What is the focus of public health? - ANSWER people (population health,
community health, prevention)
also focuses on prevention!
What does someone in public health do? - ANSWER Everyone does different
things.
-Environmental health, epidemiology, occupational safety and health, policy makers,
educators, scientists, etc.
Public health - ANSWER The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life,
and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts
for the sanitation of the environment, control of community infections, and education
of individuals regarding hygiene to ensure a standard of living for health
maintenance
-An organized community effort to address public health by applying scientific and
technical knowledge to promote health
-BOTH definitions involve the COMMUNITY
Examples of PH professionals: - ANSWER Environmental health scientists
Biostatistics (Statistics uses numbers (samples) to make inferences about the
population)
Epidemiologists
Emergency preparedness personnel
Etc.
Public Health 10 Essential Services: - ANSWER ○ Monitor health
○ Diagnose and investigate
○ Inform, educate, empower
○ Mobilize, community, partnership
○ Develop policies
○ Enforce laws
○ Link to/Provide care
○ Assure competent workforce
○ Evaluate
○ Research
Public Health System - ANSWER -Assesses and promotes health and safety
-Prevents or minimizes the occurrence of disease and injuries
-Plans, prepares and responds to natural and manmade disasters
-Identifies barriers, and facilitates access to primary and preventative health care
(Ex: Socioeconomic status, language, money can be barriers)
-Enforces public health laws and regulations
§ Primary focus on population/community
,§ Emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion
Public Health Achievements - ANSWER ○ Immunizations
○ Motor-vehicle safety
○ Workplace safety
○ Control of infectious diseases
○ Declines in deaths from heart disease and stroke
○ Safer and healthy foods
○ Healthier mothers and babies
○ Family planning
○ Fluoridation of drinking water
○ Tobacco as a health hazard
What is health to you? - ANSWER State of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being are not merely the absence of disease or infirmity - WHO
Who are the health care professionals? - ANSWER Nurses, nurse practitioner,
doctors, PAs, etc.
Health Care System - ANSWER Include: Healthcare team, patients, community
resource providers
- Also, Insurance providers, government, home health care, alternative medicine
(chiropractor, massage therapist, etc.), policies/laws
§ Primary focus on individual
§ Emphasis on diagnosis and treatment
System - ANSWER is a network with many components inside
National Health Expenditures - ANSWER 2014, US health care spending is approx.
3.0 trillion US dollars
-~$9,523 per person
-Amount increases
-Most money goes to inpatient and outpatient services (hospital care and physician
and clinical services)
Insurance coverage by race/ethnicity in 2014 - ANSWER -Uninsured overall went
down due to Affordable Care Act
-Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native are most uninsured § Basically,
minorities are more uninsured
Compared to other countries (that are similar to us, not underdeveloped countries), -
ANSWER In the US, we spend a lot more compared to other countries
What is a "population?" - ANSWER The whole number of people or inhabitants in a
country or region
The total of individuals occupying an area or making up a whole
Population health - ANSWER The health outcomes of a group of individuals,
including the distribution of such outcomes within the group
§ Morbidity, mortality, health and well-being of a defined group of people
, § Ex: Looking at health outcomes of the Hispanic population
What makes some people healthier than others? - ANSWER Education,
socioeconomic status, genetics, behavior (exercising), employment
Determinants of health fall under several categories: - ANSWER § Policymaking
§ Biology and genetic factors
§ Individual behavior
§ Social factors
§ Environmental factors
Individual lifestyle factors - ANSWER Exercise, sexual activity, and diet
Other general macroenvironmental conditions of socioeconomic, cultural, and
environmental conditions that impact health - ANSWER § Education
§ Work environment
§ Living and working conditions
§ Healthcare services
§ Food production
§ Water and sanitation
§ Housing
Physical environment - ANSWER Connection between health and the environment
(Water, food, milk sanitation)(Improve nutrition)
Could deteriorate without adequate support of the governmental public health
Environmental health problems - ANSWER Global warming, population growth,
habitat destruction, loss of green spaces, places in which people work and live, rural
vs. urban
NOT an easy fix, requires the whole community/govt to come together to fix the
problem
EX: Hurricane disasters
Problems with places in which people work and live: - ANSWER Tobacco smoke
Pesticides
Toxic housing: Lead-based paint, asbestos-containing insulation
Urban vs. Rural - ANSWER Exercise
Air pollution
Diet
Hurricane disasters - ANSWER Flooding, power outages, water supplies, food and
water safety, shelter, clean up
Social determinants of health - ANSWER Neighborhood and built environment,
health and health care, economic stability, education, social and community context
Socioeconomic status (SES) - ANSWER Social standing or class of an individual or
group
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