SDG 3 Health and Population Well-Being

This is a selection of research articles from our publications on health and wellness:

The “Advances in diagnosis and therapies for rare haematological and hereditary diseases” (ARETHA) project, led by our researcher of the Department of Medicine and Health Sciences and head of the Research Group on Iron Metabolism, Mayka Sánchez, has received funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Researchers from UIC Barcelona have demonstrated the effectiveness of the VINCat programme in reducing postoperative infections in colorectal surgery. The study is led by UIC Barcelona doctoral student Nares Arroyo in collaboration with Dr Josep M. Badia, lecturer of the University’s Department of Medicine.



Researchers from the Neurolipids group of the Department of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, led by Núria Casals, discover a protein that creates resistance to breast cancer treatment through a study, published in the International Journal Of Molecular Sciences.

The University maintains a close collaboration with health institutions for specific programmes and also to facilitate work placements for students in the Health Sciences and Dentistry faculties.

5.1.5. Blood drive

UIC Barcelona organises blood donation campaigns to foster solidarity and help save lives.

UIC Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to solidarity and public health through the organization of regular blood donation campaigns across its university campuses. These initiatives, carried out in collaboration with the Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia (BST), aim to raise awareness within the university community about the importance of this altruistic act, which is essential to meet the approximately 1,000 blood donations needed every day in Catalonia.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the University held a blood donation campaign in October at the Barcelona and Sant Cugat campuses. More than 100 people participated.
These actions reflect the involvement and commitment of the university community to values such as solidarity, social responsibility, and service to society.

UIC Barcelona carries out numerous initiatives to support local communities, highlighting its commitment to solidarity and social inclusion.

5.3.1 Local Volunteering

UIC Barcelona is committed to providing comprehensive support to people with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly, and vulnerable communities through specific programmes that address their particular needs. The University develops projects to facilitate social integration, promoting inclusion and active participation within the community. In addition, it organises activities and programmes focused on the physical and mental well-being of children, adolescents, and young people, including educational and preventive initiatives that help improve the quality of life and well-being of all beneficiaries.
UIC Barcelona offers local volunteering programmes aimed at improving the quality of life within local communities. 

Collaboration with Sant Cugat City Council

UIC Barcelona and the Sant Cugat City Council collaborate to offer an oral check-up service for users of the city’s Social Services. The International University of Catalonia and the City Council formalised a collaboration agreement through which the Faculty of Dentistry provides its services to people in situations of social vulnerability who are users of municipal social services. The aim is to ensure that people with limited resources have access to these basic health services offered by the University Dental Clinic. Thanks to this collaboration, launched on 3 December, the UIC Barcelona University Dental Clinic offers this group free oral examinations and, if necessary, any type of treatment at a reduced price.

Invulnerables Programme in Manresa

The Invulnerables programme to combat child poverty, promoted by the “la Caixa” Foundation and led by Sister Lucía Caram, director of the Santa Clara Convent Foundation, renewed its collaboration agreement with the Faculty of Dentistry to continue supporting families in the Invulnerables programme in Manresa. The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty, Dr Lluís Giner; the Manager of the University Dental Clinic, José María García Navas; the Faculty Centre Manager, Elisa Sanagustín; the Corporate Director of Social Programmes at the “la Caixa” Foundation, Montserrat Buisán; and Sister Lucía Caram.

Upon renewing the agreement, Sister Lucía Caram highlighted “the commitment and professionalism, as well as the coordination and follow-up” shown by all those involved in the project, encouraging other regions to join initiatives that protect children’s rights and promote their holistic health.

Once again, the year-four Nursing students are organising another Interdisciplinary Approach to the Elderly Event, which is celebrating its 10th edition this year. The aim of the event is to answer the challenges to be faced in caring for the elderly in emergency services.

The event will include a round table discussion with participation of different health field experts who will share their experience in caring for the elderly and their families in the emergency services in different areas such as the hospital, the medical emergency services (SEM) or the primary care emergency centres (CUAP). The event will also include the oral presentations of studies prepared by nursing students as well as the presentation of scientific posters, and the awards ceremony.

11th Health Promotion Day

On February 24, the Sant Cugat Campus hosted a new edition of the Health Promotion Day, more than 100 young people took part in different workshops and activities showing scenarios in which nursing students used practical, visual methods to raise awareness of the risks of alcohol and drug abuse, how to respond to bullying and abuse, responsible social media use, and how to perform CPR. In addition, this year’s Health Promotion Day featured the new addition of a mental health workshop.

5.3.2 For Disadvantaged People

Aidir Ciutat Vella is a UIC Barcelona project dedicated to providing care and support to people in vulnerable situations, improving their health and well-being through social and healthcare intervention programmes.

Healthy Ageing

The Aidir Pere Virgili Unit at UIC Barcelona develops projects aimed at promoting healthy ageing. These initiatives address aspects such as physical and mental health, loneliness, and comprehensive care for the elderly.

During the symposium “Person, Society and Care”, held at UIC Barcelona, experts from various disciplines analysed care from multiple perspectives, addressing issues such as ageing, loneliness, and mental health, while sharing experiences and initiatives beyond the healthcare field.

The 9th Interdisciplinary Approach to the Elderly Conference focused on the experiences of families and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. On 18 October, the Sant Cugat Campus hosted the event under the title “How Does Alzheimer’s Impact Our Lives?”. Organised by fourth-year Nursing students, the conference focused on the personal experiences of families and people affected by the disease.

5.3.3 Solidarity Collaborations

The University Dental Clinic (CUO) at UIC Barcelona collaborates with various organisations to provide dental care to people in vulnerable situations. These collaborations include partnerships with city councils, humanitarian organisations, and foundations that work with refugees.

