Population health is an approach to health that aims to improve the health of an entire defined population. One major step in achieving this aim is to reduce health inequities among population groups. Population health seeks to step beyond the individual level focus of mainstream medicine and public health by addressing a broad range of factors that impact upon health on a population level, such as environment, social structure, resource distribution, etc. An important theme in population health is the importance of the social determinants of health and the relatively minor impact that medicine and healthcare have on improving health overall.
From a population health perspective, health has been defined not simply as a state free from disease but as "the capacity of people to adapt to, respond to, or control life's challenges and changes" (Frankish et al., 1996).
The study of populations enables causal factors for ill health to be determined and at-risk groups to be identified. A population health approach also focuses on health outcomes (as opposed to inputs, processes and products) and on determining the degree of change that can actually be attributed to an intervention. A population health approach uses "evidence-based decision making." Quantitative and qualitative evidence is used to identify priorities and strategies to improve health. A population health approach also recognises that improving health is a shared responsibility. "Intersectoral collaboration" is the joint action among health and other groups to improve health outcomes.
Contact: Catherine Ferreira or Jenny Elston
References
Frankish, CJ et al. "Health Impact Assessment as a Tool for Population Health Promotion and Public