Changing human behavior is challenging; however, having a long-term impact on the improved health of a population is a compelling reason for an increased public health commitment by individuals in pharmacy. Any of the activities that individuals and populations pursue have a direct effect on their health, from drinking clean water to breathing fresh air. Health behaviors mitigate or exacerbate chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke, and human behaviors can affect the resurgence of infectious diseases (and the emergence of new infectious diseases). Other behavioral factors, such as tobacco use, poor diet, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, at-risk sexual behaviors, and avoidable injuries, contribute prominently to increased morbidity and mortality. This chapter addresses basic public health principles of disease prevention and health promotion, looking at consumer health education, health literacy, social media, and program design and evaluation.
Long-Term Impact of Disasters on the Public Health System: A Multi-Case Analysis
