Public Health History and Principles: Knowledge and Application

This essay provides an overview of the history and principles of public health, highlighting the evolution of healthcare practices and the impact of technological advancements. It emphasizes the importance of societal involvement and government responsibility in disease management. The author reflects on how understanding the history of public health enhances their skills, particularly in data recording and follow-up care. Key principles such as protection, prevention, and promotion are discussed, along with the significance of environmental conservation. The essay further explores how historical knowledge informs future practices, including proactive measures for preventing the spread of communicable diseases and promoting public health through education and awareness. The author concludes by advocating for continuous learning and collaborative efforts in achieving public healthcare goals, emphasizing the role of informed decision-making and community participation.

Running Head: History and Principles of Public Health
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History and Principles of Public Health
Student Name
University

Running Head: History and Principles of Public Health
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Introduction
History and principles of public health have been an interesting and informative unit. I
have learned new skills that I can incorporate into my career from existing literature. Over the
years, two factors have brought change to the public healthcare system, the first being new and
advanced technological innovations that have brought measures of controlling diseases ("Healthy
Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England", 2013).The second being the
inclusion and acceptance of responsibility for managing diseases by the society and government
institutions while considering it as a possibility to achieve control measures.
How history and principles of public health Relates to my existing knowledge and skills
The history of public health reflects on the importance of values and technology to
positively impact on and create a pathway to the betterment of healthcare. This teaches me that
commitment of the society to an action plan facilitated by innovations from professionals is a
constructive collaboration with results ("Public health nursing vital to protect and improve
health, says RCN report", 2016). I will embrace awareness in the society through health
education enables prevention easier due to available knowledge. I have also noted that change of
mindset especially before the 18th century where spiritual interventions were sought for
treatment of epidemics such as smallpox and cholera was not important. Such epidemics were
considered curses that needed prayers and patients were pitied instead of seeking medication and
treatment for them. I have also learnt and appreciated the fact that cities in the European nations
started taking simple but strategic measures including quarantine measures and isolation of
patients who had been directly affected by these epidemics (Lichtblau & Shane, 2010). To ensure
that there is data on such patients for further references, data and reports were recorded. Such
data necessitated in the identification of causes and factors for human pain and how to curb

Running Head: History and Principles of Public Health
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them. In my profession, this shows the importance of record taking of data and reports so as to
easily make a follow-up on a patient's history. It also assists in the prediction of symptoms and
how to deal with them.
For my implementation purpose, it is important that I highlight how this unit has helped
in achieving competency standards. It is important that I expound on these principles and how
their future reference in solutions of gaps in the public healthcare is of importance (Woodall,
Raine, South & Warwick-Booth, 2010). These principles are essential and they include:
Protection, Prevention, and Promotion. I have found it significant to also highlight how
supporting works on Monitoring and Surveillance necessitate the quality of healthcare. These
principles require information to drive mediations (Judge, Hurst, & Simon, 2009). My attention
is drawn towards the protection of the environment and its resources are important to facilitate
the betterment of public healthcare. In the event that the structures of my surroundings are
demolished, I will definitely suffer in the lessening of diseases. One place on the planet where I
can see the noteworthy change in the bigger living space which has changed human exercises is
the Sahara. Ten thousand years prior the locale was rich in widely varied vegetation; people
prospered there too. Potentially because of a move in the world's circle and moves in provincial
climatic frameworks, rather than the effect of human residence, the desert moved toward
becoming as dry as the present desert and remains to a great extent ("Public health - Policy areas
- GOV.UK", 2016). Taking note of this in the future, it is therefore important to assist in
ensuring the avoidance of deforestation both in private and public spaces. It is important that I
assist in guaranteeing safe drinking water and the evacuation of waste in my area of work and
other places.
How history and principles of public health will inform future practice

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I have learnt that for future preventions and early warning signs it is important to be
prepared with a counteractive action to curb the spread of transmittable infections and the effect
of endless conditions in my area and others to generally address public healthcare. Smallpox
once caused the sudden passing of numerous numbers of people. Presently, with inoculations, I
have learnt in helping to stop the spread of the epidemic. Something comparative is happening
with polio (Wang, Denniston, Lee, Galuska & Lowry, 2010). This has also assisted me in
understanding that my profession can assist in interminable conditions. I have gained skills in
maintain hygiene and previous research has proved to me that poor water supply will influence
the sustenance of a locale and poor waste hygiene can fuel existing conditions through poor
clean propensities. This is important in creating immunity for children especial ally those who
are at a risk of getting such diseases.
I have also ensured that I educate and give awareness on the importance of taking control
of the different variables that impact their lives in order to enhance their health. My view is that
it is possible to advancing public healthcare due to how it eventually shields future generations
from peril or keeping the spread of ailment. It is tied in with giving expectation and enabling
individuals to take control. I have learnt that patients don't need to be sick to need to improve on
their habits. This is particularly vital for groups that have been disappointed through a few
means, for example, displaced people (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2011). Standards can
be achieved when every individual whether now or in future joins in participation and seeking
value. This comes solidly for my recommendation to citizens to be stakeholders so as to set and
achieve these standards while not compromising on competency.
Conclusion

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In order to set and achieve these needs, I also need to expand my knowledge and get
adequate and reliable information. Generally, public healthcare practice is not an individual
experience (Judge et al., 2009). This is why I highly recommend the dependence of pre-
informing information for prediction. The unit has taught me that I need to realize what happens
before an occasion so that I can manage it and before the issue turns out to be excessively out of
control.
References
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2011, January 28). Vaccines save lives [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZvpF6gaGH4

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Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England. (2013). Retrieved from
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213720/
dh_130487.pdf
Judge, T. A., Hurst, C., & Simon, L. S. (2009). Does it pay to be smart, attractive, or confident
(or all three)? Relationships among general mental ability, physical attractiveness, core
self-evaluations, and income. Journal of Public Health, 94(3), 742-755.
Lichtblau, E., & Shane, S. (2010, February 19). Report faults of environment degradation and
effects on public health. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com
Public health nursing vital to protect and improve health, says RCN report. (2016). Retrieved
from https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/public-health-nursing-vital-to-
protect-and-improve-health-says-rcn-report
Public health - Policy areas - GOV.UK. (2016). Retrieved from
https://www.gov.uk/government/topics/public-health
Wang, L., Denniston, M., Lee, S., Galuska, D., & Lowry, R. (2010). Long-term Health and
Economic Impact of Preventing and Reducing Overweight and Obesity in
Adolescence. Journal Of Adolescent Health, 46(5), 467-473. doi:
10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.11.204
Woodall, J., Raine, G., South, J., & Warwick-Booth, L. (2010). Empowerment and Health &
Well being [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 12-16). Leeds: Centre of Health Promotion research.
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