Importance of Epidemiology in Public Health and MPH Programme

This article discusses the importance of epidemiology in public health and how it can help in managing health problems of patients. It also explores the competency framework of MPH programme and its core areas such as health surveillance and monitoring, disease control and prevention, health promotion, health protection and health planning, policy and evaluation. The Council of the Academic Public Health Institutions Australia and its competency framework for public health graduates are also discussed.

Epidemiology

Table of Contents
Education background and work experience.............................................................................2
Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australia........................................................2
Epidemiology.............................................................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4
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Education background and work experience
My educational qualification is Bachelor in nursing. I have learned about the roles and
responsibilities of a registered nurse. I have studied maintaining the quality of life and health
of the patients. I also have an experience of eight months in a hospital in India as a nurse. It
helped me to enhance my knowledge and skills related to managing and taking care of the
patients. The work experience enhanced my confidence in dealing with the patients suffering
from worst situations.
I would like to determine and analyze the MPH programme in order to support my future
career. The competency framework of MPH programme describes the foundation practices
for the graduates under the Competencies Standards for the Public Health Practice. The
Public Health Practice’s Competencies Standards provides “workplace practice
competencies” for the MPH graduates (Caphia, 2017). The competencies will help me to
develop skills in the core public health areas. The framework has been partially set to
minimum competencies for different health professionals. The professionals consist of
epidemiology, biostatistics and health promotion and protection. The epidemiology unit will
be very much beneficial for my future career.
The epidemiology will enable to study the determinants and distribution of health-related
events or states such as controlling diseases and various health issues. Epidemiology is
considered to be very much important for the promotion and protection of public health. I
would also study significant public health functions that are health surveillance and
monitoring, disease control and prevention, health promotion, health protection and health
planning, policy and evaluation (Parkin, 2013). The MPH programme will enhance my
knowledge and skills related to managing the health problems of the patients. The
epidemiology unit will enable me to manage the patients suffering from any disease.
Council of the Academic Public Health Institutions Australia
The Council of the Academic Public Health Institutions Australia is an organization that
focuses on the importance of public health studies in the Universities. It offers postgraduate
and undergraduate programs and community and research service activities in public health
throughout the country. The foundation's competency for the public health graduates in the
country Australia documents explains the baseline competencies which are being expected
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from a graduate of Master of Public Health Program in Australia (Buttigieg, 2015). The
document is being provided as the direction to the teaching programmes for the development
of curriculum. The competency framework consists of health surveillance and monitoring,
disease control and prevention, health promotion, health protection and health planning,
policy and evaluation.
The assessment of the research program and public health education suggested the growth of
foundation competencies for the examination of the safe public health professionals in health
economics, indigenous health, biostatistics, epidemiology and relevant social sciences. It also
focuses on assessing and assuring the quality to the needed standards consisting of the
prospect of the external assessment. The competencies explain the practices of the public
health professionals based on the set standards for the development of health curriculum
(Endacott, Jevon & Cooper, 2009). The competencies show the workplace performances of
the public health practitioners. The competencies are being controlled under the public health
functions areas.
The Epidemiology consists of the study related to the health-related states of people including
diseases. The practice competencies that are relevant to Epidemiology are health surveillance
and monitoring, disease control and prevention, health promotion and health protection.
The health monitoring and surveillance set a goal to assess, communicate and analyse the
public health information. The disease control and prevention set a goal to determine, control
and prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases among people through proper
interventions such as contact tracing, immunisation and screening (Maville & Huerta, 2013).
The health protection set a goal to promote, support and develop physical aspects that ensure
a healthy and safe environment. The health promotion sets a goal to promote community and
population health by changing physical, cultural, economic and social environment through
empowerment, sessions and engagement and improving the understanding and skills of the
individuals for maintaining and achieving their health.
I have gained knowledge on how to manage and deal with patients suffering from various
health problems. It helped to enhance my communication skills, problem-solving skills,
critical thinking skills, stamina, confidence and adaptability. I have also experienced a lot
from my life such learning on each and every step for improving my skills. I have been able
to understand the needs of the patients by communicating with effectively. I learned how to
make decisions in critical situations. I was able to learn how to adapt to different situations. I
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have enhanced my emotional, mental and physical strength (Pender, Murdaugh & Parsons,
2011).
Epidemiology
The epidemiology module can focus on improving the epidemiologic practices through
meeting the future needs of the students and professionals. The epidemiology can also play a
significant role in the research areas developed by the changes in the health care delivery
system and the medical care system.
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References
Buttigieg, S. (2015). International best practices in health care management (6th ed.).
Bingley: Emerald.
Caphia. (2017). Foundation Competencies for Public Health Graduates in Australia.
Retrieved from http://caphia.com.au/testsite/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/DRAFT-
CAPHIA-Comp-Framework-2ndEd.pdf
Endacott, R., Jevon, P., & Cooper, S. (2009). Clinical nursing skills (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Maville, J., & Huerta, C. (2013). Health promotion in nursing (5th ed.). Clifton Park, NY:
Delmar, Cengage Learning.
Parkin, F. (2013). Epidemiology (10th ed.). [Place of publication not identified]: Theclassics
Us.
Pender, N., Murdaugh, C., & Parsons, M. (2011). Health promotion in nursing practice (12th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.
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