# Americans most associate public health with researching disease

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/americans-most-associate-public-health-with-researching-disease/

> Indexed question in Health.

## Reading

When Americans picture what public health does, research leads the way: about seven-in-ten (70%) say it involves researching disease, according to a November 2025 Verasight survey.

About half also link it to food inspections (52%) and giving shots (49%). Smaller shares mention responding to natural disasters (34%), taking complaints (31%), or scheduling doctors' appointments (26%), and about one-in-ten (11%) say they have no clue what public health does.

## Topline

What does public health do?

Americans most associate public health with researching disease.

Respondents could select more than one option, so shares may sum to more than 100%.

- Research disease: 69.5%
- Do food inspections: 51.6%
- Give shots: 48.9%
- Respond to natural disasters: 34.5%
- Take complaints: 30.5%
- Doctors appointments: 26.4%
- I have no clue: 11.4%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-11-14 → 2025-11-20
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.2%
- Module: Module 2
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#public-health-responsibilities](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#public-health-responsibilities)

## Citation

Verasight APHA Omnibus Survey #2025-148, fielded November 14-20, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#public-health-responsibilities](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#public-health-responsibilities)