Perspectives on Health and Disease in Populations

After completing this section of the chapter, you should be able to meet the following objectives:

♦ Define the term epidemiology

♦ Compare the meaning of the terms incidence and prev­
alence as they relate to measures of disease frequency

♦ Compare the sources of information and limitations of
mortality and morbidity statistics

♦ Characterize the natural history of a disease

♦ Differentiate primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of
prevention

♦ Propose ways in which practice guidelines can be used
to improve health care

The health of individuals is closely linked to the health of the community and to the population it encompasses. The ability to traverse continents in a matter of hours has opened the world to issues of populations at a global level. Diseases that once were confined to local areas of the world now pose a threat to populations throughout the world.

As we move through the twenty-first century, we are continually reminded that the health care system and the services it delivers are targeted to particular populations. Managed care systems are focused on a population-based approach to planning, delivering, providing, and evaluat­ing health care. The focus of health care also has begun to emerge as a partnership in which individuals are asked to assume greater responsibility for their own health.