Healthcare and public health are typically conceptualized as separate, albeit related, systems. While there are distinct differences in the role and responsibilities of public health and healthcare professionals, the responsibilities of the two disciplines do overlap in some situations.
Review the website What is Public Health and respond to the following questions in relation to differentiating public health from healthcare:
In your opinion, what are the major differences between public health and healthcare? Explain at least two differences.
Based on these differences, do you agree that public health and healthcare are interdependent? Give reasons in support of your answer.US public health officials have identified three core functions and ten essential public health services that a health department must perform. Combined with responsibilities associated with disaster or bioterrorism preparedness, which have become pertinent since September 11, 2001, they remain the core responsibilities of all health departments.
Review the following reports:
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (1988). The future of public health. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Reports/1988/The-Future- of-Public-Health.aspxof-Public-Health.aspx
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (n.d.). The future of the public’s health in the 21st century. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2002/The-Future-of-the-Publics-Health-in-the21st-Century.aspx
Based on your review of the reports, respond to the following discussion points in relation to the government’s role in public health:
Identify one example from your local health department or a health department of your choice that illustrates at least one of the three core public health functions.
Define the core functions. In 2–3 sentences, examine how this definition applies to your selected example.

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Define the term case-control study, describing how cases and controls are selected. Compare and contrast case-cross control studies with respect to their specific applications. Using the textbook, list some examples of case-control and cross-sectional studies.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each of the following types of controls in a case-control study:
Population-based
Hospital cases
Relatives
The association between job-related exposure to welding fumes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was explored in a case-control study. The following data were reported for 399 COPD patients: 37 currently employed as welders; the remainder had no occupational exposure. Among 800 controls, 48 were employed as welders. Set up a 2 by 2 table and calculate the OR (odds ratio) between welding and COPD.
Why would you exclude women who cannot develop the disease as controls in a case-control study of gynecologic cancer?

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In this discussion, you will compare and contrast a descriptive epidemiologic study with an analytic epidemiologic study.

In the text of your initial post propose a one-paragraph design of a descriptive study pertaining to a demographic population of which you are a member. If necessary, refresh your memory of the key characteristics of descriptive studies by reviewing your text.
After describing the study design, discuss its purpose in both general and specific terms.

Sample Solution