Health Informatics and Environmental Issues

Health Informatics and Environmental Issues

For the purposes of this course, the term environmental refers to a broad set of factors that intermingle with the health of populations. Some environmental issues such as unsafe drinking water supplies or issues with sewage or air quality make local and national headlines. The health and wellbeing of populations may be improved by proper nutrition; clean air; clean drinking water; and clean, disease-free housing. These are all factors that affect the health of many different populations.

More insidious factors affect the overall health and wellbeing of populations in both developed and developing countries, as well. For example, as discussed by Ahangari, Atkinson, & Garrick (n.d.), factors such as the degree to which individuals and entire communities are dependent upon automobile transportation for daily functions serves as one of the primary barriers to reaching a zero-fatality safety vision in the design and use of roadways. Therefore, when considering the health of populations, we must also think of infrastructure of all types within the communities in which we live and work, not just water, air, and food.

Reference

Ahangari, H., Atkinson-Palombo, C., & Garrick, N. W. (2017). Automobile-dependency as a barrier to vision zero, evidence from the states in the USA. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 107, 77–85.

For this Discussion,

To Prepare:

Review the data sources provided this week related to selected environmental health topics.

Conduct library reviews on those topics.

Select two or three peer-reviewed articles that you find of interest related to these environmental health topics. Keep in mind that the data sources reflect very broad topics such as children and lead poisoning and environmental air quality. Choose peer-reviewed articles that you feel affect the health of selected populations and can be addressed by the use of informatics solutions. Are there certain systems, databases, or technology or communication tools that could be effective in managing the environmental issues and how they affect an identified population?

By Day 3

Using the provided data sources and readings along with two or three peer-reviewed articles that you research in the library, Post a description and explanation of the scope of the population (e.g., geographic, demographic) as it relates to environmental health issues and other specifics about population health. Finally, propose one specific example of the kinds of systems and data that can be used to improve the population health problem related to the environment and justify why.

By Day 5

Respond to at least two colleagues.

Suggest an alternative system and/or data that could be used to improve the population health challenge selected by your colleague.

Suggest another reason the system or data proposed by a colleague would improve the population health challenge and why.