phd in public health

phd in public health

The Importance of Public Health Research and Advocacy

1. Introduction

As a result, the late 20th and early 21st-century public health community has seen a growing need to shift the focus of health initiatives toward those that are preventive in nature, with an emphasis on research and policy implementation. This has been furthered by the realization that many issues facing the health of populations are, in fact, policy issues. The research that best demonstrates this becomes a tool whereby informed tactical decisions are made to advocate for positive change.

Because many of these interventions have proven to be effective and cost-effective, policy changes were implemented as a means of assuring the application or quality of these interventions to the public. Although this approach has led to many improvements, at times it has also resulted in a lack of coordination and monitoring. In some cases, interventions were implemented but never fully realized by the at-risk population.

There are many examples that demonstrate the utility of advocacy in improving the public’s health, such as seatbelt and drinking and driving laws, and the more recent restrictions on smoking in public places. However, research and advocacy have not always been the central focus of public health practice. Many advances in the past have been driven by improvement in knowledge and implementation of treatment and preventive interventions, including new vaccines and implementation of community health nursing and primary care.

Public health research and advocacy is essential for the advancement of public health and prevention. It is a tool to promote change, whether large or small. Public health research and advocacy contribute to the community. Without research, there is no change, and without advocacy, there is no realization of that change. For centuries, the public health community has been the leading force in social change, and social reform has been the foundation upon which public health advances have been achieved.

2. Understanding Public Health

Take, for example, the global campaign to eradicate smallpox. In the 1960s, the World Health Organization assigned $150 million over ten years to completely rid the world of smallpox, which was a widespread and often fatal disease at the time. This funding was provided as a result of economic evaluations in the field of public health that demonstrated that disease prevention would be more cost-effective than ongoing treatments for the disease. This was a real proof of concept for the field of public health and a massive success. Smallpox is the only human disease that has been completely eradicated, with the last case occurring in 1977. On the back of this, a triumphant victory over the intellectual property issues surrounding the smallpox vaccine led to its endorsement by the World Health Assembly. This has shown, in stunning fashion, the potential for public health constructs to benefit humanity in both the short and long term.

Public health is a less glamorous profession compared to medical research of new drugs. However, it is vital that this research is done. New drugs are often restricted by red tape for years and when released, they have the potential to be very dangerous due to unknown side effects. The public health industry is based around preventing diseases and prolonging life, as opposed to the multi-billion pound medical industry that is based around fixing problems after they occur. Although this means that public health is often undervalued, the effectiveness of this field in improving global health has massive potential.

3. The Role of Research in Public Health

With improved methods in health research and known as the hierarchy of evidence, there are also better ways to investigate problems and to find solutions for them. By using a systematic way to investigate problems and always look for better solutions, we can expect to see continuous improvements in health outcomes. This is why research in public health is an essential process that is always linked with the ongoing work to improve health outcomes and the health system.

Public health is in essence a continuous process to improve the health of the population. This requires a continuous cycle of trying to solve health problems or to improve health outcomes, and research is an essential part of this cycle. Whether it is trying to increase the effectiveness of a current policy or program, or trying to solve a health problem that is affecting the population, the cycle is always about trying to find the best possible solution to improve health outcomes.

High quality evidence and the best methods are required in order to improve health outcomes and the health system. Therefore, research is essential to provide the best possible evidence to ensure informed decision making and continuous improvement. High quality research is directly linked with improving health outcomes and the health system.

Evidence has to be available in order for public health action to take place, or for stakeholders to take on a new policy or program. This evidence must show that the program or policy is the best option in improving the health of the population. Evidence of this kind generally comes from research that has been conducted. This research should use the best possible methods to carry out its investigation. The type and quality of evidence can vary between different types of research. For example, a research project looking at the health outcomes of a population after a policy has been implemented would have better evidence than a research project looking at the relationship between education and health.

Public health research is an essential interaction that combines with the complex systems present in public health to improve the health and wellbeing of all. Therefore, the role of research is directly linked with both the values and the concepts of public health because of the importance of available evidence and the continuous improvement of health outcomes.

4. Advocacy for Public Health Issues

Health services and outcomes research are a key advocacy tool to ensure effective treatment and resources for people with mental illnesses. This type of advocacy aims to have a positive effect on public policy and resource allocation decision-making across various government and industry sectors that impact on the health of the community. The involvement of researchers in advocacy is crucial as their knowledge of research methodology and findings can add significant value to advocacy initiatives aimed at improving public health. Computer simulation models forecasting the economic impact of chronic disease in Australia and the cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve the health of the population are examples of how researchers can influence policy and resource allocation decisions. Publicizing research findings can help to bring attention to public health issues and influence community values and beliefs. On December 1st, the Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH) was successful in gaining bipartisan political support for a 28% increase in funding of the Centre for Health for four years to enhance the health of rural Queenslanders.

Advocating for public health is an extremely important step in improving community health. Advocacy is essential to initiate change and is a concept deeply rooted in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. There are various forms of advocacy, but its essence is to enable people to gain more control over their health and to improve it. The conservation movement provides a good example of advocacy directed at improving public health. In order to bring attention to the health effects of damage to the environment, they voiced their concerns to leaders and the community through a letter-writing campaign. It is important that the values and opinions of the community are voiced so that change can be initiated. By engaging the community and developing the resources and skills that they need to take action, public health advocacy helps to solve community health problems. This method is more effective and results in a precedent that will prevent similar health issues from occurring in the future.

5. Conclusion: Advancing Public Health for a Better Future

Finally, public health research seeks equity in health. Health disparities are prevalent across our society. Many times, those who are worse off receive no or little help in health initiatives. This means that there are poor and poverty-stricken communities with high rates of previously stated issues such as air pollution. These communities often take the brunt of harmful health effects, all the while receiving no benefits. By seeking equity in health, public health research can provide a better future for all, where everyone has the possibility of a healthier life.

Public health research shows us alternative paths to take for the betterment of our society’s health. By assessing the risk of certain actions, society can make more informed decisions on how to improve society.

The cost of health issues to society can be staggering. The opioid epidemic has cost Ohio as much as 5.4 billion dollars in just 2017. This is money that is diverted from other critical aspects of improving society. With public health research, we can look for ways to prevent these health issues from occurring, thus potentially saving billions in the future.

Public health research shows us the way to improved health for our society. Through seeking out the cause and effect of current health issues, we advance our society toward a healthier future. We can have less health issues and illnesses, and better prevention techniques for possible future health issues. This is a critical concept, as in the current day and age, much of what is done to “improve” health care actually makes the future health of our society worse.

The world is an ever-changing place. Our health is affected by our environment, our society, and our ability to provide for ourselves. What the research on the opioid epidemic and air pollution has shown us is that we are slowly losing our ability to provide for ourselves, and we are doing it at the expense of our health. The next generation is predicted to have worse health outcomes than the current one, so it is up to us in the future to change that.