Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Public Health: Demography and Epidemiology
Teaching staff
Students may ask lecturers questions at the end of each class. For enquiries outside of class time, students must make an appointment by email:
Pere Castellvi Obiols PhD: pcastellvi@uic.es
Dr. Carlos Gracía Forero: cgarciaf@uic.es
Dra. Andrea Estefania Miranda: aemiranda@uic.es
Dr. Xavier Corbella: xcorbella@uic.es
Dra. Marta Elorduy: melorduy@uic.es
Introduction
Epidemiology is a scientific discipline in the area of medicine that studies the distribution, frequency, and determinants of disease in human populations.
Public health is the area of science that is responsible for ensuring the health and well-being of the population. They include disciplines such as epidemiology, biostatistics, demography, research methodology, disease prevention, health promotion, health management and policy, or social and behavioral sciences, among other core disciplines in their program; but it also includes transversal competencies such as data processing, bioinformatics, cultural diversity, communication, leadership, professionalism, planning and evaluation of health programs and technologies, among others.
It has even given way to subspecialties such as school health, maternal and child health, occupational health, environmental health, health management or the evaluation of medical technologies, among others. In this sense, public health provides health science professionals with the ability to observe existing problems in the population, analyze them and establish an improvement plan.
Pre-course requirements
The student must be familiar with the contents of subjects already taken in the degree of medicine related to this subject such as environmental health and epidemiology, immersion in medicine (II), biostatistics and epidemiological research.
Objectives
• To have the necessary skills to calculate and evaluate the most used epidemiological indicators
• To know how to identify the aspects that influence the health of the community, in the prevention of the disease and in the promotion of healthy habits and lifestyles.
• BTo b able to design and plan strategies for disease prevention and health promotion in different areas of care and population groups.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 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 of the subject
Students must be able to:
• Calculate and interpret the distributions and risks associated between a risk factor and a disease.
• Identify and analyze the aspects that influence the health of the community, the prevention of the disease and the promotion of healthy habits and lifestyles.
• Design, plan and evaluate strategies for disease prevention and health promotion in different areas of care and population groups.
Syllabus
Part I. Introduction to public health. Measurement methods and instruments.
Master class: Introduction to Epidemiology
Master class: Epidemiological Measures and Indicators
Master class: Errors and biases
Case method: Calculation and interpretation of indicators in epidemiological designs
Master class: Diagnostic tests
Case method: Validation of diagnostic tests
Master class: Evaluation of load and costs
Case method: Burden and costs of the disease
Master class: Design of epidemiological studies
Case method: Design of epidemiological studies
Part II. Public Health Strategies: promotion, prevention and management
Master class: Introduction to SP
Master class: Determinants of health
Master class: Protection and Surveillance
Master class: Prevention / Promotion
Case method: Health surveillance
Master class: Communicable diseases
Case method: Study of an epidemic outbreak
Master class: Non-communicable diseases
Case method: Non-communicable diseases and natural history
Master class: Health organization and quality of care
Case method: Practice: the role of coding within the care organization
Master class: Health education
Master class: Public Health and Mental Health
Teaching and learning activities
In blended
Theoretical classes will be combined with case methods, problem-based learning and practices. The theoretical sessions will be held with the Teams 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 exercise: (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 a 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: There will be 5 during the semester (20%)
- Participation and assistance: Participation and questionnaires with questions on topics and cases of the subject. Participation and contributions to classes and forums will be valued (10%)
- Workshop: It is done once a week at the beginning of the subject (10%)
SECOND CALL
The notes of the partial exam, 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. 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
Recommended bibliography:
Gordis L. Epidemiología. Barcelona: Elsevier, 2005.
Durant el curs es proporcionarà bibliografia específica de certs continguts de l'assignatura.
Optional bibliografy:
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)
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.
Fletcher RH, Fletcher SW, Epidemiología clínica. Ed: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2016.
Martinez Navarro F. Salud pública. McGraw-Hill Interamericana de España, 1997
Hernández-Aguado I, Lumbreras Lacarra B. Manual de Epidemiología y Salud Pública para Grados en Ciencias de la Salud. 3ª ed. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2018.
Evaluation period
- E1 11/06/2021 16:30h
- E2 13/07/2021 16:30h