Introduction to Public Health

5th Edition - May 1, 2023
Imprint: Elsevier
Editors: Mary Louise Fleming, Louise Baldwin
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 7 2 9 5 - 4 4 2 7 - 6
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 7 2 9 5 - 4 4 9 2 - 4
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 7 2 9 5 - 4 4 9 1 - 7

An understanding of public health – the systems, policies and theories that influence the health of the population – is important for decision making across the continuum of ca… Read more

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An understanding of public health – the systems, policies and theories that influence the health of the population – is important for decision making across the continuum of care. Introduction to Public Health provides a solid introduction to the key concepts of public health for undergraduate health science students and those new to the public health environment.

The text is divided into four sections, covering an overview of public health, the impact of policy and evidence, public health strategies and contemporary issues.

With contributions from a multidisciplinary range of experts, this fifth edition has been updated to include emerging public health challenges such as COVID-19, the impact of globalisation, wellbeing and chronic illnesses, as well as a clear understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of public health.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Online video—interviews
Introduction
About the authors
Acknowledgements
Reviewers
List of Illustrations
List of Tables
Section 1. Definitions, Determinants and Challenges
Introduction
1. Defining health and public health
Introduction
Defining “public health”: An art and a science?
Public health vision and values
The world health organization agenda for public health
Public health in the Australian context
The future for public health?
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
2. Public health challenges
Introduction
Globalisation and health
Public health challenges in Australia
Grand challenges for public health: What is the future?
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
3. Epidemiology
Introduction
Defining epidemiology
Objectives of epidemiological studies
Measuring the occurrence of exposures of interest and of health outcomes
Epidemiological study design
Observational epidemiology
Experimental epidemiology
Sources of error in epidemiological studies
Summing it up
A final word
Review questions
Acknowledgements
Useful websites
References
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Introduction
Who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Government policy
The National Aboriginal Health Strategy 1987
Contemporary health policy
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today
Community-controlled health service sector
Research
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
Section 2. Policy, Ethics and Evidence
Introduction
5. Public health policy
Introduction
What is “policy”?
Types of public policy
What is health policy?
Factors influencing policy
Values and policymaking
Evidence in policy
Health policy and healthcare systems
Management and reform of healthcare
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
6. Public health and social policy
Introduction
Health policy, social justice and risk
History of Australian health policy: Policy design and funding arrangements
Disability and equity considerations
Social determinants of health and environmental health discourses
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
7. Ethics and public health
Introduction
Normative ethics in public health
The development of public health ethics
Public health law and human rights
Codes of ethics
The application of ethics in public health practice
Disease control
Contemporary and future public health ethics
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
Acknowledgement
References
8. Evidence-based practice
Introduction
The evolution: Evidence-based medicine
Defining “evidence, evidence-based practice” and key concepts
What is “evidence-based practice”?
Key concepts of evidence-based practice
Evidence and policy development
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
Section 3. Public Health Strategies
Introduction
Introduction
9. People
Introduction
Defining “Chronic condition” and “Chronic disease”
Integrated approach to chronic disease care
Chronic disease strategies across the continuum of care
Defining “Infectious disease”
Models of infectious disease
Infectious disease management
Disease prevention
Surveillance, early recognition and early intervention
Infection control
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
10. Place
Introduction
Communities
Why work with communities, social structures and organisations?
Community capacity building
Social determinants of health
What is community engagement, participation and empowerment?
Community and organisational strategies
Working with communities
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
11. Enabling environments for health
Introduction
Development and definitions of environmental health
Burden of environmental disease: Opportunities for improvement
Shifting the lens beyond the current burden of disease to future challenges
Think global, act local
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
Section 4. Contemporary Issues
Introduction
Introduction
12. Refocusing public health with a health promotion and prevention lens
Introduction
Evolution of, and evidence for, health promotion
Levels of prevention in public health and health promotion
Principles of health promotion
Health promotion in practice: Whole-of-system, collaborative approaches
Health promotion in action: Public health successes
Emerging challenges for health promotions
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
13. Applying contemporary approaches to planning, implementation, evaluation and learning for public health
Understanding complex communities, settings and systems
Understanding complex factors that contribute to the health of communities
The need for co-design
Designing public health projects and programs: A case for the evidence base
Theories of change
Implementation and evaluation methods
Evaluability assessments
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites and books
References
14. Global health
Introduction
What is global health?
Globalisation and health
Migration and health
Sustainable development goals and global health
Global health and human rights
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
15. Disasters, emergencies and terrorism
Introduction
What are “disasters”?
What causes disasters?
What impacts do disasters have?
Principles of disaster management
Systems and structures
Public health implications
The role of the public health practitioner
A final word
Review questions
References
16. Concluding remarks
Introduction
Megatrends and their health impacts
Public health in the 21st century
A final word
Review questions
Useful websites
References
Index

Mary Louise Fleming

Professor Mary Louise Fleming is Public Health Consultant and Board Director, Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health and Social Work at the Queensland University of Technology. She has over 30 years’ experience in teaching and research in higher education, in public health and health promotion. Her research experience is in: action research; process, impact and outcome evaluation in health promotion; and public health intervention design, development and implementation. Mary Louise has worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization and for Commonwealth and state health departments, and has sat on National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) public health project grant review panels. She is a member of the Board of Wesley Medical Research and the Metro North Hospital and Health Service in Queensland. She is widely published in the area of health promotion and public health. Her current role recognises the need for innovative solutions to the health-care system of the future, and working with the health care system to realise gains in efficiency and effectiveness while focused on the patient at the centre of care.

Affiliations and expertise

Public Health Consultant and Board Director. Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health and Social Work at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland.

Louise Baldwin

Dr Louise Baldwin Is a health promotion specialist, academic, researcher and consultant at the local , state and national level in Australia. She is the the Global Vice President (Membership) for the International Union for Health Promotion and Education and a passionate advocate for mentoring, capacity building and connecting health promoters across global disciplines. Her work has spanned all facets of health promotion disciplines and largely focuses on sustainable change across communities including capacity building; policy; systems shifting and built environments. She holds a Visiting Fellow role in the School of Public Health and Social Work and in the Design Lab, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology Australia.

Affiliations and expertise

School of Public Health and Social Work Faculty of Health Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Australia

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