Public Health and Disease Prevention Strategies

Infectious Diseases

Diseases caused by pathogens affecting health.

Migration

Movement contributing to disease spread.

Chronic Diseases

Long-term health conditions surpassing infectious diseases.

Bioterrorism

Use of pathogens to harm populations.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Pathogens resist treatment by antibiotics.

Epidemiological Triangle

Framework of Agent, Host, and Environment.

Agent

Pathogen causing disease, e.g., bacteria or viruses.

Host

Individual susceptible to disease based on immunity.

Environment

External factors influencing disease transmission.

Primary Prevention

Preventing disease before it occurs.

Secondary Prevention

Early detection and intervention for diseases.

Tertiary Prevention

Reducing complications and improving life quality.

Surveillance

Tracking diseases to prevent outbreaks.

Public Health Policies

Regulations for vaccination and sanitation.

Community Engagement

Promoting health education and hygiene.

Medical Interventions

Strategies like antibiotic stewardship and isolation.

Emerging Diseases

Newly appearing diseases in populations.

Reemerging Diseases

Previously controlled diseases returning to prominence.

Zoonotic Spillover

Pathogen transmission from animals to humans.

Herd Immunity

Population-level resistance requiring high vaccination rates.

Vaccine Hesitancy

Reluctance to vaccinate due to misinformation.

Access Issues

Barriers to vaccination like cost and geography.

Foodborne Illnesses

Diseases from contaminated food consumption.

Salmonella

Bacteria causing gastrointestinal distress from food.

E. coli O157:H7

Pathogen leading to severe kidney failure.

Botulism

Toxin from improperly canned foods causing paralysis.

Proper Food Handling

Techniques to prevent foodborne illnesses.

Natural History of HIV

Stages of HIV infection and progression.

Acute HIV Stage

Initial flu-like symptoms after HIV exposure.

Clinical Latency Stage

Chronic HIV phase lasting 10-15 years.

AIDS

Severe immune system damage from HIV.

Opportunistic Infections

Infections taking advantage of weakened immunity.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Infectious disease causing cough, night sweats, weight loss.

Hepatitis A

Liver infection with jaundice, nausea, and fatigue.

Hepatitis B

Causes flu-like symptoms and chronic liver disease.

Hepatitis C

Often asymptomatic until significant liver damage occurs.

Gonorrhea

STD characterized by genital discharge and painful urination.

Chlamydia

STD causing genital discharge and painful urination.

Syphilis

STD with painless sores and neurological effects in late stage.

HPV

Virus causing genital warts and cervical cancer.

HIV

Virus affecting 38.4 million globally, targeting immune system.

MSM

Men who have sex with men, high-risk for HIV.

IV drug users

Individuals sharing needles, high-risk for Hepatitis and HIV.

High-risk groups

Populations more susceptible to communicable diseases.

20+ million

New STD cases annually in the U.S.

Primary Prevention

Vaccination and education to prevent disease onset.

Secondary Prevention

Screening and early treatment to reduce disease impact.

Tertiary Prevention

Management of chronic diseases to improve quality of life.

Cognitive Learning

Acquiring knowledge and problem-solving skills.

Psychomotor Learning

Developing physical skills through practice.

Affective Learning

Changing attitudes, values, and behaviors.

Andragogy

Adult learning theory emphasizing self-directed, relevant education.

Social Learning Theory

Learning by observing and modeling others' behaviors.

Health Literacy

Ability to understand health information for decision-making.

Low health literacy

Leads to poorer health outcomes and increased hospitalizations.

Plain language

Using simple terms to enhance patient understanding.

Visual aids

Tools to support comprehension of health information.

Teach-back methods

Confirming understanding by having patients explain back.

Risky Behaviors

Practices increasing likelihood of communicable diseases.

Unprotected sex

Sexual activity without barrier protection, increasing STD risk.

Needle sharing

Using the same needle, heightening infection risk.

Crowded environments

Places like shelters increasing disease transmission risk.

Poor hygiene

Lack of cleanliness contributing to food/waterborne illnesses.

Health Education

Teaching about health to improve community well-being.

Written Communication

Pamphlets and articles tailored to audience reading levels.

Spoken Communication

Counseling and discussions for engaging low-literacy groups.

Social Media & Technology

Online tools for immediate feedback and youth engagement.

Role of Nurses

Educators and advocates in community health initiatives.

Motivational Interviewing

Technique to help clients change health behaviors.

Peer Support

Encouragement from community members for health improvement.

Informed Consent

Understanding risks and benefits of health interventions.

Cultural Sensitivity

Respecting diverse beliefs in health education materials.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Protecting personal health information in group settings.

Health Equity

Access to quality health education for all individuals.

Public Health Surveillance

Systematic collection and analysis of health data.

Passive Surveillance

Providers report cases to health departments for tracking.

Active Surveillance

Public health officials actively seek out disease cases.

Sentinel Surveillance

Select providers report cases to identify health trends.

Syndromic Surveillance

Real-time data used to detect disease patterns.

Special Surveillance Systems

Focus on specific diseases like foodborne pathogens.

Planning in Surveillance

Define objectives and identify data sources for study.

Data Collection

Gathering information from various health data sources.

Analysis in Surveillance

Identifying trends and unusual disease patterns.

Outbreak Investigation

Confirming and estimating cases during disease outbreaks.

Evaluation in Surveillance

Assessing effectiveness of surveillance systems.

Mortality Data

Information from death certificates and medical reports.

Morbidity Data

Reports on diseases and hospital discharge records.

Vital Statistics

Records of births and deaths for health monitoring.

Community Workshops

Group sessions to educate on health issues.

Chronic Disease Management

Strategies to manage long-term health conditions.

Nutrition Education

Teaching about healthy eating and dietary choices.

Mental Health Awareness

Promoting understanding and support for mental health.

Environmental Data

Reports on water quality and workplace safety.

Syndromic Surveillance

Monitoring emergency visits and absenteeism records.

Case Finding

Identifying and reporting suspected disease cases.

Community Education

Teaching public disease prevention and control measures.

Contact Tracing

Notifying individuals exposed to contagious diseases.

Policy Development

Contributing to public health guidelines and preparedness.

Direct Patient Care

Administering vaccines and coordinating follow-up care.

Analytical Skills

Collecting and interpreting public health data.