Public Health Policy (ePub)

Public Health Policy: Issues, Theories, and Advocacy
offers students an engaging and innovative introduction to public
health policy: its purpose, how it is originated, and how it is
implemented. The book describes the underlying theories and
frameworks as well as practical analytical tools needed for
effective advocacy and communication. Drawing on the
multidisciplinary nature of public health, the book uses concepts
and examples from epidemiology, law, economics, political science,
and ethics to examine the policymaking process, explain positions
pro or con, and develop materials for various audiences to further
a public health policy intervention. In addition, Public Health
Policy shows how policymaking is a complex and integrated
top-down and bottoms-up process that embraces a myriad of public
and private stakeholders.

Written by a highly experienced health policy researcher and
teacher, the book is rich in resources that will enhance teaching
and learning. Each chapter begins with an overview of the chapter,
including core terms and concepts, and includes illustrative
examples of how the highlighted component (law, ethics, economics,
politics, epidemiology, and medicine) intersects with public
health. Discussion questions at the end of every chapter, along
with an interview from an expert from each of the component fields,
give real-world perspectives on how that particular subject relates
to the overall topic. The book also contains 13 case studies that
illustrate the framework discussed in the first part of the book,
and show how the different components link to create, sustain,
evaluate, or obstruct the development of public health policy. Also
included are primers on two essential policy tools: how to write
research policy briefs, and how to craft effective letters to an
editor, including examples of both drawn from the author's
publications in journals and newspapers.