT MODELS DO WE HAVE FOR UNDERSTANDING HEALTH BEHAVIOUR CHANGE? | 264 | ||
| WHAT MODELS DO WE HAVE FOR PRACTICAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS? | 267 | ||
| IS WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS EFFECTIVE? | 274 | ||
| Key sources of further information and help | 275 | ||
| References | 275 | ||
| Glossary | 277 | ||
| Index | 285 |