Rose's Strategy of Preventive Medicine (revised edition)

Citation

(2008), "Rose's Strategy of Preventive Medicine (revised edition)", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 21 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2008.06221cae.004

Rose's Strategy of Preventive Medicine (revised edition)

Article Type: Recent publications From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 21, Issue 3.

Geoffrey Rose and Kay-Tee Khaw and Michael MarmotOxford University Press2008ISBN-13: 978-0-19-263097-1

Keywords: Health prevention, Quality improvement, Public health strategy

The full, original text from Geoffrey Rose remains intact with a commentary from Khaw and Marmot providing a modern perspective on Rose’s views, nearly two decades after the original material was published.

It examines the relevance the text has in the modern era, how it might be applied beyond medicine, and what implications it holds for the future.

It also clarifies the often-confused thinking and arguments about determinants of individual cases and determinants of population incidence.

The Strategy of Preventive Medicine, by Geoffrey Rose, first published in 1993 remains a key text for anyone involved in preventive medicine. Rose’s insights into the inextricable relationship between ill health, or deviance, in individuals and populations they come from, have transformed our whole approach to strategies for improving health. His personal and unique book, based on many years research, sets out the case that the essential determinants of the health of society are to be found in its mass characteristics. The deviant minority can only be understood when seen in its societal context, and effective prevention requires changes that involve the population as a whole. He explores the options for prevention, considering them from various viewpoints theoretical and scientific, sociological and political, practical and ethical. The applications of his ideas are illustrated by a variety of examples ranging from heart disease to alcoholism to road accidents. His pioneering work focused on a population wide approach to the prevention of common medical and behavioural disorders has become the classic text on the subject.

This reissue brings the original text to a new generation involved in preventive medicine. Kay-Tee Khaw and Michael Marmot retain the original text intact, but have added their own perspective on the work. They examine what relevance Rose’s ideas might have in the era of the human genome project and other major scientific advances, they consider examples of how the theory might be applied and generalised in medicine and beyond, and discuss what implications it holds for the future. There is also an explanation of the population perspective, clarifying the often-confused thinking and arguments about determinants of individual cases and determinants of population incidence.

Rose’s Strategy of Preventive Medicine will ensure that this seminal work continues to be read by future generations.

Readership

This classic text is essential reading for anyone interested in preventive medicine, including clinicians, epidemiologists, public health practitioners, health economists, politicians, and health service managers and planners. Its accessible tone means it will appeal at all levels from medical student to experienced practitioner/researcher, and the interested general public.

Contents include:

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  The objectives of preventive medicine.

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  What needs to be prevented?

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  The relation of risk to exposure.

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  Prevention for individuals and the ”high-risk” strategy.

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  Individuals and populations.

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  Some implications of population change.

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  The population strategy of prevention.

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  In search of health.