History of Health Practices and Medicine

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Questions and Answers

What does the WHO define as health?

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (correct)

The absence of disease and infirmity

A state that varies with age and gender

Merely the absence of mental disorders

Which organization was established two years before the World Health Organization?

American Medical Association

International Red Cross

United Nations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (correct)

What is NOT considered a determinant of health?

Gestational Endowments

Behavioral Choices

Marketing Strategies (correct)

Environmental Conditions

Which of the following elements is NOT characteristic of a public health community?

Shared economic resources Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first secretary of the Board of Health for the Philippine Islands?

Dr. Jose Fabella Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of timely reporting of notifiable diseases?

To allow public health authorities to detect an emerging epidemic Signup and view all the answers

Which disease is classified under Category I of notifiable diseases?

COVID-19 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following definitions best describes epidemiology?

The science of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations Signup and view all the answers

According to Frost's definition, what aspect does epidemiology NOT concern itself with?

Addressing environmental factors Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT listed as a factor that epidemiology studies according to Leavell and Clark?

Economic growth Signup and view all the answers

What legislation governs the reporting of communicable diseases in the context given?

Republic Act No. 11332 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a disease categorized under Category II?

Measles Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'epidemiology' literally translate to from its Greek roots?

Study of that which is upon the people Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of epidemiology?

The study of health-related states or events in specified populations Signup and view all the answers

Which notable figure is referred to as the 'Father of Medicine'?

Hippocrates Signup and view all the answers

Who is recognized as the 'Father of Modern Epidemiology'?

John Snow Signup and view all the answers

What significant public health investigation was conducted by John Snow?

Cholera epidemic in London Signup and view all the answers

What aspect did Fracastoro contribute to epidemiology?

The concept that diseases result from contagious seeds Signup and view all the answers

What epidemic did Dr. Benjamin Rush study?

Yellow fever Signup and view all the answers

What health practice from pre-historic times involved the ingestion of clay or earth?

Geophagy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the earliest applications of epidemiology?

Largely dominated by infectious diseases Signup and view all the answers

What was a major contribution of Hippocrates to the field of medicine?

Professionalized the practice of medicine Signup and view all the answers

John Graunt is known for his use of which methodology?

Statistical analysis Signup and view all the answers

Which major epidemic was caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis during the Middle Ages?

Black Death Signup and view all the answers

What significant theory did John Snow establish through his work with cholera in 1854?

Germ theory Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a development during the Renaissance that improved understanding of diseases?

Recognition of distinct diseases through observation Signup and view all the answers

What led to the decline of public health activities after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 C.E.?

Increased spirituality and superstition Signup and view all the answers

Which public health advancement is Edward Jenner known for in 1796?

Invention of the smallpox vaccine Signup and view all the answers

During the 18th century, which issue was primarily caused by industrial growth?

Poor sanitation and overcrowding Signup and view all the answers

What term describes a disease with a constant presence in a specific area?

Endemic Signup and view all the answers

Which property related to the agent is concerned with the variation in different host species?

Host range Signup and view all the answers

Which model of disease causation illustrates the interaction as a balanced lever?

The Lever Signup and view all the answers

What type of study is designed to answer the questions 'who, when, and where' about disease prevalence?

Descriptive Studies Signup and view all the answers

In the context of host-related properties, which term refers to the ability of a pathogen to cause disease?

Pathogenicity Signup and view all the answers

Which epidemiologic model emphasizes that effects develop from chains of causation rather than a single cause?

The Web of Causation Signup and view all the answers

Which agent-related property is critical for survival and reproduction in diverse environments?

Viability Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of virulence refers to the extent of illness caused by a disease?

Severity of disease Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary objective of epidemiology?

To determine the extent of disease in a community Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the proportion of the population that has a health condition at a specific point in time?

Prevalence rate Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'frequency' in epidemiology refer to?

The relationship of health events to the size of the population Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'incidence rate'?

The speed at which new cases of a disease occur in a population Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of epidemiology related to health?

To promote and maintain health in the population Signup and view all the answers

In epidemiology, what is meant by 'age-adjusted rates'?

Rates adjusted to eliminate the effects of age distribution differences Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes 'case fatality rate'?

The proportion of individuals with a disease who die from it Signup and view all the answers

What does the objective of epidemiology regarding public policy involve?

