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J Epidemiol Community Health 2004;58:751-755 doi:10.1136/jech.2003.014340
  • Evidence based public health policy and practice

The importance of the past in public health

  1. Gabriel Scally,
  2. Justine Womack
  1. Regional Public Health Group, Government Office for the South West, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr G Scally
 Regional Public Health Group, Government Office for the South West, 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6ED, UK; gscally.goswgo-regions.gsi.gov.uk
  • Accepted 16 October 2003

Abstract

Study objective: To explore the role of history in public health and its relevance to current practice and professional development.

Design: An analysis of the issues surrounding the poor attention paid to the history of public health by its current practitioners.

Setting: The paper is written from the perspective of practitioners in the UK but has wide applicability.

Main results: The paper makes the case that the current neglect of public health history is to the detriment of public health practice.

Conclusions: There is a strong case for more attention to be paid to public health history in professional formation, development, and communication.

Footnotes

  • Funding: none.

  • Conflicts of interest: none declared.

Responses to this article

  • History of public health: the role of exemplars
    • Raj S Bhopal
    J Epidemiol Community Health published online November 30, 2004

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