Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Community Physiotherapy and Public Health
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English,
Teaching staff
Andrea Miranda Mendizabal (aemiranda@uic.es)
Introduction
Public Health watches over the health of populations. Supported by other fields in Health Sciences, such as epidemiology, statistics or biology, Public Health strives to protect, promote, and restore collective health, and also designs and evaluates the appropriate interventions. Public Health underlies health systems and is, therefore, an important part of the training of health professionals.
As health care providers, physiotherapysts intervene in many health problems, both in clinical settings and in the workplace or sports. They participate in promoting health with specific interventions during childhood, adulthood or in the old age. Physiotherapists are also key in planning and carrying out community interventions from primary care settings.
This subject places the physiotherapist as an important player in public health, and provides the knowledge and skills to understand their role in improving human health by means of individual and collective interventions.
Pre-course requirements
Not required
Objectives
The objectives are that students :
Understanding the fundamental concepts of health and public health.
Learning about health systems organization, with special emphasis on the Spanish health system.
Identifying the role of the physical therapist in public health.
Understanding basic population health indicators and outcomes and learn about their determinants.
Identifying the main methods and techniques used in public health for the study of health problems that affect the population.
Assessing and plan disease prevention and health promotion strategies in different healthcare settings and population groups.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 01 - The ability to analysis and synthesis.
- 02 - The ability to organise and synthesize
- 05 - The ability to manage information.
- 06 - To have comprehensive problem-solving skills.
- 08 - The ability to work within an international context.
- 09 - Demonstrate critical thinking skills.
- 13 - Knowledge of other cultures and customs.
- 16 - Demonstrate a sensitivity towards environmental issues.
- 18 - Demonstrate a patient-centered approach by showing respect for the central role of the individual and his/her needs in decision-making.
- 19 - The capacity to lead work teams effectively and efficiently.
- 21 - Knowledge of the physiological and structural changes that can occur after physiotherapeutic interventions.
- 27 - Knowledge of psychological and social factors that affect the health of the individual, family and community.
- 31 - Knowledge of health care administration and management proceduresespecially those related to physiotherapywithin a diverse and changing context.
- 33 - Knowledge of criteria and indicators for quality assurance in physiotherapy care according to guidelines for good clinical practice and professional standards.
- 34 - Knowledge of basic concepts in health, health systems and levels of care. Epidemiology. Physiotherapy in the health process.
- 35 - Knowledge of the impact of socio-health policies on professional practice.
- 36 - Knowledge of factors involved in problems of social inequality and in the health needs of different social groups.
- 37 - Knowledge of ethics, legal and professional issues in physiotherapy practice.
- 37.4 - adhere to professional competencies and standards in health care
- 44 - Knowledge of research and assessment methodology that integrates theory and research in the design and implementation of effective physiotherapy.
- 51.1 - Ability to design and set up activities related to disease prevention and health promotion.
- 53 - Capacity to participate within the areas of health promotion and disease prevention.
- 53.1 - Ability to design and set up activities related to health promotion and disease prevention.
- 54 - Ability to interact effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
Learning outcomes of the subject
By the end of the course students should be able to:
• Explain the fundamental concepts of health and public health.
• Acquire the ability to interpret indicators and basic measures in the field of public health.
• Identify the determining factors related to health.
• Identify the main methods and techniques used in public health for the study and prevention of health problems that affect the population.
• Evaluate and design prevention and health promotion programs, proposed from the physiotherapy area and aimed at different groups of people.
• Identify and value health education as a fundamental tool in health promotion and disease prevention.
Syllabus
Module I: Introduction to Public Health
Topic 1. Public Health and Physiotherapy
- Public health concept
- Evolution of public health over time
- Public health areas
- Relationship with physiotherapy
Topic 2. Health systems
- Introduction to health systems
- Models of health systems
- Spanish national health system
- Examples from other health systems
Module II: Population health
Topic 3. Demography
- Concept and types of demographics
- Data sources
- Basic demographic indicators
Topic 4. Introduction to epidemiology
- Definition and objectives
- Study designs in epidemiology
- Basic measures in epidemiology
Topic 5. Determinants of health
- Definition
- Models of health determinants
Topic 6. Disease prevention
- Objectives of prevention
- Levels of prevention
- Basic concepts on validity of diagnostic tests
Module III: Physiotherapy and Community Health
Topic 7. Health diagnosis in the community
- Definition and objectives
- Health diagnosis design
Topic 8. Health promotion from physiotherapy
- Fundamentals and definition of health promotion
- Goals
- Planning of interventions
Topic 9. Health education
- Definitions and objectives
- Methods used
- Stages of a health education program
Topic 10. Community health interventions from physiotherapy
- Key concepts
- Community interventions
Teaching and learning activities
In blended
In each class the main theoretical concepts will be explained, cases may be used to develop them. The concepts will be put into practice through discussion and group work.
Bibliography and resources
Argimón JM, Jiménez J. Métodos de investgación clínica y epidemiológica. Madrid: Elsevier, 2004.
Contel, JC. Atención domiciliaria. Organización y Práctica. Barcelona: Springer-Verlag Ibérica, Barcelona, 1999.
Daban F, Pasarín MI, Rodríguez-Sanz M, et al. Evaluación de la reforma de atención primaria: prácticas preventivas y desigualdades. Aten primaria, 2007; 39: 339-346.
Informe SESPAS 2004. La salud pública desde la perspectiva de género y clase social. Gaceta Sanitaria, 2004; 18 (supl.1).
Martín Zurro A, Jodar G (Ed). Atención familiar y salud comunitaria. Barcelona: Elsevier, 2011.
Martínez Rodríguez, A. Fisioterapia en Atención Primaria. Madrid: Síntesis, 2008.
Montagut F. Rehabilitación domiciliaria. Principios, indicaciones y programas. Barcelona: Masson, 2005.
Piedrola Gil. Medicina preventiva y salud pública. Barcelona: Elsevier, 2008.
Salleras Sanmartí, L. Educación sanitaria. Principios, métodos y aplicaciones. Madrid: Díaz de Santos, 1990.
Yach D, Hawkes C, Gould L, Hofman K. The global burden of chronic diseases. Overcoming impediments to prevention and control. JAMA 2004; 291: 2616-2622.
Enlaces
Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona: www.aspb.es
American Public Health Association: www.apha.org
Association of Public Health Observatories: www.pho.org.uk
Escuela Nacional de Sanidad: www.isciii.es
European Public Health Association: www.eupha.org
Harvard School of Public Health: www.hsph.harvard.edu
Health Protection Agency: www.hpa.org.uk
Institute of Medicine: www.iom.edu
Pan American Health Organization: www.paho.org
Public Health Agency of Canada: www.publichealth.gc.ca
World Health Organization: www.who.int
Evaluation period
- E1 31/05/2021 11:00h
- E2 29/06/2021 12:00h