Providing a foundation for developing decisions related to environmental issues Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Pre-historic Times

Health practices were tied to religious or spiritual beliefs
Shamans (medicine men) were natural healers
Geophagy involved ingestion of clay or earth
Trepanation was drilling a hole into the skull

Classical Culture (500 B.C.E.-500 C.E.)

Hippocrates, considered the "Father of Medicine," significantly contributed to the professionalization of medicine
"De Aere, Aquis Et Locis" ("Of Air, Water, and Land") proposed that diseases originate from environmental factors, not divine intervention
Greek communities practiced community sanitation
Romans improved on Greek sanitation, building aqueducts, sewers, and regulations for construction, refuse removal, and street cleaning
Hospitals were established initially as infirmaries for slaves and later as charitable organizations
The fall of the Roman Empire led to a cessation of most public health initiatives in 476 C.E.

Middle Ages (500-1500 C.E.)

The period from 500-1000 C.E. (Dark Ages) saw a shift towards spiritual explanations for health problems
The Bubonic Plague (Black Death) was the deadliest epidemic, caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria
Syphilis was another significant epidemic of the period

Renaissance and Exploration (1500-1700 C.E.)

Belief in environmental causes for disease, not spiritual ones
More accurate descriptions of symptoms and disease outcomes began to emerge
Recognition of diseases like whooping cough, typhus, scarlet fever, and malaria
Explorers, colonists, and merchants spread new diseases across the world during these periods of exploration.
1662: John Graunt's observations on mortality rates began the field of vital statistics

18th Century

Industrial growth led to poor sanitation and overcrowding in workplaces
1796: Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine

19th Century

1854: John Snow linked cholera to contaminated water
1862: Louis Pasteur proposed germ theory
The period from 1875-1900 is considered the bacteriological period in public health
Florence Nightingale's work in sanitation and nursing during the Crimean War (1853-1856) influenced public health practices

Modern Era of Public Health (1850-present)

The era of public health began in the mid-19th century
American colonization of the Philippines led to the establishment of the Board of Health, which later became the Department of Health.
1948: establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO)
1946: establishment of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, USA

Health

Health is a complex, multidimensional state defined as the complete physical, mental, and social well-being; not merely the absence of disease. This is based on a person's interaction and adaptation to their environment.

Community

Community is a group of individuals identified by geographic location, shared interests, experiences, concerns, or values
Communities are characterized by shared elements as well as individuals, including, membership, shared values and norms
Communities have a shared emotional connection, thus, mutual influence as well as a shared need to be addressed by the community
Traditionally, a community is defined by geography; however, in the context of public health, it is also based on common characteristics like interests, experiences, and values.

Community Health

Community health examines the health status of defined groups of people
Includes actions taken by governments, and private and non-governmental organizations
Addresses actions and conditions to improve, protect and maintain health

Population Health

Population health examines health outcomes for groups of people, including their distribution within those groups.

Global Health

Global health addresses health problems or issues that stretch beyond national borders
Health is best addressed with international cooperation and solutions relating to health consequences from occurrences within other countries.

Personal Health Activities

Includes individual actions and decisions affecting personal and immediate family members.
Examples: decisions regarding food choices, use of safety belts or regular physical check-ups

Community and Public Health Activities

Community activities protecting and improving population health.
Examples: maintaining accurate birth and death records, ensuring access to clean water and food

Factors Affecting Community Health

Social and cultural factors (beliefs, traditions, prejudices, socioeconomic status, politics, and religion).
Physical factors (geography, environment, size of community, urban design, transportation, waste and disease management, industrial development)
Individual behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, diet)
Community organization (mobilizing community resources to address public health problems)

Epidemiology

Epidemiology examines the distribution and determinants of disease within specified populations
Determines the occurrence and patterns of diseases based on time, place, and person
Epidemiologists investigate the causes and how to effectively control diseases and other public health related problems

Types of Epidemiologic Studies

Descriptive studies describe disease extent, patterns based on time, place, and person; these studies seek to answer the questions regarding "who, when, and where?"; These types of studies are designed to answer these important scientific questions
Analytic studies test hypotheses about relationships between health problems and risk factors.

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Description

Explore the evolution of health practices from pre-historic times through the Classical Era and the Middle Ages. This quiz delves into the roles of shamans, Hippocrates' contributions, and the advancements made by the Greeks and Romans. Test your knowledge on how these practices shaped modern medicine and public health.