Introduction to Public Health BPH 212 Lecture Notes PDF

Introduction to public health BPH 212 1. "Introduction to Public Health: Concepts, Definitions, and Assessment Dr. Abdulrahman Almujaidel What is Public Health? Definition: "The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of peo...

Introduction to public health BPH 212 1. "Introduction to Public Health: Concepts, Definitions, and Assessment Dr. Abdulrahman Almujaidel What is Public Health? Definition: "The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities" 1 Focus: Population health rather than individual health Key aspects: Prevention of disease and injury Promotion of healthy behaviors Protection from environmental hazards Multidisciplinary approach involving various professions Scope of Public Health Addresses a wide range of health issues: Infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19, HIV/AIDS) Chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, diabetes) Environmental health (e.g., air and water quality) Mental health Injury prevention Health equity and social determinants of health Operates at local, national, and global levels. Involves collaboration between government, academia, and private sectors Core Functions of Public Health 1. Assessment: Monitoring community health status and identifying health problems 2. Policy Development: Creating and implementing health policies and plans 3. Assurance: Ensuring access to necessary health services and enforcing health regulations 2 10 Essential Public Health Services 1. Assess and monitor population health 2. Investigate, diagnose, and address health hazards and root causes 3. Communicate effectively to inform and educate 4. Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships 5. Create, champion, and implement policies, plans, and laws 2 6. Utilize legal and regulatory actions 7. Enable equitable access to care 8. Build a diverse and skilled workforce 9. Improve and innovate through evaluation, research, and quality improvement 10. Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health Public Health vs. Medical Model Public Health Model: Focus: Population health Approach: Prevention and health promotion Setting: Communities and populations Timeframe: Long-term outcomes Medical Model: Focus: Individual patient care Approach: Diagnosis and treatment Setting: Hospitals and clinics Timeframe: Immediate health outcomes Assessment Methods in Public Health Definition: Systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data Purpose: Identify public health problems Set priorities for public health action Evaluate effectiveness of interventions Cyclical nature: Continuous process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation Types of Public Health Assessments 1. Community Health Assessments 2. Health Impact Assessments 3. Environmental Health Assessments 4. Needs Assessments 5. Risk Assessments 6. Health Equity Impact Assessments 7. Surveillance Systems Data Sources for Public Health Assessments Primary data: Primary data: Surveys (e.g., behavioral risk factor surveys) Interviews (e.g., key informant interviews) Focus groups Biomarkers and clinical measurements Secondary data: Vital statistics (birth and death records) Disease registries (e.g., cancer registries) National health surveys Electronic health records Claims data Concept of Health WHO Definition World Health Organization (WHO) definition (1948): "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.“ Strengths: Holistic approach Includes mental and social aspects Emphasizes positive health, not just absence of disease Limitations: "Complete" well-being may be unrealistic Doesn't account for changing health states over time Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Definition: "Conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect health outcomes" Five key domains: 1. Economic Stability 2. Education Access and Quality 3. Health Care Access and Quality 4. Neighborhood and Built Environment 5. Social and Community Context Impact: Account for about 80% of health outcomes Health Equity Definition: "The state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health" Key aspects: Addressing systemic and structural barriers to health Recognizing and rectifying historical injustices Ensuring equitable distribution of resources and opportunities Promoting cultural competence and humility in health care Importance: Central to achieving optimal health for all populations Modern Public Health Definition Healthy People 2030 definition: "Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play." Key aspects: Collective action and shared responsibility Focus on populations and communities Emphasis on health promotion, protection, and disease prevention Recognition of multiple factors influencing health Key Terms in Public Health Epidemiology Definition: "The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems" Key concepts: Incidence and prevalence Risk factors and causation Study designs (e.g., cohort, case-control) Measures of association (e.g., relative risk, odds ratio) Importance: Provides evidence base for public health interventions Key Terms Health Promotion Definition: "The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health" (WHO Ottawa Charter, 1986) Key strategies: 1. Build healthy public policy 2. Create supportive environments 3. Strengthen community action 4. Develop personal skills 5. Reorient health services Importance: Empowers individuals and communities to take control of their health Global Health Definition: "An area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide" Key features: Transnational health issues and solutions Emphasis on health equity and social justice Interdisciplinary collaboration Focus on population-based prevention Importance: Addresses health challenges that transcend national boundaries Conclusion and Future Directions Public health is crucial for improving population health and well- being Multidisciplinary approach addressing various health determinants Emerging challenges: Climate change and health Digital health and data privacy Health misinformation Preparing for future pandemics Future directions: Increased focus on health equity Integration of technology and big data Emphasis on community engagement and participatory approaches Strengthening global health security