PBH 110 Midterm Exam Review Guide 2

Three Core Functions of Public Health

Assessment, Policy Development, Assurance

Assessment

Systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of information about the health of a community

Policy Development

Using data to create public health policies and strategies that improve community health

Assurance

 Ensuring that essential health services are accessible and high quality

5 Public Health Disciplines

Epidemiology, Biostats, Environmental Health Sciences, Health Policy and Management, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in populations.

Biostatistics

The application of statistical methods to analyze and interpret data related to public health and medicine.

Environmental Health Sciences

The study of how environmental factors affect human health, including air and water quality, chemical exposure, and disease prevention.

Health Policy and Management

The field that focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of health policies and the management of health care systems and organizations.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The study of how social factors, behaviors, and cultural influences impact health outcomes and health-related behaviors.

The Black Plague

Caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, spread through fleas carried by rats and human-to-human transmission in its pneumonic form

Factors that Contributed to Black Plaque

Trade routes, Poor sanitation, Lack of medical knowledge, Human-Human transmission

When and Where was the First major public health legislation

The first major public health legislation was enacted in 1848 in England, aimed at improving sanitary conditions and reducing disease.

Mary Mallon

the first known asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever

Tuskee Study

A controversial study conducted between 1932 and 1972 that observed the natural progression of untreated syphilis in African American men without their informed consent.

Belmont Report

A report outlining ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects, published in 1979.

Respect for persons

A fundamental ethical principle in research that recognizes the autonomy of individuals and the need to protect those with diminished autonomy.

Beneficence

An ethical principle in research that emphasizes the obligation to minimize harm and maximize benefits to participants.

Justice

An ethical principle in research that emphasizes fairness in the distribution of benefits and burdens among participants, ensuring that no group is unfairly burdened or excluded from potential benefits.

Reservoir/Host

An organism that harbors a pathogen and provides a source for its transmission to other hosts. Reservoirs can be living or non-living entities that allow the pathogen to survive and multiply.

Mode of Transmission

The way in which a pathogen is spread from one host to another, including direct contact, respiratory droplets, or vectors.

How to disrupt the chain of infection

Implementing measures such as hand hygiene, vaccination, and proper sanitation to prevent the spread of pathogens and protect public health.

Healthy People 2020

Aimed to improve public health by setting specific, measurable targets in areas such as disease prevention, health equity, mental health, and healthcare access

How Healthy People 2020 Goals Are Developed

Stakeholder Input, Data Collection and Analysis, Evidence-Based Approach, Public Comment and Review

The 5-Step Process in the Public Health Approach

Define the health problem, Identify risk factors, Develop and test interventions, Implement interventions, Evaluate results

Who are the 4 H’s of HIV/AIDS epidemic

Homosexuals, Hemophiliacs, Heroin Users, Haitians

John Snow

Father of epidemiology, cholera, drinking water

Case

Any individual who meets the criteria for the disease or condition being investigated during the outbreak

Confirmed Case

A person who has been diagnosed with the disease based on laboratory tests, clinical diagnosis, or other scientific evidence.

Probable Case

A person who shows symptoms or signs of the disease but may not yet have confirmed laboratory results

Suspected Case

A person who exhibits symptoms or has been exposed to the disease but has not yet been diagnosed.

Case Definition

A case definition is a set of standardized criteria used to classify and count cases during an outbreak. It typically includes

Clinical criteria

The specific signs and symptoms that define the disease

Laboratory criteria

If applicable, the laboratory test results needed to confirm the presence of the pathogen or disease

Epidemiological criteria

Exposure history, such as where the individual lives, where they have traveled, or whether they have had contact with other infected people.

Endemic

A disease is considered endemic when it is consistently present in a particular population or geographic area over a long period of time

Epidemic

An epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a particular disease beyond what is normally expected in a population or geographic area

Pandemic

an epidemic that has spread across multiple countries orAcontinents, affecting a large proportion of the global population.

Cohort studies

These studies follow large groups of people (cohorts) over many years, collecting detailed data on various health indicators, behaviors, exposures, and genetic factors

Death rates

Death rates measure the number of deaths in a specific population within a set period (usually one year)

Life Expectancy

The average number of years a person can expect to live

Mortality rate

= (no. of deaths from cause) / (Total pop. at risk) * how many people are in the pop ur testing

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disease that develop in a specific population during a certain time period

Prevalence

Refers to the total number of cases (both new and pre-existing) of a disease present in a population at a specific point in time or over a defined period.

Notifiable Diseases

Diseases that must be reported to public health authorities by healthcare providers, laboratories, or other officials. These diseases are tracked because they pose significant public health risks like outbreaks, epidemics, or potential bioterrorism threats.

Intervention study

Investigates the effect of a treatment or intervention by randomly assigning participants to groups.

Case-Control

Retrospective study comparing individuals with a disease (cases) to those without (controls) to identify risk factors.

How to state null hypothesis

Stating that there is no significance between the variables being studied

P-Value (Probability Value)

p < 0.05 = significant

Why Are Screening Tests Used?

Early Detection, Preventative Care, Public Health Impact

Why are Diagnostic Tests Used?

Confirm disease in symptomatic individuals or those with positive screening results

BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)

Tracks health-related behaviors, chronic diseases, and preventive measures in U.S. adults

NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey)

Measures health and nutrition status of children and adults.

NHIS (National Health Interview Survey)

Collects broad health information on U.S. households, including access to healthcare, insurance, and chronic conditions.

Crude Rates

The total number of events in a population divided by the total population size, without considering differences in population

Age adjusted rates

Are useful for different populations, racial groups, trends over time

Risk Perception

How the general public interprets and emotionally responds to potential dangers

The Cencus

Provides critical demographic, economic, and social data used for government planning, policy-making, and resource allocation

Morbidity Compression Theory

Developed by James Fries in 1980, theory suggests that as life expectancy increases, the period of illness and disability at the end of life can be compressed into a shorter timeframe

Rachel Carson’s’ Silent Spring

A groundbreaking book that exposed the dangers of pesticides

Clean Water Act (CWA) – 1972

•  Reduced industrial pollution in waterways.

• Improved water quality in lakes and rivers.

• Increased enforcement against polluters.

• Protected wetlands and ecosystems.

Safe Drinking Water Act 1974

• Provided safer drinking water for millions of Americans.

• Reduced exposure to toxic chemicals in water.

• Established ongoing monitoring and enforcement for water suppliers.

• Strengthened public confidence in tap water safety.

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)

Regulates meat, poultry, and egg products, along with agriculture and nutrition programs

FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

Regulates all other foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and dietary supplements

Flint Water Crisis

Began in April 2014 when the city switched its water supply from Detroit’s system (Lake Huron) to the Flint River as a cost-saving measure. The new water source was highly corrosive, and due to improper water treatment, lead from aging pipes leached into the drinking water

Criteria Air Pollutants

A group of six major air pollutants regulated by the EPA under the Clean Air Act due to their harmful effects on health and the environment

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to climate change.

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

A 1986 U.S. law that requires industries to report hazardous chemical storage and releases to the public

Non-Point Source Pollution

Pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources rather than a single, identifiable site (like a factory or pipe)