Partner organisations:

• Invulnerables
• Temporary Stay Centre for Immigrants (CETI) in Melilla
• Santa Anna
• CEAR – Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid
• SOS Ukraine
• Edugascar Project
   

Among these collaborations, the Edugascar Project stands out. The Faculty of Dentistry organises a trip to Madagascar as part of a solidarity dental care programme for vulnerable patients. Students and professors from UIC Barcelona’s Dentistry degree participated in a hands-on clinical training course focused on providing dental care to people in need in a rural area of Madagascar. The trip took place from 9 to 13 October 2023. 

The University promotes physical activity through sports programs and exercise programs that promote a healthy lifestyle. These initiatives include fitness classes, team sports, and outdoor activities.

During the 2023-24 academic year, UIC Barcelona rented sports facilities from the Brafa Foundation, Artos Sports Club, Colegio Real Monestir Santa Isabel, Esports UB, and the CMU Sant Jordi pavilion for training and friendly matches for its official teams.

Sexual and reproductive health education for medical students

All medical students receive training in sexual and reproductive health throughout their studies, from the physiological and pathological phenomena of human reproduction and its treatment. Below are subjects where these topics are addressed:

• Structure and Function: Reproductive System
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Information and education on sexual health for UIC students

UIC Barcelona is committed to offering comprehensive education that encompasses both academic training and the personal development of its students. As part of this commitment, the University organises a range of workshops and training cycles aimed at promoting students’ emotional well-being and relational health.

Free of charge

Curso 2023-2024

• Building Healthy Relationships: How to Recognize a Toxic Relationship
  Building stable and healthy interpersonal relationships while identifying those that may be toxic is the focus of this workshop organised by the Institute of Advanced Family Studies and the Equality and Inclusion Unit at UIC Barcelona, in collaboration with Support – University Clinic of Psychology and Psychiatry (UIC Barcelona).
  This two-day workshop, held on the Sant Cugat Campus, took a practical approach to addressing key issues that may arise in toxic relationships, detecting possible situations of violence and harassment, and improving self-esteem and relationship quality.tóxicas, a detectar las posibles situaciones de violencia y acoso y a mejorar la autoestima personal y la calidad de nuestras relaciones.
• The Institute of Advanced Family Studies launches a training cycle on affective-sexual education
  The first session of the series, entitled “Healthy Sexuality, Strong Bonds”, featured leading academic experts discussing “New Challenges, New Responses: On Pornography Addiction”.
  Sessions included:
  • What Is Pornography Addiction? Key Facts, Warning Signs, by Jorge Gutiérrez.
  • Think Twice: Pornography and Gender, by María Contreras.
  • Guidelines for Preventing Pornography Use and Risky Behaviours, by Aida Sánchez.
  • Projecte Home: How to Address a Case in School – Principals, Teachers, Parents and the Individual, by Carolina Lupo.
  • Pornography: How to Combat the New Drug, by Pablo Pons.
  • Addiction to cyberporn. Detection and referral by Alejandro Villena.
• Fifth Forensic Psychopathology Conference on Consumption of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Prevention and Multidisciplinary Intervention
  The main objective of the Conference is to provide a space for dialogue and learning where expert researchers, professionals from different disciplines and members of the State Security Forces and can share knowledge, experiences and effective strategies to address and prevent sexual violence against children and adolescents associated with child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

5.6.1. Support - University Psychology and Psychiatry Clinic

The Support - University Psychology and Psychiatry Clinic of UIC Barcelona was created to offer psychological and psychiatric care to the population. Located on the Sant Cugat Campus of UIC Barcelona, the SUPPORT team is made up of psychiatrists, specialised psychologists and general health psychologists who provide services to their patients while serving as a teaching example for students studying the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and future professionals.

To facilitate their adaptation to the new university life in Barcelona, the University offers all students advice (Mentoring Service) completely free of charge with the possibility of receiving guidance and support.

The University's First assessment of mental status for of all UIC Barcelona students, administration and service staff (PAS) and teaching and research staff (PDI) is free. The case will be evaluated and they will explain all the options available to help them.

The first visit is free. From the second session onwards, each visit costs just €20 for consultations with a psychologist, and consultations with a psychiatrist cost €25. These visits can be in either English or Spanish. You’ll find the Clinic on the ground floor of the Sant Cugat campus. For further information, please visit the following link.

For administration and service staff (PAS) and for teaching and research staff, the cost is €25 per session.

Despite being a private clinic, it offers reduced rates in order to serve a greater percentage of the population.
 

5.6.2 Active promotion of good mental health

On World Health Day, Claudia Rossy, a psychologist at the University, explained how the mass use of Instagram has increased eating disorders by about 30% compared to pre-pandemic data among youth and adolescents. One of the reasons for this increase is the use of body reducing and imperfection correction filters, along with access to profiles that promote weight loss and sport.

The 11th Health Promotion Day, was held with the participation of over 100 adolescents. During the day, practical and visual workshops were held addressing various situations and scenarios related to alcohol and drug use, bullying and abuse and mental health.

As part of World Mental Health Day, the Psychology Area under the Department of Basic Sciences and the Salud y Persona Foundation is organising the First Conference on Grief, Emotional Well-being and Mental Health. 10/10/2023.

Check the full programme
Registration is free

In collaboration with

 

UIC Barcelona offers several free courses for students chosen as course delegates, including “Stress Management” taught by Claudia López, “Positive Leadership” with Isabella Meneghel, “Building Healthy Relationships: How to Recognise a Toxic Relationship” with Claudia López and Adela Berrozpe, and “Developing Positive Leadership Skills in Class Representatives”. These courses have a duration of 3 hours each.