1.  Descriptive Epidemiology: The Health of Populations              

Topic Areas
A.  Burden of disease and injury
Examples
  • Morbidity, mortality, financial impact
B.  Course of disease and injury
  • Incidence, prevalence, case‐fatality
C.  Determinants of health, disease, and injury
  • Behavioral, socioeconomic, environmental, genetic
  • Access to health care, quality of health care
D.  Distribution of disease and injury
  • Person, place, time
  • Endemic, epidemic, pandemic
E.  Data sources
  • County, state, national, global vital statistics
  • Active and passive public health surveillance
  • Electronic health records (EHR) and geographic information systems(GIS)​

2. Etiology, Benefits and Harms–Health Research Evaluation

A.  Study designs
  • ​Experimental (e.g., controlled trial), quasi-experimental (e.g., pre/post assessment), observational (e.g., cohort, prospective or retrospective)
B.  Estimation ‐ magnitude of association
  • Relative risk/odds ratio, attributable risk, number needed to screen/treat, population impact measures 
C. Inference
  • Statistical significance test, confidence intervals
D. Data quality
  • Accuracy, bias, confounding, error, interaction, precision
E. Data presentation 

  • Interpretation and presentation of data for diverse audiences using different formats

3. Evidence-Based Practice

A. Assessing the quality of the evidence
  • Types and quality of research and other types of evidence relevant to target population
  • Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE)
B. Assessing the magnitude of the effect
  • Incorporating short- and long-term benefits and harms
C. Nationally recognized guidelines
  • Standards, methods, and grading criteria used for establishing guidelines
4. Implementation of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Interventions
A. Types of prevention
  • Primary, secondary, tertiary
B. Target audience for direct interventions
  • Individuals, families, high risk groups, communities, populations
C. Recognition of the effect of social determinants of health on access to preventive services
  • Income, education, transportation options
  • Culture, social and community context, language/literacy​
D. Role of the clinician and interprofessional  team in improving the health of populations
  • Patient and community education, incentives for behavior and structural change 
  • Role for genomics in clinical practice 
  • Shaping policy and laws to improve a community’s health 
  • Collaboration outside of the healthcare sector, (e.g., engineering/environmental solutions 
E. Practice-based systems to aid with the provision of preventive services  
  • Electronic reminders for clinicians and patients
  • Interaction between patients and clinicians using new technologies
  • Patient navigators and community health workers
  • Home visits by appropriate workforce
  • Use and limitations of social media 
F. Impact of a population health focus on the health of individuals, families, and communities  
  • Community-based approaches to facilitate health promoting changes such as improved nutrition options, built environment to promote active lifestyles 
  • Need to identify root causes and act on them

5. Determinants of Health

A. Impact of social factors on health
  • Quality of/access to educational, economic, recreational, and employment opportunities
  • Social norms and attitudes, bias and stereotypes
  • Availability of resources to meet daily needs
  • Access to mass media and emerging technologies
  • Language and literacy
B. Impact of biological factors on health
  • Genetics, microbiome, age, sex, weight, immune status
C. Impact of discrimination, sexism and racism on equity and inclusion in health care and on health
  • Discriminatory practices against marginalized groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, income, religion, age, disability status
D. Impact of the unaltered environment, altered environment, and built environment on health​
  • Climate change, environmental contamination, built environment and community planning that impede or support health promoting lifestyles
  • Physical hazards and barriers, public safety
E. Impact of policy and law as determinants of health and disease 
  • Zoning laws and the proximity of residential areas to sources of pollution, green space, and nutritious food
  • Programs to support educational attainment 
  • Benefits of tenant-focused assistance programs 
F. Importance of health care as a determinant of health 
  • ​Early detection, prenatal care, immunization, well child exams, chronic disease management 
G. Relationship between human health, animal health and ecosystem health (OneHealth) 
  • Implications for microbiological influences on health and disease
  • Ecosystem health/physical environment
  • Human-animal interaction; therapeutic and companion animals
  • Antibiotic resistance, emerging infectious and vector-borne diseases
6. Population Health Informatics
A. Data analytics
  • Collection, interpretation and use of data to assess population health
  • Use in the provision of health care and other services
  • Analysis of health outcomes flagging and exploring causes of disparities
  • Identifying emerging diseases and outbreaks
B. Proper documentation and delivery of information about preventive services and reportable diseases to public health agencies 
  • ​Timely and accurate use of electronic health records to track and report quality outcomes, disparities, and the provision of preventive health services 
7. Evaluation
A. Process and outcome assessments
  • Measurement of the impact of the service or intervention on the population  
  • Compliance with legal and ethical principles
  • Monitor and document program implementation 
B. Decision analyses  
  • Formally assessing relevant aspects of a decision for a recommended course of action
  • Outcome probabilities, cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, and cost-utility
C. Quality improvement
  • Patient safety, root cause analyses
  • Models: Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, Lean Model, Care Model, Six Sigma, Clinical Practice Improvement (CPI)