scope of public health
public health practice involves all that is done to improve health
core functions of public health
assessment, policy development, assurance
assessment
monitoring health; diagnosing and investigating
policy development
mobilize community partnerships; develop policies; inform, educate, empower
assurance
provide/link to care; evaluate; enforce policies; assure competant workforce
prevention
at the core of public health
primary prevention
stop people from falling ill in the first place
secondary prevention
reduce impact of disease as early as possible
tertiary prevention
reduce impact of an ongoing injury or disease once an individual has been diagnosed and treated
natural history of disease
refers to what would happen if nothing was done (disease progression)
stages of disease
susceptibility, subclinical, clinical, recovery/disability/death
susceptibility is…
primary; exposure and risk factors
subclinical is…
secondary; pathological changes
tertiary is…
tertiary; the onset of symptoms