Public Health Importance of a Health Issue

Health Topic and its Public Health Importance

1.Describe the health topic you will be addressing and its public health importance. It is helpful to include one or two ideas from each section. You may also want to include how much this disease costs in health care dollars and the great potential to improve health outcomes if this problem is addressed. End with a summary statement that makes your point that the issue is a serious concern that merits public health intervention. 

2.Give more information about the disease/health issue and its significance (why does it matter?); describes the effects of the disease/health issue, including if it raises risk for mortality or other major diseases, and how it effects quality of life as the health problem progresses. Describes factors that impact risk, which should include behavioral and environmental risk factors, as well as non-changeable factors that may increase risk for this condition (e.g. age, family history, genetics).

3.Provides incidence and prevalence of the disease/issue nationally, locally and in the target population; shows how the occurrence of disease or disease outcomes differs by demographic characteristics. Make sure that the reader can clearly see  which group has more incidence and/or worse outcomes so that your rationale for the population you are going to work with is clear to the reader. 

4.Describe how to prevent the disease, including health-related behaviors that decrease risk for developing this disease or issue (e.g., exercise, condom use, hand washing, vaccines).Focus is on primary and secondary prevention.

5.Describe how the disease is diagnosed (e.g., pap test, blood pressure screening, blood test) and how late diagnosis could impact the individual (e.g., more invasive treatment) and the population (e.g., higher health care costs to society).

6.Describe treatment for the disease (e.g., drugs, therapy, surgery) along with success rates. Consider whether the disease is likely to be cured or managed and what management looks like.

7.Briefly summarize why this health issue is important and needs to be addressed. It should not introduce new concepts or ideas, but it should be a comprehensive summary of all you have discussed in your entire Background.