Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Primary Health Care Clinics: Roles of Physicians, Nurses, and Public Health Professionals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.4564Keywords:
Communicable diseases, primary health care clinics, prevention, control, physicians, nursesAbstract
The prevention and control of communicable diseases in primary health care clinics are integral roles that encompass the collaborative efforts of physicians, nurses, and public health professionals. Physicians play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating infections while also educating patients about symptoms, treatment options, and the importance of vaccinations. Their clinical expertise enables timely interventions, which are essential for reducing disease transmission within the community. Nurses complement this by providing essential preventive care, such as administering vaccines, implementing infection control protocols, and conducting health education sessions. Their hands-on approach ensures that patients understand the importance of hygiene practices and the early signs of communicable diseases, fostering proactive engagement in personal health management. Public health professionals serve as the backbone to the systematic approach in managing communicable diseases at the community level. They gather and analyze data on disease outbreaks, enabling clinics to respond effectively and implement targeted interventions. Additionally, they organize community outreach programs and partnerships with other organizations to promote health literacy and access to vaccinations. Collaboration among physicians, nurses, and public health experts is essential for developing comprehensive strategies that address the social determinants of health, ensuring that preventive measures are equitable and culturally sensitive. Together, these professionals create a multifaceted response to communicable diseases, safeguarding the health not
References
[1] Valaitis RK, et al. Strengthening primary health care through primary care and public health collaboration: the influence of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2018b;19(4):378–91.
[2] McVicar KL, et al. Primary Care and Public Health Collaboration Reports: A Qualitative Review of Integration Aims, Participants, and Success Determinants. Popul Health Manag. 2019;22(5):422–32.
[3] Gilmore AB, et al. Defining and conceptualising the commercial determinants of health. Lancet. 2023;401(10383):1194–1213.
[4] Feifer C, et al. Different paths to high-quality care: three archetypes of top-performing practice sites. Ann Fam Med. 2007;5(3):233–41.
[5] Pinto AD, Bloch G. Framework for building primary care capacity to address the social determinants of health. Can Fam Physician. 2017;63:476–82.
[6] Levesque J-F, et al. The Interaction of Public Health and Primary Care: Functional Roles and Organizational Models that Bridge Individual and Population Perspectives. Public Health Rev. 2013;35(1):14.
[7] PAHO. Strategy for Building Resilient Health Systems and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery to Sustain and Protect Public Health Gains. Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization; 2022. Licence CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
[8] Jakab Z. Public health, primary care and the “cluster” model. Eur J Public Health. 2013;23(4):528.
[9] Johansen AS, Vracko P, West R. The evolution of community-based primary health care, Slovenia. Bull World Health Organ. 2020;98(5):353–9.
[10] Shaw EK, et al. The role of the champion in primary care change efforts: from the State Networks of Colorado Ambulatory Practices and Partners (SNOCAP). J Am Board Fam Med. 2012;25(5):676–85.
[11] Kempe A, et al. Effectiveness of primary care–public health collaborations in the delivery of influenza vaccine: a cluster-randomized pragmatic trial. Prev Med. 2014;69:110–16.
[12] Pinto RM, et al. Primary care and public health services integration in Brazil’s unified health system. Am J Public Health. 2012;102(11).
[13] Kinder K, et al. Integrating primary care and public health to enhance response to a pandemic. Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2021;22:e27.
[14] B-Lajoie M-R, Chartier L. Wanted: better public health training for family physicians. Can Fam Physician. 2016;62(6):471–3.
[15] Bhuyan SS, et al. Integration of public health and primary care: a systematic review of the current literature in primary care physician mediated childhood obesity interventions. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2015;9(6):539–52.
[16] de Fátima dos Santos A, et al. Contribution of community health workers to primary health care performance in Brazil. Rev Saude Publica. 2020;54:1–10.
[17] Calman N, et al. Strengthening public health and primary care collaboration through electronic health records. Am J Public Health. 2012;102(11).
