Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Community Physiotherapy and Public Health
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English,
Teaching staff
Samantha Alvarez (salvarezs@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.
- 10 - Develop autonomous learning skills.
- 13 - Knowledge of other cultures and customs.
- 16 - Demonstrate a sensitivity towards environmental issues.
- 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.
- 28 - Understanding of theories of communication and interpersonal skills.
- 28.1 - Capacity for oral and written communication in the native language.
- 28.2 - Demonstrate Interpersonal skills.
- 29 - Knowledge of healthcare education theory and awareness of the student's own lifelong learning process.
- 29.1 - Demonstrate a committment to ongoing learning and self-improvement.
- 30.1 - Teamwork skills.
- 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 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 health interventions from physiotherapy
Topic 9. Health education
- Definitions and objectives
- Methods used
- Stages of a health education program
Teaching and learning activities
In person
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.
Sessions will be held for the resolution of case methods that will put into practice the knowledge obtained in the theoretical sessions.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
First call
Continuous assessment:
None of the activities of the continuous evaluation is compulsory. However, they will add 3.5 extra points to the exam grade.
1. Case methods (30%):
It is a group activity (4 members per group). Five practical cases will be presented in relation to the theorical sessions. All the members of the group will have the same qualification, except for those cases in which a member who has not actively participated is detected. It is an activity that begins and ends in the classroom, and in all cases it will be mandatory to upload the final activity to Moodle.
2. Participation in the course (15% extra):
It will be assessed through the contributions for the discussion of scientific articles during the theorical sessions. It will also be assessed through short questionnaires, multiple choice or open questions, which will be answered in the classroom to evaluate fundamental aspects taught in the session and/or explained in the compulsory readings. Both, the discussion articles and the compulsory readings, will be uploaded to Moodle one week in advance.
Final exam (70%):
Practical and theory with multiple choice and short answer questions. The format and level of difficulty of the exam will be very similar to the case methods and short quizzes taken during the semester. The final exam will be done on paper in a conventional classroom at the end of the semester.
Second call
In case of obtaining a fail in the first call, the student must take the final exam of the second call. The grade for the second call will be based solely on the exam grade. The approved in second call will require a score of 5 points in the final exam.
Communication and news
Communication with the group will be done exclusively through the NOTICE FORUM, so it is mandatory reading. The notice forum will contain messages from the teaching staff to the students, both about course procedures and content. It is the student's obligation to read the notice forum, and all communications in it will be considered known. All information on schedule changes, assigned classrooms, among other matters, will be available in said forum.
In addition, a FORUM OF DOUBTS will be available, only for questions regarding the exercises that are done outside the classroom.
The response time to the forums will be 2 business days. The forums will be closed on May 18, 2022.
Communication by email is reserved for relevant personal matters.
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 01/06/2023 A15 12:00h
- E1 01/06/2023 A14 12:00h
- E2 04/07/2023 A14 10:00h