New to the Third Edition: New or expanded sections covering: Pandemic Flu Response to Hurricane Katrina FDA Regulation of Tobacco Promoting Physical Activity Poisoning (now the #2 cause of injury death) Nonfatal Traumatic Brain Injuries National Children's Study Coal Ash and other unregulated waste from power plants Medical errors Information Technology New information/discussion on: H1N1 swine flu Conflicts of interest in drug trials Problems in planning for the 2010 census Genomic medicine Cell phones/texting while driving National birth defects prevention study The new HPV vaccine controversy Lead paint in toys imported from china Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates The recent Salmonella outbreak in Peanut Butter Contaminated drug imports from China Managed care efforts to control medical costs Evaluation of Healthy People 2010 and planning for Healthy People 2020 New examples including: Andrew Speaker/Extremely Drug Resistant (XDR) Tuberculosis Football players and increased risk for dementia later in life.

Introduction to Public Health is a foundation, introductory text addressing the principles and practice of public health. Written from a multidisciplinary perspective, the text defines the discipline of public health, the nature and scope of public health activity and the challenges that face public health in the 21st century. Designed for undergraduate health science and nursing students, the text helps readers with their understanding of the nature and scope of public health and the challenges facing the field into the future. Positions public health concepts within an Australian and New Zealand context Chapter case studies and examples to help illustrate key points Chapter reflection and review questions to assist readers with their application to practise Logical structure enabling those new to public health to grasp complex concepts and apply to current health practice New—A suite of video interviews with leading public health experts who each share a broad contextual overview of public health now and into the future Additional resources on Evolve eBook on VitalSource Instructor Resources Image Bank (tables and figures from the book) Case studies Video interviews Students Resources Student Quiz

“The contents are not specifically nursing orientated but very neatly balanced to be of relevance to all working in the public health arena…the book is well written, the language is clear, and the concepts clearly and simply explained and easily understood” Journal of Biosocial Science What are epidemiology and public health? What is the nature of public health evidence and knowledge? What strategies can be used to protect and improve health? The second edition of this bestselling book provides a multi-professional introduction to the key concepts in public health and epidemiology. It presents a broad, interactive account of contemporary public health, placing an emphasis on developing public health skills and stimulating the reader to think through the issues for themselves. The new edition features additional material on: Historical perspectives Public health skills for practice Evaluation of public health interventions The nature of evidence and public health knowledge Translating policy and evidence into practice An Introduction to Public Health and Epidemiology is key reading for students of public health and healthcare professionals, including: nurses, doctors, community development workers and public health workers.

Public health is a term much used in the media, by health professionals, and by activists. At the national or the local level there are ministries or departments of public health, whilst international agencies such as the World Health Organisation promote public health policies, and regional organisations such as the European Union have public health funding and policies. But what do we mean when we speak about 'public health'? In this Very Short Introduction Virginia Berridge explores the areas which fall under the remit of public health, and explains how the individual histories of different countries have come to cause great differences in the perception of the role and responsibilities of public health organisations. Thus, in the United States litigation on public health issues is common, but state involvement is less, while some Scandinavian countries have a tradition of state involvement or even state ownership of industries such as alcohol in connection with public health. In its narrowest sense, public health can refer to the health of a population, the longevity of individual members, and their freedom from disease, but it can also be anticipatory, geared to the prevention of illness, rather than simply the provision of care and treatment. In the way public health deals with healthy as well as sick people it is therefore a separate concept from health services, which deal with the sick population. Drawing on a wide range of international examples, Berridge demonstrates the central role of history to understanding the amorphous nature of public health today. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

What can you contribute to improving and protecting the health of your community? Public health is becoming an increasingly central area of healthcare practice and people working in public health come from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. This practical and accessible book maps out the range of exciting and varied options open to people considering a career in public health, and provides helpful information on how to get there, either as a fully-fledged specialist or in an operational practitioner role. Designed especially for those wanting to learn about public heath, it looks at public health work in a range of settings, from health services to the commercial sector, and in a range of different roles, from health protection to public health intelligence. Numerous personal accounts and case studies from highly experienced practitioners and specialists, as well as those new to their roles, illustrate what their roles involve and how have they had an impact on improving health and reducing inequality. This is the ideal book for anyone interested in putting public health at the centre of their working lives.

The only public health text to incorporate new Affordable Care Act legislation Praise for the first edition: "More than just another preliminary textbook, this comprehensive introduction for those who are new to the field of public health weaves together its values, goals, and practices into a lucid introductory text." óSally Guttmacher, PhD Professor, Director, Masterís in Community Public Health Program New York University This second edition of Introduction to Public Health is the only text to encompass the new legislation implemented by the Affordable Care Act, with its focus on prevention and its increase in funding for prevention research. Updated and thoroughly revised, this foundational resource surveys all major topics related to the U.S. public health system, including organization on local and national levels, financing, workforce, goals, initiatives, accountability, and metrics. The text is unique in combining the perspectives of both academicians and public health officials, and examines new job opportunities and the growing interest in the public health field. Comprehensive and accessible, the text discusses a variety of new trends in public health, particularly regarding primary care and public health partnerships. The second edition also includes information about new accountability initiatives and workforce requirements to contribute to health services research and clinical outcomes research in medical care. The text stresses the increasing emphasis on efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in achieving population health improvements, and goes beyond merely presenting information to analyze the question of whether the practice of public health achieves its promise. Each chapter includes objectives, review questions, and case studies. Also included are an instructorís manual with test questions (covering every major public health improvement initiative and introducing every major data system sponsored by the U.S. public health system) and PowerPoint slides. The bookís nine chapters address the history of U.S. public health from its inception and offer a sweeping examination of topics in organization and financing, infectious disease control, injury and noninfectious diseases, system performance, system improvement, public health leadership, building healthy communities, and the future of public health. New to the Second Edition: Completely updated and revised Addresses changes brought about by Obamacare Discusses building healthy communities and the determinants of health Adds new chapter on public health leadership Covers new developments in treating Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and other illnesses Investigates intentional injuries such as suicide, homicide, and war Key Features: Provides information that is holistic, comprehensive, and accessible Covers all major topics of organization, financing, leadership, goals, initiatives, accountability, and metrics Relates current public health practice to the fieldís history and mission Analyzes successful and unsuccessful aspects of health care delivery

As public accountability has increased and resources have become scarcer, public health, like clinical medicine, has been forced to re-examine the benefits and costs of its activities. Decision and economic analysis are basic tools in carrying out that mission. These methods have become standard practice in clinical medicine and health services research. This book , now in its second edition, was written in an effort to apply and adapt that experience with public health situations.The book was originally written to introduce Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff to the concepts of decision and economic analysis, to provide guidance on methods to maximize comparability of studios, and to provide access to frequently used reference information. It has been adapted to meet the needs of scientists and managers in state and local health departments and managed care organizations as well as students in schools of public health and clinicians for an introductory text --a text that shows how these methods can be applied in population-based practice, to facilitate better comparability of studies, and to solidify understanding of the scientific basis for use of these tools in decision making. Decision makers will learn how these studies are conducted so they can be critical consumers-- understanding the strengths and limitations- and apply findings to policy and practice.The second edition updates and expands upon the standard methodology for condcuting prevention effectiveness analyses. Each chapter has been revised or re-written. The chapters on measuring effectiveness, decision analysis, and making information useful for decision makers as well as several appendices are entirely new.