Case #1:
1 What is considered health? ● WHO: “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of
(definitions such as WHO ect.) disease or infirmity”. (1948)
● Huber: “Health has the ability to adapt and self-manage, in light of the physical, emotional, and
social challenges of life”. (2014)
● Leonardi: “Health is the capability to cope with and to manage one's own malaise and well-being
conditions”.
● Navarro - believes that even in scientific practices it can be biassed, whether by power,
dynamics, or cultural influences that shape how science is constructed and taught
2 Why is health interpreted differently ● Objectivity → scientifically measurable
between people (layman vs ● Intersubjectivity → coming to a consensus
professor)? ● Subjectivity → how an individual sees their health
○ Laymen look at health from an individual point of view while professionals look at it from a
scientific/medical point of view
3 How has the perception of health ● Ancient Greek → balance between different elements
evolved over time? (historical ● 19th-century early 20th century:
background) ○ Narrowed down to physical health, absence of disease, and infirmities
● Mid 20th century (Post WWII):
○ “State of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity”
● Late 20th century:
○ WHO definition criticized as immeasurable
● 21st century:
○ “the highest possible level of health” & health as a resource for everyday life
○ Outside stressors also have a big impact on people’s health, living conditions, etc.
4 How can the definitions of health be ● Exclude population + Over medicalization
criticized? ● “Complete well-being” impossible to achieve
,5 How are the different definitions of Health is dynamic, Not just the absence of disease, Potentially achievable by everyone, Include well is,
health-related? Based on a person’s ability
Case #2:
1 What is the origin of the word ● The origin of the public comes from the Latin word publicus which itself stems from Populus =
‘public’? from the people
2 What are the synonyms of public and ● Community: people sharing the same place or have particular interests in common
what do they mean? (3-5) ● Population → used in biology, people from a certain location.
● Collective - colectivus Latin word, used by people acting as a group
● Shared: distributed between members of a group
● Citizen → needs a set of requirements.
3 What are the different ● Public as a collection of people.
interpretations of ‘public’ in Public ● Public as a space for action.
Health? ● Public as a set of values.
● 3 different interpretations of the public:
○ The people, citizens, and/or the population
○ a space for action, intervention, and service provision
○ a set of collective values, and almost laws opposed to private interests
4 What is the European context in ● Member states within the EU can work together on public health issues
European Public Health? (added ● 3 main bodies in the EU → European Commission with different DG
value) ● WHO office for Europe
Which people are involved in public
5 health? ● International = European Union, European Center for Disease prevention and control, WHO.
● National = Member States, health advocates, ministers, healthcare workers
6 What are traditional public health, ● Public Health: Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and
, new public health, population health, promoting health through the organized efforts of society.
and global health? (how are they ● Traditional public health:
related) ○ Type of health factors
○ Preventive medicine
○ Communicable diseases
○ Sanitary
○ Health education
● New public health → still focussed on traditional public health
○ The social context of people
○ We add some more elements to it
○ Beyond just disease control
○ Contemporary health issues
○ Non-communicable diseases
7 What is the role of prevention in ● Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
public health? ● “finding people with health problems and help people before the problem gets worse”
8 What is the prevention paradox? ● The prevention paradox highlights that public health interventions often provide a greater
benefit to society than to individuals, which can make these measures less compelling to some
people.
○ Despite this, the cumulative effect of small changes at the individual level can result in a
substantial improvement in population health.
● High-risk approach/population approach.
● Removing the root causes/Sense of solidarity/Expensive/inconvenient/Harder to realize/Low
motivation/More likely to participate/Cheaper/More effective
9 What are contemporary issues in ● Misinformation/distrust/Chronic diseases/Ever growing world population/climate change
public health?
1 What is considered health? ● WHO: “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of
(definitions such as WHO ect.) disease or infirmity”. (1948)
● Huber: “Health has the ability to adapt and self-manage, in light of the physical, emotional, and
social challenges of life”. (2014)
● Leonardi: “Health is the capability to cope with and to manage one's own malaise and well-being
conditions”.
● Navarro - believes that even in scientific practices it can be biassed, whether by power,
dynamics, or cultural influences that shape how science is constructed and taught
2 Why is health interpreted differently ● Objectivity → scientifically measurable
between people (layman vs ● Intersubjectivity → coming to a consensus
professor)? ● Subjectivity → how an individual sees their health
○ Laymen look at health from an individual point of view while professionals look at it from a
scientific/medical point of view
3 How has the perception of health ● Ancient Greek → balance between different elements
evolved over time? (historical ● 19th-century early 20th century:
background) ○ Narrowed down to physical health, absence of disease, and infirmities
● Mid 20th century (Post WWII):
○ “State of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity”
● Late 20th century:
○ WHO definition criticized as immeasurable
● 21st century:
○ “the highest possible level of health” & health as a resource for everyday life
○ Outside stressors also have a big impact on people’s health, living conditions, etc.
4 How can the definitions of health be ● Exclude population + Over medicalization
criticized? ● “Complete well-being” impossible to achieve
,5 How are the different definitions of Health is dynamic, Not just the absence of disease, Potentially achievable by everyone, Include well is,
health-related? Based on a person’s ability
Case #2:
1 What is the origin of the word ● The origin of the public comes from the Latin word publicus which itself stems from Populus =
‘public’? from the people
2 What are the synonyms of public and ● Community: people sharing the same place or have particular interests in common
what do they mean? (3-5) ● Population → used in biology, people from a certain location.
● Collective - colectivus Latin word, used by people acting as a group
● Shared: distributed between members of a group
● Citizen → needs a set of requirements.
3 What are the different ● Public as a collection of people.
interpretations of ‘public’ in Public ● Public as a space for action.
Health? ● Public as a set of values.
● 3 different interpretations of the public:
○ The people, citizens, and/or the population
○ a space for action, intervention, and service provision
○ a set of collective values, and almost laws opposed to private interests
4 What is the European context in ● Member states within the EU can work together on public health issues
European Public Health? (added ● 3 main bodies in the EU → European Commission with different DG
value) ● WHO office for Europe
Which people are involved in public
5 health? ● International = European Union, European Center for Disease prevention and control, WHO.
● National = Member States, health advocates, ministers, healthcare workers
6 What are traditional public health, ● Public Health: Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and
, new public health, population health, promoting health through the organized efforts of society.
and global health? (how are they ● Traditional public health:
related) ○ Type of health factors
○ Preventive medicine
○ Communicable diseases
○ Sanitary
○ Health education
● New public health → still focussed on traditional public health
○ The social context of people
○ We add some more elements to it
○ Beyond just disease control
○ Contemporary health issues
○ Non-communicable diseases
7 What is the role of prevention in ● Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
public health? ● “finding people with health problems and help people before the problem gets worse”
8 What is the prevention paradox? ● The prevention paradox highlights that public health interventions often provide a greater
benefit to society than to individuals, which can make these measures less compelling to some
people.
○ Despite this, the cumulative effect of small changes at the individual level can result in a
substantial improvement in population health.
● High-risk approach/population approach.
● Removing the root causes/Sense of solidarity/Expensive/inconvenient/Harder to realize/Low
motivation/More likely to participate/Cheaper/More effective
9 What are contemporary issues in ● Misinformation/distrust/Chronic diseases/Ever growing world population/climate change
public health?
