PUBH 3200 Quiz 1

Assessment

One of the three core functions of public health as specified by The Future of
Public Health. The process by which a public health agency regularly and systematically
collects, assembles, analyzes, and makes available information on the health of a community,
including statistics on health status, community health needs, and epidemiologic and other
studies of health problems

Assurance

One of the three core functions of public health as specified by The Future of
Public Health. The process by which a public health agency ensures its constituents that services
necessary to achieve agreed-upon goals are provided, either by encouraging actions by other
entities (private or public sectors), by requiring such action through regulation, or by providing
services directly

Biomedical sciences

The study of the biological basis of human health and disease, including
genetics, immunology, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and molecular approaches to
treatment

Bioterrorism

Terrorism involving the release of toxic biological agents

Community

A specific group of people, often living in a defined geographical area, who share
a common culture, values, and norms and are arranged in a social structure according to
relationships the community has developed over a period of time

Epidemiology

The study of populations to seek the causes of health and disease; the study of
the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations

Health

As defined by the World Health Organization, a state of physical, mental, and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity

Health outcomes

Results of healthcare interventions

Health promotion

Any planned combination of educational, political, regulatory, and
organizational supports for actions and conditions of living conducive to the health of
individuals, groups, or communities

Infectious disease

Disease caused by a microorganism (such as bacteria, protozoans, fungi, or
viruses) that enters the body and grows and multiplies there

Intervention

A generic term used in public health to describe a program or policy designed to
have an impact on a health problem

Life expectancy

The number of additional years of life expected at a specified point in time,
such as at birth or at age 65

Policy development

One of the three core functions of public health as specified by The
Future of Public Health. The process by which a public health agency exercises its responsibility
to serve the public interest in the development of comprehensive public health policies by
promoting use of scientific knowledge in decision making about public health and by leading in
developing public health policy. Agencies must take a strategic approach, developed on the basis
of a positive appreciation for the democratic political process

Primary prevention

Activities that are intended to prevent the onset of a disease or injury

Public health

As defined by The Future of Public Health, organized community efforts to
ensure conditions in which people can be healthy. Activities that society undertakes to prevent,
identify, and counter threats to the health of the public

Secondary prevention

Activities intended to minimize the risk of progression of or
complications from a disease or to minimize damage from an injury

Statistics

As a scientific discipline or method, a way of gathering and analyzing data to extract
information, seek causation, and calculate probabilities

Tertiary prevention

Activities intended to minimize disability caused by a disease or injury.
Rehabilitation is one tertiary prevention activity

Core functions of public health

• Assessment

• Policy development

• Assurance

• Equity is part of all of these areas.

10 ESSENTIAL

PUBLIC HEALTH

SERVICES

 Assess and monitor population health

status, factors that influence health, and

community needs and assets

 Investigate, diagnose, and address

health problems and hazards affecting

the population

 Communicate effectively to inform and

educate people about health, factors

that influence it, and how to improve it

 Strengthen, support, and mobilize

communities and partnerships to

improve health

 Create, champion, and implement

policies, plans, and laws that impact

health

 Utilize legal and regulatory actions designed to

improve and protect the public’s health

 Assure an effective system that enables equitable

access to the individual services and care needed

to be healthy

 Build and support a diverse and skilled public

health workforce

 Improve and innovate public health functions

through ongoing evaluation, research, and

continuous quality improvement

 Build and maintain a strong organizational

infrastructure for public health

Public Health versus Medical care

In medicine, the patient is the individual; in public health, the patient is the community

-Public health diagnoses the health of the community using public health sciences

-Treatment of a community involves new policies and interventions

-goal of medicine is to cure, goal of public is to prevent

-less than 3% of the nations total healthcare money is in public health

Allostatic Load

The wear and tear on the body because of chronic exposure to stressors. It
reflects the cumulative physiological toll on various bodily systems due to attempts to adapt to
stressors over time

Community

A group of people living in the same locality and under the same government,
sharing common interests, attitudes, and goals

Ecological Model

A framework for understanding the multiple levels of influence on health
behaviors and outcomes, which includes intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community,
and societal factors

Health Belief Model

A psychological model that explains and predicts health behaviors by
focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individuals regarding their susceptibility to a health
threat, the severity of the threat, the benefits of taking action, and the barriers to action

Intrapersonal Factors

Factors that exist within an individual and influence their health
behaviors and outcomes, such as knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and personality traits

