1 Foundations of Public Health Free Online FlashCards

What does population health examine?

Population health focuses on the health outcomes of a group and how those outcomes are distributed within that group.

How can a population be defined?

A population may be defined by geography, age, shared circumstances, or another characteristic.

Why examine how health outcomes are distributed within a population?

Examining distribution can reveal differences hidden by an overall average, such as rising asthma rates in neighborhoods near a major road.

Which sectors can work together to improve population health?

Public health agencies, health-care organizations, schools, employers, local governments, and community groups can collaborate to improve health conditions.

What are the four broad categories of health determinants?

They include social and economic conditions, physical conditions, individual characteristics and behaviors, and health services.

What are the social determinants of health?

They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, along with the broader systems and resource distribution shaping those conditions.

How can income and housing conditions influence asthma?

Income and housing options can shape where a family lives; housing quality and nearby traffic can affect asthma-trigger exposure, while access to care can affect diagnosis and management.

What can result when social conditions are unfairly distributed?

Unfairly distributed conditions can create avoidable differences in health between groups.

What is the central role of public health?

Public health protects and improves population health by monitoring community health, investigating problems and hazards, supporting collective action, and helping ensure essential services and capacity.

How does public health complement individual medical care?

Health care primarily serves patients, while public health also addresses conditions and risks affecting groups and communities.

What happens during the assessment function of public health?

Assessment collects and analyzes information about health status, determinants, community needs, and hazards.

What is the policy development function of public health?

Policy development uses evidence and community engagement to set priorities and develop policies, plans, and partnerships.