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Public Health Education (public + health_education)
Selected AbstractsA Survey of the Emergency Department Population and Their Interest in Preventive Health EducationACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2 2003Ingrid Llovera MD Abstract Objective: To determine which preventive health information the emergency department (ED) population (patients and visitors) would be most interested in having available to them while they spend time in the waiting area. Methods: This was a prospective survey of consecutive adults seated in the ED waiting area during a representative week on predetermined shifts. The survey asked them to indicate whether they would be interested in obtaining information about the following preventive health issues: breast cancer, prostate cancer, smoking, obesity, stress reduction, exercise programs, alcohol/drugs, HIV, blood pressure screening, immunizations, referrals to primary care physicians, Pap smears, car safety, smoke detectors, domestic and youth violence, depression, gun safety, and safe sex. Results: Of the 1,284 subjects approached, 878 (68%) made up the study group (56% female, mean age = 44 years, 60% white); 406 refused. The information people were most interested in obtaining was the following: 52% of the respondents were interested in referral to stress reduction programs, 51% in information about exercise programs, 42% in blood pressure screening, 40% in information about breast cancer screening, 33% in depression information/screening, 33% in prostate cancer screening, 26% in immunization against pneumococcus, 24% in immunization against tetanus, 26% in smoking cessation programs, and 26% in safe driving information. Women were most interested in breast cancer screening (64%); and men, in prostate cancer screening (55%). Conclusions: Of the 878 subjects in the study group, 96% were interested in obtaining information about one or more preventive health issues. An opportunity exists to respond to this interest by providing material for public health education in the waiting area of EDs. [source] Public health in the undergraduate medical curriculum , can we achieve integration?JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2000David H. Stone MD, FFPHM, FRCP (Glasg) Abstract Public health is widely regarded by medical students as peripheral or even irrelevant to the acquisition of clinical knowledge and skills. This paper attempts to set out some of the reasons for this, to encourage innovative approaches to integrating public health with clinical teaching and to offer a theoretical framework of integrated public health education for curriculum development and evaluation. The points of convergence between public health and clinical practice should not be regarded as self-evident. A practical demonstration of the application of public health principles to clinical problem solving may be the most effective means of overcoming resistance. Almost anywhere that clinical services are provided is suitable for this purpose. Community clinics, health centres or general practices have obvious appeal but acute hospitals have important advantages arising from students' preoccupation with clinical medicine. The main aim of integrated public health teaching is to facilitate the students' acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes that promote the effective application of public health approaches to clinical practice. The interrelationships between clinical practice and public health may be represented in the form of a grid. The vertical headings are the clinical skills that relate to the different stages of the natural history of disease , from the pre-disease state through diagnosis, treatment and follow up. The horizontal headings describe four key public health dimensions: epidemiology, behaviour/lifestyle, environment and health policy. The text in the boxes suggests appropriate topics for discussion. The grid is also potentially useful for course documentation and content evaluation. [source] Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Education in Russia Using a Video ApproachJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 6 2000Mohammad R. Torabi ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS has intruded upon the geographic, political, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation of communities all over the world. As of April 1999, Russia has recorded approximately 13,532 cases of HIV infection. Since the costs of treatment are expensive for many countries, and especially for Russia, educational intervention appears to offer the most effective and affordable solution. A quasi-experimental design, with pre/post tests and intervention (through video education)/control groups, was used to study 20 public schools in St. Petersburg, Russia. Results confirmed the lack of HIV/AIDS education in schools and insufficient information sources from parents, friends, and public health education. ANCOVA statistics demonstrated that use of video education significantly improved students' scores on knowledge and attitudes related to HIV/AIDS prevention. Thus, health educators should consider video education as an effective and efficient tool to present facts to a young audience when they face constraints of shortage of funds, lack of trained teachers, and scarcity of related information. [source] Effect of an Integrated Public Health Curriculum in an Emergency Medicine ResidencyACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2009Marian Betz Background: Emergency departments (EDs) serve as a central point of interaction between the public and the medical system. Emergency physicians need education in public health in order to optimize their clinical care and their ability to evaluate potential public health interventions in the ED. Methods: As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of American Medical College's (AAMC) national initiative for "Regional Medicine-Public Health Education Centers-Graduate Medical Education", we designed and implemented a new public health curriculum for the emergency medicine residents. Over four sessions during regular didactic time, we used a modular approach to link a basic public health principle, such as environmental hazard assessment, to a relevant clinical topic, such as violent patients and ED safety. Each session emphasized resident involvement, including small group work and role-plays. Journal clubs and quality assurance projects supplemented the curriculum. We sought resident feedback through focus groups and anonymous online pre- and post-tests for each session. Assessment: Both before and after the curriculum, 76% of responders felt it was important for physicians to receive training in public health. The program appeared to have a positive effect on residents' comfort level with various public health topics, and felt the residency program had taught them the skills necessary to implement public health principles in clinical practice (23.8%, versus 11.5% before; p<0.05). Conclusions: Integration of public health principles into existing clinical curricula in emergency medicine may increase resident interest and knowledge. Combining public health and emergency medicine topics in regular didactic conferences facilitates public health education for residents. [source] Developing National Physical Activity Guidelines for AustraliansAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2001Garry Egger The process and outcome of developing National Physical Activity Guidelines for Australians is described. The guidelines provide a means of incorporating new data on physical activity into public health education. [source] |