Application of Public Health and Behavior Change Theories
Please be advised these are two separate discussion posts. Discussion One and Discussion
two. Moreover, it should be treated as such. Please review the entire document before you
begin.
Two pages for the first Duscussion and Two pages for the second discussion
Discussion 1: Underrecognized Public Health Issues
Note: Please read both Discussion questions before beginning the first Discussion.
Think about the subjects of the public service advertisements (PSAs) or signs you may have
seen regarding public health. What comes to mind? The issue of distracted driving has
dominated in the United States. There are signs in most restaurant restrooms that encourage
hand washing. In wildfire-prone areas, fire safety signs and PSAs are ubiquitous. Now consider
underrecognized issues (URIs). Almost by definition, the most underrecognized public health
issues are not easily identifiable through an Internet search and may be more of a challenge to
find. Outside of their lack of recognition, what are the common characteristics of URIs in public
health?
For this Discussion, explore underrecognized issues in public health and select one to use for
this Discussion. Consider why the issue may be underrecognized and strategies you might use
to raise awareness of it in the field. Note that the underrecognized public health issue that you
select must be used in both Discussions this week. Be sure to select a URI that was not included
in this week’s Learning Resources.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post a description of an underrecognized issue in public health. Then explain why this issue
needs recognition or increased awareness by the field of public health. Then explain your vision
of future directions for community health education theory and intervention development in the
field of public health. Finally, explain one strategy you might use to increase
awareness/recognition of this issue in the public health field.
Be sure to support your postings and responses to your colleagues’ postings with specific
references to the Learning Resources and the current literature.
References
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course
Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Library Resources
Formicola, A., Ro, M., Marshall, S., Derksen, D., Powell, W., Hartsock, L., & Treadwell, H.
(2004). Strengthening the oral health safety net: Delivery models that improve access to oral
health care for uninsured and underserved populations. American Journal of Public Health,
94(5), 702–704.
Jones, B. (2011). Mixed uptake of social media among public health specialists. Bulletin of The
World Health Organization, 89(11), 784–785.
Patronek, G. (1999). Hoarding of animals: An under-recognized public health problem in a
difficult-to-study population. Public Health Reports (Washington, DC: 1974), 114(1), 81–87.
Required Readings
Evens, E. M. (2004). A global perspective on infertility: An under recognized public health issue.
Carolina Papers in International Health, No. 18. University Center for International Studies, The
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Insel, T. (2010). The under recognized public health crisis of suicide [Director’s blog].
Washington, DC: National Institute of Mental Health.
Insel, T. (2010, September 10). The under-recognized public health crisis of suicide [Director’s
blog]. Washington, DC: National Institute of Mental Health.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2010/the-under-recognized-public-health-crisis-ofsuicide.shtml
Thackeray, R., Neiger, B. L., Smith, A. K., & Van Wagenen, S. B. (2012). Adoption and use of
social media among public health departments. BMC Public Health, 12, 242.
Adoption and use of social media among public health departments by Thackeray, R., Neiger, B.
L., Smith, A. K., & Van Wagenen, S. B. in BMC Public Health, vol. 12. Copyright 2012 by
BIOMED CENTRAL LTD. Reprinted by permission of BIOMED CENTRAL LTD. via the Copyright
Clearance Center.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration. (2008).
Guidance for industry: Tropical disease priority review vouchers. Retrieved from
021
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/FDA-2008-D-0530-gdl.pdf
World Health Organization. (2012a). Neglected tropical diseases: A “rags-to-riches story.”
Retrieved from http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/en/
World Health Organization. (2012b). Neglected tropical diseases: Neglected zoonotic diseases.
Retrieved from http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/zoonoses/en/
Optional Resources
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). SAMHSA and Ad Council to launch
mental health campaign for the African American community. Retrieved from
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/42519/
________________________________________
Discussion 2: Application of Theory to Underrecognized Public Health Issues
Note: Please read both Discussion questions before beginning the first Discussion.
In the first Discussion for this week, you identified and described an underrecognized issue (URI)
in public health. This week, you further explore the URI you chose by examining current research
related to it and how this research might be used to raise awareness of the URI.
For this Discussion, find a peer-reviewed article about the URI you selected in this week’s first
Discussion question. The article also should make reference to theory. Consider the theory’s
effectiveness and how the research findings might contribute to awareness or recognition of the
URI.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post a description of the article you selected and the theory applied within it. Then, explain
whether the application of the theory was effective. Finally, explain how the research findings
might contribute to increased awareness or recognition of the issue.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning
Resources and the current literature.
References
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course
Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Library Resources
Formicola, A., Ro, M., Marshall, S., Derksen, D., Powell, W., Hartsock, L., & Treadwell, H.
(2004). Strengthening the oral health safety net: Delivery models that improve access to oral
health care for uninsured and underserved populations. American Journal of Public Health,
94(5), 702–704.
Jones, B. (2011). Mixed uptake of social media among public health specialists. Bulletin of The
World Health Organization, 89(11), 784–785.
Patronek, G. (1999). Hoarding of animals: An under-recognized public health problem in a
difficult-to-study population. Public Health Reports (Washington, DC: 1974), 114(1), 81–87.
Required Readings
Evens, E. M. (2004). A global perspective on infertility: An under recognized public health issue.
Carolina Papers in International Health, No. 18. University Center for International Studies, The
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Insel, T. (2010). The under recognized public health crisis of suicide [Director’s blog].
Washington, DC: National Institute of Mental Health.
Insel, T. (2010, September 10). The under-recognized public health crisis of suicide [Director’s
blog]. Washington, DC: National Institute of Mental Health.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2010/the-under-recognized-public-health-crisis-ofsuicide.shtml
Thackeray, R., Neiger, B. L., Smith, A. K., & Van Wagenen, S. B. (2012). Adoption and use of
social media among public health departments. BMC Public Health, 12, 242.
Adoption and use of social media among public health departments by Thackeray, R., Neiger, B.
L., Smith, A. K., & Van Wagenen, S. B. in BMC Public Health, vol. 12. Copyright 2012 by
BIOMED CENTRAL LTD. Reprinted by permission of BIOMED CENTRAL LTD. via the Copyright
Clearance Center.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration. (2008).
Guidance for industry: Tropical disease priority review vouchers. Retrieved from
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/FDA-2008-D-0530-gdl.pdf
World Health Organization. (2012a). Neglected tropical diseases: A “rags-to-riches story.”
Retrieved from http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/en/
World Health Organization. (2012b). Neglected tropical diseases: Neglected zoonotic diseases.
Retrieved from http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/zoonoses/en/
Optional Resources
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). SAMHSA and Ad Council to launch
mental health campaign for the African American community. Retrieved from
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/42519/
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