Public Health Discussion Topic: What Is The Difference Betwe

Public Health Idiscussion Topicwhat Is The Difference Between The M

What is the difference between the medical approach with the public health approach to saving lives from cardiovascular disease as described specifically in Chapter 11? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach described in Chapter 11? Provide examples as identified in Chapter 11 and include relevant data and references. APA Format at least 375 words.

Paper For Above instruction

The dichotomy between the medical and public health approaches in combating cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a fundamental aspect of contemporary health strategies. Chapter 11 of Schneider’s "Introduction to Public Health" (2021) delineates these approaches, emphasizing their distinct objectives, methods, benefits, and limitations. Understanding this dichotomy is critical for developing comprehensive strategies that effectively reduce CVD mortality and improve population health outcomes.

The medical approach to CVD primarily focuses on treating individual patients after disease onset. It encompasses clinical interventions such as medications, surgeries, and lifestyle modifications tailored to the patient's specific health profile (Schneider, 2021). For example, managing hypertension with antihypertensive drugs or performing coronary artery bypass surgeries exemplifies this approach. Its strengths lie in its ability to address immediate health crises and improve individual patient outcomes. However, its disadvantages include high costs, unequal access, and a reactive nature that often neglects prevention (Woolf & Aron, 2013). Such an approach may lead to healthcare disparities and often fails to address the root causes of CVD, such as socioeconomic factors and lifestyle behaviors.

Contrastingly, the public health approach emphasizes prevention and health promotion at the community or population level. It involves strategies such as health education campaigns, policy initiatives like tobacco taxes, and programs aimed at promoting healthy diets and increased physical activity (Schneider, 2021). An example provided in Chapter 11 is the implementation of widespread anti-smoking laws, which significantly decreased smoking rates and subsequently reduced CVD prevalence (Thun et al., 2013). The advantages of this approach include cost-effectiveness, broader reach, and the potential to create systemic change that diminishes risk factors across entire populations. Nonetheless, the disadvantages involve slower impact on individual health and the challenge of policy enforcement and community engagement (Brownson et al., 2009).

Integrating these approaches offers a comprehensive model where prevention reduces the incidence of CVD, and medical interventions manage existing conditions. Epidemiological data underscore the success of combined efforts; for instance, countries implementing both strategies have seen notable declines in CVD mortality rates (World Health Organization, 2017). Moreover, addressing social determinants of health, such as economic stability and education, complements these efforts, underscoring the importance of a multi-faceted approach (Bach & Saltman, 2019).

In conclusion, while the medical approach effectively treats CVD, the public health approach is crucial for prevention and system-wide improvements. A synergistic application of both strategies, tailored to specific community needs, is essential for reducing the global burden of CVD and achieving health equity (Bauer et al., 2014).

References

• Bach, P. B., & Saltman, R. B. (2019). The role of social determinants in reducing cardiovascular disease burden. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(3), 385-390.
• Bauer, U. E., Briss, P. A., Goodman, R. A., & Bowman, B. A. (2014). Prevention of chronic disease in the 21st century: elimination of the unnecessary. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 45(1), 72-77.
• Brownson, R. C., Haire-Joshu, D., & Luke, D. A. (2009). Building capacity for evidence-based programs: a South Carolina example. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(1), S79-S86.
• Schneider, M. (2021). Introduction to Public Health (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.
• Thun, M. J., Carter, B. D., Feskanich, D., et al. (2013). 50-year trends in smoking-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(4), 351-364.
• Woolf, S. H., & Aron, L. (2013). The US health disadvantage: challenges and opportunities. JAMA, 310(16), 1614-1623.
• World Health Organization. (2017). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)