The Changing Information Needs of Public Health

Kimberley Shoaf, DrPHDirector

What is Public Health?

Public Health is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention.

Public health professionals analyze the effect on health of genetics, personal choice and the environment in order to develop programs that protect the health of your community.

Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country.

Association of Schools of Public Health. (2011). What is Public Health? Retrieved from http://whatispublichealth.org/what/

What is Public Health? (Continued)

What isn’t public health? The mission of public health is to “fulfill society’s

interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy.”

Three core functions Assessment Policy development Assurance

Institute of Medicine, Committee for the Study of the Future of Public Health, Division of Health Care Services. (1988). The Future of Public Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

What is Public Health? (Overview)

Population focus, not individual Interdisciplinary Assess health status of populations Develop policy Promote access to healthcare

Essential Public Health Services

Developed by the Core Public Health Functions Steering Committee (1994) Included reps from

national organizations and federal agencies

Charge: To provide a description and definition of public health

Developed the “Public Health in America” statement

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). National Public Health Performance Standards Program: Orientation to the Essential Public Health Services. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/nphpsp/documents/EssentialServicesPresentation.pdf

Public Health in America

Vision: Healthy people in healthy communities

Mission: Promote physical and mental health and Prevent disease, injury, and disability

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). National Public Health Performance Standards Program: Orientation to the Essential Public Health Services. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/nphpsp/documents/EssentialServicesPresentation.pdf

Essential Services of Public Health

Monitor health status Diagnose and

investigate Inform, educate, and

empower Mobilize community

partnerships Develop policies and

plans

Enforce laws and regulations

Link people to needed services / assure care

Assure a competent workforce

Evaluate health services

ResearchCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). National Public Health Performance Standards Program: Orientation to the Essential Public Health Services. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/nphpsp/documents/EssentialServicesPresentation.pdf

Who does Public Health?

Public health professionals work in: Governmental public health

Local State Federal

Community based organizations Community clinics Non-profits like the American Lung Association

Industry Pharmaceutical industry

Who does Public Health? (Continued)

The responsibility for the protection of the public’s health lies with the government

> 400,000 public health workers 1/3 Local Government 1/3 State Government 1/5 Federal Government Academia, Industry, NGO

Estimated Public Health Workers by EEO-4 Occupational Category: National Summary

Gebbie, K. (2000). The Public Health Work Force: Enumeration 2000. Retrieved from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/phwfenumeration2000.pdf

Estimated Public Health Professionals by Selected Occupational Title: National Summary

Gebbie, K. (2000). The Public Health Work Force: Enumeration 2000. Retrieved from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/phwfenumeration2000.pdf

What Kinds of Information Does Public Health Need?

Evidence-Based Medicine1. Convert information needs into answerable questions

2. Track down, with maximum efficiency, the best evidence with which to answer these questions (from the clinical examination, the diagnostic laboratory, the published literature, or other sources)

3. Critically appraise that evidence performance for its validity (closeness to the truth) and usefulness (clinical applicability)

4. Apply the results of this appraisal in clinical practice

5. Evaluate performance

Adapting EBM to Evidence-Based Public Health

Brownson, R.C., Gurney, J.G., & Land, G.H. (1999). Evidence-Based Decision Making in Public Health. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 5(5), 86-97.

So… What is Known?

Public health data Surveillance data (National, State, Local) Vital records data Socio-demographic data

Intervention effectiveness Policy effectiveness Laws affecting public health Emerging disease facts

Information Needs

1. Better tools and resources for contacting experts

2. Timely updates on pertinent legislative issues and events

3. Structured information (metadata) characterizing the contents of data sets

4. Outcome measures and best practice resources

5. Better scheduling tools and calendar information

6. Standard templates for often-used applications

7. Knowledge-based information from external databases

Rambo, N. (2005). Public Health: Population-Based Approaches to Improving Health – Information Needs, Resources, and Uses. Retrieved from http://nnlm.gov/pnr/training/PHInfoNeeds.ppt

Summary of Public Health Information Needs

Revere, D., Turner, A.M., Madhavan, A., Rambo, N., Bugni, P.F., Kimball, A., & Fuller, S.S. (2007). Understanding the Information Needs of Public Health Practitioners: A Literature Review to Inform Design of an Interactive Digital Knowledge Management System. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 40(4), 410-421.

$$$$ The Million Dollar Question

Where do we find this data? Barriers

Access to the internet Access to journal subscriptions Knowledge about using search engines Ability/confidence to assess validity/reliability of information Knowledge of and access to gray literature

Findings/Information Needs Continuum Emerged

A Specific Example

A health educator in a small local health department is asked to develop a program to combat childhood obesity in the community. What types of information might s/he need to get

started on this task? Where might s/he find the information? What kind of help can a librarian provide? How can s/he connect with a librarian?

Conclusion

There are lots of needs and lots of resources, your job is to help

be a matchmaker.

SRPHTC Partners