Epidemiology

1. Describe the role of epidemiology in public health decision-making.
2. Apply epidemiological concepts and principles to assessment and management of public health problems.
3. Assess disparities and ethical issues in health caused by racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, age, socioeconomic or environmental factors and their influences on health behaviors and risks in populations.
   • Reading Assignment: Week 2
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   Introduction to Public Health
   • Epidemiology is commonly thought of as the foundation of public health because it is a study which aids our understanding of the nature, cause, and extent of public health problems and provides crucial information for improving the health and social conditions of people. Public health delivery has evolved alongside the epidemiological events and disease courses you have studied in the previous week. Public health practice is expansive, engaging, and full of diversity and potential to make a difference in the health quality of people’s lives. Public health has been practiced for many centuries through modern day times. Public health officials and practitioners must stay updated and current in their realm of practice to care for countless populations of people all over the globe. It is an expanded role in healthcare, and offers a new and exciting exploration for the health care professional seeking a new area of specialty practice.
   • The mission and practice of public health has changed over time, and we can learn from history to create effective and productive alliances to have progressive social change as a result of public health. This is not just the prevention of disease, but to produce a socially improved society, a better world. This is a powerful statement!
   • This video provides examples of how public health is all around us from a college student’s perspective: What is Public Health?
   • There are so many facets contained within public health and multiple areas of concentration for health care professionals. Prevention of disease is a key focus you will read about in your Gordis text on pages 327-329. The required reading articles discuss examples and programs in primary and secondary prevention efforts in several epidemiological and chronic disease management scenarios.
   • Jones-Parker (2012) presents primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in HIV infected patients due to their accelerated rate of disease progression. The primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention interventions are designed to prevent, minimize, and mitigate CVD risks.
   • Norton, Matthews, Barnes, Yaffe, and Brayne (2014) present primary prevention strategies for potentially modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Using statistical data, the authors discuss seven modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and dementias which may be used in public health approaches to promote healthier old age and potentially reduce the prevalence of these devastating diseases.
   • Wherrett (2014) discusses previous study results on the epidemiology, genetics, and prediction of type 1 diabetes. The need for further study and interventions of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention are presented.
   • The incidence of Type 2 diabetes and its progressive combination with CVD is on the rise globally and results in increased morbidity, mortality, and costs. Phillips (2014) contends that Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and healthcare professionals play a crucial role in targeting individuals who are in high risk groups for Type 2 diabetes, including individuals with prediabetes.The author discusses a diabetes awareness strategy across populations that may motivate and inform at risk individuals toward diabetes primary prevention programs.
   • Healthy People 2020 is a site that is chock-full of information about improving the health of individuals in America, but this can be spread further beyond the borders. Learning about what Healthy People, 2020 is makes us understand the scope of health promotion and expanded in this course. This information is updated every 10 years and this is the third time it has been presented as a major educational intervention to improve the life of Americans. Some new topics in this edition include Genomics, Adolescent Health, Sleep Health, and Global Health, among others (Healthy People, 2020). Epidemiology uses this kind of data to both plan for and then evaluate these health interventions.
   • The World Health Organization has an enormous scope of operations, including those of disease surveillance. One example, tobacco use and exposure, is addressed in the WHO Surveillance and Monitoring site, which discusses the Tobacco-free initiative to improve outcomes on tobacco use, exposure, and related disease outcomes.
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   As you read the required readings, think of agencies in your local community that exist to improve the health of your community. Think of an agency you have collaborated with in your professional career or personal life that serves to impact and improve the health of your local community. For this week’s discussion you will interview a public health agency in your area to learn more about its mission, scope of practice, and how this relates to epidemiology.
   • Week 2: Required Readings
   • Gordis (2014): Chapter 18, pp. 326-332.
   • Jones-Parker, H. (2012). Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients with HIV disease: A guide for nurse practitioners. The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care JANAC, 23(2), 124-133. doi:10.1016/j.jana.2011.08.001
   • Healthy People 2020. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx

• Norton, S., Matthews, F. E., Barnes, D. E., Yaffe, K., & Brayne, C. (2014). Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer’s disease: An analysis of population-based data. The Lancet Neurology, 13(8), 788-794. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70136-X
• Wherrett. D. K. (2014). Trials in the prevention of type 1 diabetes: Current and future. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 38(4), 279-284. doi:10.1016/j.jcjd.2014.05.004
• World Health Organization. (2016). News and top stories. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/en/

When you have completed the readings for this week, please proceed to Discussion: Week 2.

Discussion: Week 2: Public Health

Public Health in Action
For this week’s DQ, you are asked to choose a public health organization or agency, other than your local public health department. It can be close to your home or accessible by phone, or relate, in some way, to your own professional/personal interest. For example, if one’s interest lies with diabetes education and diabetes prevention, then you might choose the American Diabetes Association (ADA) or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and interview someone in the local chapter for this discussion.
Here is a suggested list of questions for an interview with someone at a Public Health agency of your choice. These questions are a basic template, and you can ask additional questions to gain more information. Identify yourself as a SUNY Delhi BSN Student and explain that this information is for an assignment in your class, and will be shared with other students in an online learning forum. Ask what their restrictions are for confidentiality and keep to them in the DQ.
The interview may be conducted in person or over the phone. Confidentiality and professionalism are stressed in this discussion and will be preserved throughout the week.

1. Using the information collected in your interview with a public health agency, please share the following with your colleagues:
2. 
   o Introduce the agency and its function, supplying an identifying local website if available.
   o Provide a detailed summary of the interview based on the questions in the template and your own (Cite as a personal communication, p. 179 in APA manual).
   o What epidemiological principles are applied in the agency’s mission and operations?
   o What did you learn from this experience from an epidemiological standpoint and what is the agency’s role in community healthcare?
3. Respond to three or more postings on different public health agencies chosen by your peers, addressing such things as:
   o How is this agency fulfilling a meaningful function in the community?
   o Describe ways this organization can be more focused on the diverse needs of the population it serves.
   o What evidence or research supports the role of this organization in public health?
   o How might multidisciplinary members of the healthcare team use this organization’s services?

Remember the basic rules of posting:

1. You must include citations to support what you write and they must be in APA format. At least one should be another peer reviewed scholarly source besides your texts and readings, and follow the basic rules of not more than 5 years old.
2. Emotion and intent clearly come through in this medium.
3. Be courteous, non-judgmental, and supportive, even when you disagree.
4. Postings must have substance: “I agree” or “Good posting” are examples of postings that do not meet this criteria and will not count as a required posting.
5. Always check the grading rubric as you reply to ensure you meet all criterion and earn all the points possible.
6. Review the grading rubric to ensure you are meeting all criteria