Subject

Public Health: Demography and Epidemiology

  • code 07655
  • course 5
  • term Semester 2
  • type OB
  • credits 5

Module: Medicina social, habilidades de comunicación e iniciación a la investigación

Matter: Salud pública: demografía y epidemiología

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Teaching staff

Head instructor

Dr. Pere CASTELLVI - pcastellvi@uic.es

Office hours

Pere Castellvi Obiols PhD

pcastellvi@uic.es

Introduction

In the event that the health authorities announce a new period of confinement due to the evolution of the health crisis caused by COVID-19, the teaching staff will promptly communicate how this may effect the teaching methodologies and activities as well as the assessment.

Public health is the area of science that is responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of the population. It includes disciplines such as epidemiology, biostatistics, demography, research methodology, disease prevention, health promotion, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences, as well as other disciplines central to its program; but also includes skills such as data processing, bioinformatics, cultural diversity, communication, leadership, professionalism, planning and evaluation of health technologies and programs, among other areas.

Even as subspecialities has given way to school health, maternal and child health, occupational health, environmental health, health management or health technology assessment, among others. In this sense, public health provides health professionals the ability to observe the existing problems in the population, analyze them and establish a plan for improvement.

Pre-course requirements

It is necessary that the student is familiar with the contents of other subjects such as environmental health and epidemiology, focus in medicine (II), biostatistics and epidemiological research.

Objectives

To know how to identify the aspects that influence the health of the community in disease prevention and the promotion of health habits and lifestyles.
to be able to design and plan strategies for disease prevention and health promotion in different health care settings and population groups.

Competencies

  • 10 - To understand and recognise the agents and risk factors which determine health status, and learn how they determine the symptoms and natural development of acute or chronic diseases in individuals and populations.
  • 12 - Understanding the foundations for action, the indications and efficacy of therapeutic interventions, based on available scientific evidence.
  • 19 - Propose preventive measures appropriate to each clinical situation.
  • 23 - Communicate effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing with patients, family members, media and other professionals.
  • 25 - Recognize the determinants of public health; genetic and sex-dependent lifestyle, demographic, environmental, social, economic, psychological and cultural determinants.
  • 26 - Assume role in the prevention and protection from diseases, injuries or accidents and maintenance and promotion of health, both individual and at the community level.
  • 27 - Recognize role in multidisciplinary teams, assuming leadership when appropriate, for the delivery of health care, such as interventions for health promotion.
  • 28 - Obtaining and using epidemiological data and assess trends and risks in health related decision-making.
  • 29 - Understand national and international health organisations, and the environments and conditions of the different health care systems.
  • 31 - Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health care information.
  • CTP-3 - To develop critical thinking and reasoning as well as self-assessment skills.
  • CTS-1 - To know the principles of leadership and decision making in ordinary situations or in conflicts with and between various ethical, legal and professional elements.
  • CTS-2 - To demonstrate sensitivity to environmental issues and act accordingly.

Learning outcomes

Students should be able to:
• Identify and analyze the aspects that influence the health of the community in disease prevention and the promotion of habits and lifestyles.
• Design, plan and evaluate strategies for disease prevention and health promotion in different health care settings and population groups.

Syllabus

LECTURES
Part I. Introduction to public health. Methods and measurement instruments.
Introduction to Epidemiology
Epidemiology (I)
Epidemiology (II)
    Case Method: Estimation and interpretation of epidemiologic indicators 
 
Epidemiology (III)
    Case Method: Indicators in action: risk scores
 
Assessment of burden and costs
    Case Method: Costs and burden of disease: healtgh service assessment
 
Determinants of Health 

    Case Method: Epidemiologic Transition

Part II. Public Health strategies: promotion, prevention and management 

Introduction to Public Health 
 
Protection and Vigilance
Prevention/Promotion
    Case Method: Levels of prevention
 
Communicable diseases
      Case Method:Epidemic outbreaks 
 
Non-communicable disease
       Case Method: Natural history of disease
 
Health management and quality of service 
    Case Method: The role of coding in health management
 
Public Health and Mental Healh 
Public health for physicians. Summary and conclusions

 


 

Teaching and learning activities


In blended

Will combine lectures with case methodsproblem-based learning and practice. The theoretical sessions will be held with the Collaborate platform and the practical sessions of case methods will be face-to-face, whenever the pandemic situation allows, and in online format.

Evaluation systems and criteria


In blended

FIRST CALL

The subject will be evaluated according to the following parameters:

- Partial exam: (30 questions, 4 alternatives, three mistakes subtract one hit) (20%)

- Final exam: It consists of 50 questions with 4 answer options and a case study with short answer. There will be a correction of random hits of 33% of errors. You need a score of 5 or higher on the test to be able to score with the remaining grades (40%)

- Exercises Case methods for each topic (20%)

- Participation, assistance and questionnaires: Participation and questionnaires with questions on topics and cases of the subject. Participation and contributions will be valued in them (10%)

- Workshop: It is done once a week (10%)

SECOND CALL

The notes of the partial examination, the workshop, the participation and the methods of the case are saved for the second call.

The final exam of the second call will consist of a test of 50 multiple choice questions with 4 answer options (40%). There will be a correction of random hits of 33% of errors. A score of 5 or higher will be required to pass the course.

Bibliography and resources

Reccommended bibliography: 

 Rothman, K; Greenland S, Lash T (2012) Modern Epidemiology (3rd Ed). NY: Lippincot Williams (ISBN 978-1-4511-9005-2)

(edició en castellà: Rothman K. (1987) Epidemiología moderna. Madrid: Diaz de Santos, ISBN: 978-8-4862-5168-0)

 

 During the sessions, specific references will be given for certains contents.

 

Other sources: 

Gordis L. Epidemiología. Barcelona: Elsevier, 2005.

Skzlo M Niet, FJ (2012). Epidemiology, beyond the basics. ED. Jons and Bartlett

Argimón JM, Jiménez J. Métodos de investigación clínica y epidemiológica. Madrid: Elsevier, 2004.

Somerville M, Kumaran K, Anderson R. Public health and epidemiology at glance. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.

 

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