Health vs. Public Health
Health
Definition
"The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." (WHO, 1948)
The ability to realize aspirations, satisfy needs, and cope with the environment.
Health as a resource for everyday life, not merely an objective.
Positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, along with physical capacities (WHO, 1984).
Ability to maintain homeostasis and recover from insults.
Public Health
Definition
"The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts." - Charles-Edward Winslow (1920)
"Collective effort to identify and address the unacceptable realities that result in preventable and avoidable health outcomes, and it is the composite efforts and activities that are carried out by people committed to these ends." -Turnock (1997)
''Health of the population, longevity of individuals, and freedom from disease."
Category | Definition | Approach | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
HEALTH | The state of complete physical, mental & social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO 1948) | Patient care & service delivery | Patient using evidence-based practice |
PUBLIC HEALTH | The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts of society. (Charles-Edward Winslow, 1920) | Examination of health problems in at-risk populations | Population-based focus |