[18] Harris M. Integrating primary care and public health: learning from the Brazilian way. Lond J Prim Care (Abingdon). 2012;4(2):126–32.
[19] Queenan JA, Birtwhistle R, Drummond N. Supporting primary care public health functions. Can Fam Physician. 2016;62(7).
[20] Blanck HM, Collins JL. The childhood obesity research demonstration project: Linking public health initiatives and primary care interventions community-wide to prevent and reduce childhood obesity. Child Obes. 2015;11(1):1–3.
[21] Van Avendonk MJP, et al. Primary care and public health a natural alliance? The introduction of the guidelines for obesity and undernutrition of the Dutch College of General Practitioners. Fam Pract. 2012;29(1):i31–5.
[22] Cash-Gibson L, et al. Health Inequalities in the Time of COVID-19: The Globally Reinforcing Need to Strengthen Health Inequalities Research Capacities. Int J Health Serv. 2021;51(3):300–4.
[23] IANPHI. IANPHI and WHO Partner to Strengthen Public Health Functions and Health Emergency Preparedness. International Association of National Public Health Institutes. 2022.
[24] Rowan M, Hogg W, Huston P. Integrating Public Health and Primary Care. Healthc Policy. 2007;3(1).
[25] Jakab M, et al., editors. Health systems respond to noncommunicable diseases: time for ambition. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2018.
[26] Nutting PA, et al. Effect of facilitation on practice outcomes in the National Demonstration Project model of the patient-centered medical home. Ann Fam Med. 2010;8(1):S33–44.
[27] Berenguera A, et al. Beyond the consultation room: Proposals to approach health promotion in primary care according to health-care users, key community informants and primary care centre workers. Health Expect. 2017;20(5):896–910.
[28] Blomstedt Y, et al. Impact of a combined community and primary care prevention strategy on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a cohort analysis based on 1 million person-years of follow-up in Västerbotten County, Sweden, during 1990–2006. BMJ Open. 2015;5(12).
[29] Wadge H, et al. Brazil’s Family Health Strategy: Using community health workers to provide primary care. Commonwealth Fund. 2016;40(December):1–15.
[30] Katafuchi R, et al. The effect of the Kasuya CKD network on prevention of the progression of chronic kidney disease: successful collaboration of a public health service, primary care physicians and nephrologists—community based cohort study. Clin Exp Nephrol. 2022;278:32–43.
[31] Valaitis R. Final Report for CFHI. Strengthening Primary Health Care through Primary Care and Public Health Collaboration. Hamilton: Ontario; 2012.
[32] Pawson R, Greenhalgh T, Harvey G, Walshe K. Realist review-a new method of systematic review designed for complex policy interventions. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2005;10(1_suppl):21–34.
[33] Gupta A. Stronger together – primary care and public health. Can Fam Physician blog post. May 15, 2020.
[34] Gyllstrom E, et al. Measuring Local Public Health and Primary Care Collaboration: A Practice-Based Research Approach. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2019;25(4):382–9.
[35] Brown AD, Upshur R, Sullivan TJ. Public Health and Primary Care: Competition or Collaboration. Healthc Pap. 2013;13(3):4–8.
[36] Benach J, et al. The case for planetary health prevention. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2022;76(2):105–6.
[37] Storm I, et al. How can collaboration be strengthened between public health and primary care? A Dutch multiple case study in seven neighbourhoods. BMC Public Health. 2015;15(1).
[38] Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Ottawa: World Health Organization, Health and Welfare Canada & Canadian Public Health Association; 1986.
[39] Rechel B. How to enhance the integration of primary care and public health? Approaches, facilitating factors, and policy options. Copenhagen: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; 2020.
[40] Akhtar-Danesh N, et al. Viewpoints about collaboration between primary care and public health in Canada. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013;13(1):1.
[41] Pratt R, et al. Identifying Barriers to Collaboration Between Primary Care and Public Health: Experiences at the Local Level. Public Health Rep. 2018;133(3):311–17.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Computational and Experimental Science and Engineering
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
