Lesson 3. Introduction to key concepts

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Headshot of Robert (Bob) Lutz, MD, MPH · Public Health course director
Robert (Bob) Lutz
MD, MPH · Public Health course director
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Headshot of Jaime Bowman, MD · Vice Chair, Family Medicine
Jaime Bowman
MD · Vice Chair, Family Medicine
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Headshot of Chaise Zozaya, MPH MBA · Course director
Chaise Zozaya
MPH MBA · Course director
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Table of Contents

Social determinants of health

  • Conditions

    Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, including access to and quality of health care services. 

  • Impact

    These factors influence a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes and risks. 

Optional reading
  • Social Determinants of Health. Healthy People 2023. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Epidemiology

  • Definition

    The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the control of the health problems.

  • Applications

    Used to identify risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare. 

Health promotion, disease prevention, and health protection

Health promotion

The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. 

Disease prevention

Measures taken to prevent diseases rather than curing them or treating their symptoms. 

Health protection

Efforts to protect the public from avoidable health risks and minimize their health impacts. 

Global health

Scope

Health issues that transcend national boundaries and governments and call for actions on the global forces that determine the health of people. 

Public Health ethics

  • Principles

    Balancing individual rights with the health and well-being of the community. 

  • Applications

    Ethical considerations in public health interventions and policies. 

Public Health approach


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