RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The importance of the past in public health
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 751
OP 755
DO 10.1136/jech.2003.014340
VO 58
IS 9
A1 Scally, Gabriel
A1 Womack, Justine
YR 2004
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/58/9/751.abstract
AB 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.