Interpersonal Relations

The interactions and relationships between individuals, which can
influence health behaviors and outcomes through social support, communication, and shared
norms

Institutional Level

The level of influence on health that encompasses organizations,
institutions, and systems, including policies, practices, and structures that shape health outcomes

Lifecourse Perspective

An approach that considers how biological, social, and environmental
factors interact across an individual's life span to influence health and well-being at different
stages of life

Lifestyle Choices

Decisions and behaviors made by individuals that affect their health and
well-being, such as diet, physical activity, substance use, and sleep habits

Policy

A course of action or set of guidelines adopted and implemented by governments,
organizations, or other entities to achieve specific goals or address societal issues

Prohibition

The act or practice of forbidding or restricting the use, production, or sale of
certain substances or behaviors, often with the aim of promoting public health or safety

Regulatory Approach

A method of managing and controlling behaviors, products, or
industries through laws, regulations, and oversight mechanisms

Self-efficacy

The belief in one's ability to successfully perform specific tasks or behaviors to
achieve desired outcomes, which influences motivation, behavior, and resilience

Social Determinants of Health

The social, economic, and environmental conditions in which
people are born, grow, live, work, and age, which significantly influence health outcomes and
disparities

Social Norms Approach

A strategy for behavior change that focuses on shifting social norms
and perceptions to promote healthier behaviors and discourage unhealthy ones

Social Support

Emotional, instrumental, or informational assistance provided by social
networks, such as family, friends, or community groups, which can buffer against stress and
promote health and well-being

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

A composite measure of an individual's or group's economic
and social position in relation to others, often based on factors such as income, education,
occupation, and social status

Stress

A physiological and psychological response to perceived threats or challenges
(stressors), which can have short-term or long-term effects on health and well-being

Structural Determinants

The broader social, economic, and political factors that shape the
distribution of resources, opportunities, and power within society, influencing health outcomes
and inequities

Transtheoretical Model

A theoretical framework that describes the stages of behavior change
(precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) and the processes
individuals go through when making positive health behavior changes

Alzheimer's disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss,
cognitive decline, and changes in behavior, eventually leading to the inability to carry out daily
activities

arthritis

A group of inflammatory joint diseases causing pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints,
often resulting in reduced range of motion and functional impairment

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A progressive lung disease characterized by
airflow limitation, typically caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke or air
pollution, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing

congenital anomalies

Physical or developmental abnormalities present at birth, which may affect
various parts of the body, including organs, limbs, or systems

contraception

Methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy, including hormonal contraceptives,
barrier methods, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and sterilization procedures

dementia

A group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough
to interfere with daily functioning. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia

developmental disabilities

Conditions characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning,
adaptive behavior, and daily life skills, typically originating before the age of 18

health-compromising behaviors

Actions or habits that have a negative impact on health, such as
smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, lack of exercise, and risky sexual behavior

hospice

A specialized form of medical care focused on providing comfort and support to
individuals with terminal illnesses, typically in the final stages of life

infant mortality rate (IMR)

The number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000
live births in a given population within a specific time period, usually measured annually

life expectancy

The average number of years a person is expected to live, based on current
mortality rates and other demographic factors, often expressed as an estimate at birth

maternal mortality rates

The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births due to
complications related to pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum period

Medicare

A federal health insurance program in the United States primarily serving individuals
aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities or specific medical
conditions

morbidity

The prevalence or incidence of disease or illness within a population, often measured
in terms of the number of cases or rates of occurrence

prenatal care

Medical care and support provided to pregnant women before childbirth, aimed at
monitoring the health of both the mother and the developing fetus and addressing any potential
complications

preterm birth

The delivery of a baby before 37 weeks of gestation, which can increase the risk of
health problems and complications for the newborn.
quality of life (QOL)

An individual's overall well-being and satisfaction with various aspects of
life, including physical health, emotional well-being, social relationships, and personal fulfillment

socioeconomic status (SES)

A measure of an individual's or family's economic and social
position within society, often determined by factors such as income, education, occupation, and
access to resources

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

A federal
assistance program in the United States providing nutrition education, supplemental foods, and
healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children under the
age of five

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

The unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant,
typically occurring during sleep, and often associated with factors such as sleeping position,
environmental factors, or underlying vulnerabilities

unintentional injury

Physical harm or damage resulting from an accident or mishap, occurring
without intent or deliberate action