Pharmacy in Public Health: Introduction Course, date, etc. info

In-class Activity Explain in a sentence or two what the words ‘public health’ mean to you. Describe in a sentence or two an example of a public health activity. Identify something in public health that you would like to learn about in this course. Identify one thing that pharmacists could do to improve public health.

Objectives Define public health Compare public health to clinical treatment and clinical prevention Discuss the population approach to public health Describe an ecological approach to public health Responsibility for public health

Definition of Public Health—1

Definition of Pubic Health—2 3. Beaglehole R. Public Health at the Crossroads: Achievements and Prospects, 2 nd ed. West Nyack, NY: Cambridge University Press; 2004.

Definition of Public Health—3 4. Young, TK. Population Health: Concepts and Methods. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1998.

The role of pharmacy in public health includes: 1) Access to medications 2) Assuring safe & effective medications 3) Safely using/discarding medications EXAMPLE Pharmacy students disposing of medications for patients at a health fair

Figure 1.2 Health and the natural history of disease

Definitions Health promotion Occurs while individuals are healthy to improve overall health, reduce risks, and increase resistance if exposed. These activities often target entire populations Exposure/risk factors Factors that increase the risk of a disease developing in a person or population Disease prevention Related to exposure and risk factors; Activities focus on prevention of a specific disease and target populations will consist of at-risk individuals.

Figure 1.3 Health Screening at Health Fair

Population May refer to the number of residents of a specific geographic area or political division (e.g. state or city) May refer to individuals who share common characteristics (e.g. over age 65) May refer to residents in the service area of a clinic or hospital

Figure 1.4 Sign advertising women’s health fair

Table 1.1 Public Health versus Clinical Prevention and Treatment

Epidemiology and Statistics Epidemiology – Describes patterns of health and disease in a population – Represents the basic science of public health Statistics – Used to summarize data related to a population – Used to compare groups to identify factors promoting health or preventing disease

Environment and the Ecological Approach Consider the aspects of the environment external to an individual that affect health – E.g. contaminated foods, accidents Ecological approach—the relationship of the individual with their environment – Identifies factors in the environment associated with health including factors not part of health care or biomedicine – Represents a broad approach to health

Responsibility for Public Health Government has a critical role in assuring the health of populations Health care professionals have a special responsibility for public health based on their expertise in health Community members have a responsibility to assure their living conditions are as healthy as possible

Expanded Roles for Pharmacy in Public Health Pharmacists have responsibilities in public health related to: – Medications and their use EXAMPLE: access to medications when there is no 24 hour pharmacy in the community – Above average knowledge and training in health EXAMPLE: Understanding of how fluoridation of water supplies can reduce cavities – Residents of the community EXAMPLE: because they live in the community they know that there are lots of stray dogs around

Summary Public health is focused on the health of populations Promoting better health and preventing avoidable causes of disease or early death Epidemiology and statistics are the tools of public health The ecological approach is broad and considers all factors associated with health Responsibility for public health is shared between government, health professionals, and community members