Introduction to Community Health [Paperback]

James F. McKenzie (Author), Robert R. Pinger (Author), Jerome E. Kotecki (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0763746347 | ISBN-13: 978-0763746346 | Publication Date: October 5, 2007 | Edition: 6

In an effort to effectively address the health issues facing today s communities, An Introduction to Community Health, Sixth Edition, has been updated to reflect the latest trends and statistics in community health. With an emphasis on developing the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in health education, this best-selling introductory text covers such topics as epidemiology, community organization, program planning, minority health, health care, mental health, environmental health, drugs, safety, and occupational health. Short scenarios, key terminology, marginal definitions, and web activities found in each chapter make this an accessible and reader-friendly resource for the beginning community health student.

Product Details

• Paperback: 638 pages
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, Inc.; 6 edition (October 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763746347
• ISBN-13: 978-0763746346
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Medical Books > Dentistry > Preventive
  • #18 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Health Care Delivery
  • #31 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Public Health

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dry and Basic, September 23, 2010

By 

Douglas E. Wong (Riverside, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Community Health (Paperback)

This book is horrendously dry. You're about as well off reading a list of community-health related vocabulary terms as this book. This book is a series of barely connected terms and statistics. There's no through-line. The goal of the authors seems to be to stuff as much terminology into its pages as possible. Even going so far as to write full paragraphs repeating information that had been discussed previously.

Example, page 106. Under "Other Noncommunicable Disease Problems," they use an entire paragraph to state that COPD, diabetes and chronic liver disease are the 4th, 7th and 10th leading causes of death, respectively. Under an entirely different heading of "Leading Causes of Death" they proceed to say the EXACT SAME THING. Why bother? Are they getting paid by the word? That's not even including the fact that each of these topics has a sentence stating the same thing in a separate paragraph elsewhere in the book.

ONE PAGE LATER they define "Prevention" as "planning for and taking of action to prevent or forestall the occurrence of an undesirable event." You're seriously going to define a word with its root? I don't know a 3rd grade teacher who'd let that fly. "What is Prevention?" "It's when you prevent something"

Frankly, it's insulting.

If their goal was to turn away as many people from the field as possible, then mission accomplished.

Introductory books should pique the interest of curious minds, not turn them away with boredom and repetition. Community Health is such a vibrant and interesting topic, and somehow this book manages to turn it simultaneously into one of the dullest and most condescending, reads I've come across.

Either a massive re-edit or a complete re-write is called for here.

Avoid this.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy unless you have to!, February 4, 2011

By 

Sarah Walton - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Community Health (Paperback)

This is the most ridiculously boring and worst written textbook I have ever read. It combines the most basic common sense of health, with useless statistics and words you will never use. I learned about 7 things in this book. It's mostly filled with lies of how government and other health organizations are trying hard to keep the public healthy... when we all know that just isn't true. Everyone is just trying to make money. In conclusion... DO NOT buy this book unless you have to for a class, and if you do... my apologies!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, July 9, 2011

By 

Kelcie Sthran - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Community Health (Paperback)

As a college student buying books is a investment that we sometimes don't want to make. I have been in college for 2 years, and I would never even dream of buying a text book for a $1.77. I was shocked when I saw the price! I am the type of student that needs the book even if the professor says we don't need it. So it was awesome getting this book at this price. It was $177 or something close to that at my schools book store. I got my book two days later as promised with the student account thing that Amazon has! This book has some great information and is an easy read.