PH Finals Review 4 PDF Study Notes

Chapter 4 Study Notes: An aim of PH is to prevent disease What is the best way to prevent a disease or injury? ○ Possible intervention points --> hosts, agent, environment, vector/vehicle in the epidemiological triad Progression of disease/injury: generalized model...

Chapter 4 Study Notes: An aim of PH is to prevent disease What is the best way to prevent a disease or injury? ○ Possible intervention points --> hosts, agent, environment, vector/vehicle in the epidemiological triad Progression of disease/injury: generalized model ○ Exposure --> disease/injury process starts --> disease/injury symptoms --> death Latency/incubation period before disease/injury symptoms ○ Primary prevention --> disease/injury process does not start Prevent disease/injury process from starting, generally by limiting exposure to harmful things ○ Secondary prevention --> no disease/injury symptoms Prevent full-blown disease/injury after disease/injury process has already started Early detection/screening and early intervention ○ Tertiary prevention --> recovery or non-fatal health outcome Medical treatment and rehabilitation Conceptual model for the progression of injury ○ Exposure --> Event occurs --> causes injury --> Death ○ Every step in this progression is a possible intervention point (3 chances) The most intervention point is preventing the event itself (primary prevention) Since it is hard to prevent every event itself (secondary prevention) ○ Try to prevent the injury from occurring after the event occurs ○ e.g., Seatbelt, airbag Sometimes there are large events and injuries (tertiary prevention) ○ Try to prevent death --> but there may still be some sort of temporary or permanent disability Public health prefers primary prevention! Conceptual model for the progression of chronic illness ○ Exposure --> accumulation --> disease symptoms --> death ○ Primary prevention --> no or slow accumulation Prevent development of disease in healthy individuals by limiting exposure to harmful agents e.g., reduce smoking Promote healthy diet and exercise Sunscreen use ○ Secondary prevention --> no disease/symptoms Screen individuals to detect disease process in its early stages and intervene early to prevent or advance diseases e.g., cancer screenings Blood pressure and cholesterol screening Blood sugar ○ Tertiary prevention --> maintenance  Provide medical treatment to prevent death or complications and to maintain best health possible e.g., cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiation Conceptual model for the progression of Infectious disease ○ Exposure --> transmission --> disease/symptoms --> death ○ Primary prevention --> no transmission Prevent transmission to healthy individuals by limiting exposure to pathogens e.g., avoid contact with sick people Hand washing Cleaning surfaces Vector control ○ Secondary prevention --> no disease/symptoms Screen individuals to detect infection, identify individuals who have been exposed, and intervene early to prevent more advanced disease e.g., HIV testing Contact tracing Rabies shots after exposure to rabid animal ○ Tertiary prevention --> recovery Provide medical treatment to prevent death or complication and to restore best health possible