David Satcher

The Community Guide reflects nearly a decade of intensive reviews of thousands of scientific studies, offers insights into 119 public health interventions, and makes 54 specific recommendations. Topics fall into three broad categories of: changing risky behaviors; reducing diseases, injuries, and impairments; and addressing environmental and ecosystem challenges. Included are more specific topics such as physical inactivity, cancer, diabetes, vaccine-preventable diseases, tobacco, interventions in educational and housing sectors, motor vehicle injuries, oral health, and violence.

"Evidence-based public health is an idea whose time has long come and [is] overdue," said Satcher, who was involved in early discussions about the publication. "I think this [guide] moves us forward significantly."

	Jonathan Fielding holds the guide.

The guide is "an important milestone in our efforts to improve the public’s health by a variety of means," said Jonathan Fielding, chairperson of the Task Force and director of public health for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. It answers the questions that communities, employers, and health care organizations need to know, he said. "That is, what do we know that can improve the health of the American people?" said Fielding.