Essay Questions

Select one from each chapter and write an essay on the topic (300-500 words).

Chapter I
• Describe actions that governments have taken to ensure that people are safer and healthier
today than people were 100 years ago.

• What are the three core functions of public health?

• How do these functions compare with the functions of medical care?

• How are the six disciplines of public health used to accomplish the core functions?

• Identify a health problem in your community.

• What are some risk factors associated with the problem?

• Suggest a possible intervention that the community could take to ameliorate the problem.

Chapter II
• Do you agree that the philosophy of social justice is preferable to the philosophy of market
justice?

• Which is likely to lead to greater improvements in public health?

• Choose a specific health problem.

• How might federal, state, and local levels of government divide responsibility for
addressing it?

• Give an example of a measure that would benefit public health but that might be expensive to
implement.

• Who would benefit?

• Who would pay the cost?

• Give an example of a measure that would improve public health but that might limit some
people’s freedom.

• Who would benefit?

• Whose freedom would be limited?

 • How far do you believe government should go in advocating and/or enforcing moral behavior?

Chapter III
• Choose a specific health problem.

• How might federal, state, and local levels of government divide responsibility for
addressing it?

• Choose a federal public health agency and visit its website.

• Identify an issue that it is currently dealing with and describe reasons for current
concern.

• Discuss any controversies that may be involved in actions that the agency has taken or
might need to take.

• Why is it important for nongovernmental organizations to be involved in public health activities?

• Choose one of the philanthropic foundations. Why is it important?

Chapter IV
• Why is epidemiologic surveillance important for public health?

• What role would it play if there were a bioterrorist attack?

• What has epidemiology contributed to people’s understanding of:

• Heart disease?

• Lung cancer?

Chapter V
• What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?

• Why is incidence more useful in identifying the cause of a disease?

• When is it most useful to use prevalence?

• Give examples for each.

• Explain the interaction between incidence, prevalence, and prognosis.

• Give examples.

• Why are the who, when, and where questions useful in determining the causes of disease?
 • Give examples.

• Explain the three major types of epidemiologic studies.

• Which is most likely to yield a valid result? Why?

• Which is likely to yield an answer in the shortest period of time? Why?

Chapter VI
• What are strengths and weaknesses of each of the major types of epidemiologic study?

– Randomized controlled trial

– Cohort
– Case-control
• Explain to me a study that has had ethical concerns and issues?
– Why was it unethical?
– What influence has it had on the conduct of clinical trials?