From preventive policy to preventive practice. 1990

R D Remington
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.

Characteristics of the relationship of preventive policy to preventive practice are reviewed. The relatively low emphasis on prevention compared with treatment programs is discussed and the particular problem of the "anonymity" of prevention is defined. Prevention programs suffer in part because of the lack of identity of the specific individuals benefited. Examples from the cardiovascular diseases are used to illustrate the general points. The contrast between community- and patient-oriented prevention is important. Adequate levels of disease prevention and health promotion will never be attained one case at a time. Interactions among individuals are determinants of environmental behavioral factors relevant to health. The policy forming process is intrinsically interactive in nature. The Institute of Medicine's 1988 study of the future of public health is reviewed with respect to its emphasis on professional participation in the health policy process. Prevention is an essentially multidisciplinary area requiring the participation of many professions and disciplines. This property of prevention will be enhanced in the future. Ten principles which can be useful in translating preventive policy into preventive practice are presented.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010348 Patient Care Team Care of patients by a multidisciplinary team usually organized under the leadership of a physician; each member of the team has specific responsibilities and the whole team contributes to the care of the patient. Health Care Team,Interdisciplinary Health Team,Medical Care Team,Multidisciplinary Care Team,Multidisciplinary Health Team,Healthcare Team,Care Team, Health,Care Team, Medical,Care Team, Multidisciplinary,Care Team, Patient,Care Teams, Health,Care Teams, Patient,Health Care Teams,Health Team, Interdisciplinary,Health Team, Multidisciplinary,Healthcare Teams,Interdisciplinary Health Teams,Medical Care Teams,Multidisciplinary Care Teams,Multidisciplinary Health Teams,Patient Care Teams,Team, Health Care,Team, Healthcare,Team, Interdisciplinary Health,Team, Medical Care,Team, Multidisciplinary Care,Team, Multidisciplinary Health,Team, Patient Care,Teams, Interdisciplinary Health
D011314 Preventive Health Services Services designed for HEALTH PROMOTION. Health Services, Preventive,Preventive Health,Preventive Health Care,Preventive Health Programs,Preventive Programs,Services, Preventive Health,Care, Preventive Health,Health Care, Preventive,Health Program, Preventive,Health Programs, Preventive,Health Service, Preventive,Health, Preventive,Preventive Health Program,Preventive Health Service,Preventive Program,Program, Preventive,Program, Preventive Health,Programs, Preventive,Programs, Preventive Health,Service, Preventive Health
D011634 Public Health Branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of disease and disability, and the promotion of physical and mental health of the population on the international, national, state, or municipal level. Community Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine & Public Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine and Public Health,Health, Community,Health, Public
D002318 Cardiovascular Diseases Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM. Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac
D003256 Community Participation Involvement of members of the community in the affairs of that community. Community Action,Consumer Involvement,Consumer Participation,Community Involvement,Public Participation,Action, Community,Actions, Community,Community Actions,Community Involvements,Consumer Involvements,Involvement, Community,Involvement, Consumer,Involvements, Community,Participation, Community,Participation, Consumer,Participation, Public
D005544 Forecasting The prediction or projection of the nature of future problems or existing conditions based upon the extrapolation or interpretation of existing scientific data or by the application of scientific methodology. Futurology,Projections and Predictions,Future,Predictions and Projections
D006285 Health Planning Planning for needed health and/or welfare services and facilities. Health and Welfare Planning,National Health Planning and Resources Development Act of 1974,Planning, Health and Welfare,State Health Planning, United States,PL93-641,Public Law 93-641,Planning, Health,Public Law 93 641
D006287 Health Planning Guidelines Recommendations for directing health planning functions and policies. These may be mandated by PL93-641 and issued by the Department of Health and Human Services for use by state and local planning agencies. Guidelines for Health Planning,Recommendations, Health Planning,Guideline, Health Planning,Guidelines, Health Planning,Health Planning Guideline,Health Planning Recommendation,Health Planning Recommendations,Planning Guideline, Health,Planning Guidelines, Health,Planning Recommendation, Health,Planning Recommendations, Health,Recommendation, Health Planning
D006291 Health Policy Decisions, usually developed by government policymakers, for determining present and future objectives pertaining to the health care system. Health Care Policies,Health Policies,Healthcare Policy,National Health Policy,Care Policies, Health,Health Care Policy,Health Policy, National,Healthcare Policies,National Health Policies,Policies, Health,Policies, Health Care,Policies, Healthcare,Policy, Health,Policy, Health Care,Policy, Healthcare
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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