In summary, there are innumerable areas in which public health practitioners and epidemiologists have not yet effectively modified public policy in the interest of improved health. Exercising "societal responsibility" in the application of epidemiologic findings is within the province of community health nurses but will necessitate the active involvement of the citizenconsumer. Community health nurses collaborating with community members can most effectively combine epidemiologic knowledge and aggregate level strategies to effect change on the broadest scale.