The Public Health Textbook is an online resource which covers all the public health skills and competencies. It has been organised in relation to the Faculty of Public Health Part A membership examination syllabus. Although the textbook is particularly helpful for Paper I of the exam, the resource is also of benefit for anyone who is interested in expanding their public health knowledge.

In addition to the textbook, you may find it useful to access the helpful tips and frameworks for passing Part A. Public Health practitioners interested in resources for Paper II may like to view the interactive learning modules on critical appraisal and data manipulation.

1. Research methods appropriate to public health practice, including epidemiology, statistical methods and other methods of enquiry including qualitative research methods.

1a Epidemiology
1b Statistical Methods
1c Health Care Evaluation and Health Needs Assessment
1d Principles of Qualitative Methods

2. Disease causation and the diagnostic process in relation to public health; prevention and health promotion.

2a Epidemiological Paradigms
2b Epidemiology of Diseases of Public Health Significance
2c Diagnosis and Screening
2d Genetics
2e Health and Social Behaviour
2f Environment
2g Communicable Disease
2h Principles and Practice of Health Promotion
2i Disease Prevention, Models of Behaviour Change

3. Health Information

3a Populations
3b Sickness and Health
3c Applications

4. Medical Sociology, Social Policy, and Health Economics

4a Concepts of Health and Illness and Aetiology of Illness
4b Health Care
4c Equality, Equity and Policy
4d Health Economics

5. Organisation and Management of Health Care and Health Care Programmes from a Public Health Perspective

5a Understanding Individuals,Teams and their Development
5b Understanding Organisations, their Functions and Structure
5c Management and Change
5d Understanding the Theory and Process of Strategy Development
5e Finance, Management Accounting and Relevant Theoretical Approaches

Further Resources

• Frameworks for Answering Questions
• Hints and Tips for Taking the Part A Exam
• Past Papers (available on the FPH website)