Syllabus Information

1.1. Introduction

In this course, the students will learn the basic concepts in Public Health. Public Health is concerned with threats to the population’s health. Important subfields of public health include epidemiology, biostatistics, and health services. Epidemiology is commonly referred to as the foundation of public health because it is a study that aids our understanding of the nature, extent, and cause of public health problems and provides important information for improving the health and social conditions of people.

1.2. Recommendations to take this course

The learning process that has been designed for this subject is based on the following:

The course is structured in participatory lectures, seminars, practice sessions, seminars and coursework.

The necessary documentation to will be available on Moodle (ADD) of the University of Saragossa with the sufficient anticipation in order to review it before the corresponding class.

Attendance and participation in the scheduled sessions and individual study of the documentation recommended is highly recommended to get achieve the goals.

3.1. Aims of the course

The learning process that has been designed for this subject is based on the following: Theoretical lectures (one group), Training activity lectures (four groups) and Programmed tutorials (small groups)

- Theoretical lectures: Oral presentation by the teacher of the theoretical fundamentals of each topic. The sessions will use audiovisual material available on the network teaching of the University of Saragossa with the sufficient anticipation in order to review it before the corresponding class.

- Training activity lectures: Perform exercises that make up the training activity program, in the classroom and under the supervision of the teacher. These exercises are set out in the notebook practices, available on the network teaching.

- Programmed tutorials: Cross-sectional sessions whose purpose is to provide the student with the integration of previously taught content through critical discussion or solving some exercise.

- Independent work of student.

4.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)

Schedule sessions and presentation of works

The key dates of the course calendar will be found before the start of the course, on the website of the Faculty as well as the ADD (MOODLE) of the subject itself.

- Theoretical lectures will be conducted in the classroom schedule and assign the Center. Sessions of oral presentations are scheduled throughout the course, theoretical schedule / seminar class.

- Training activity lectures: groups and schedule will be organized at the beginning of course, subject to availability of classrooms and coordination of the Center. They will be taught at the seminary of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine. Building B.

- The tutorials will be communicated at the beginning of the course and will be available as determined in the center and always in the ADD of the subject.

5.1. Methodological overview

The methodology followed in this course is oriented towards achievement of the learning objectives. It favors the acquisition of knowledge related to epidemiology, prevention and health conditions and services. A wide range of teaching and learning tasks are implemented, such as lectures, practice sessions, and assignments.

Students are expected to participate actively in the class throughout the semester.

Classroom materials will be available via Moodle. These include a repository of the lecture notes used in class as well as other course-specific learning materials.

Further information regarding the course will be provided on the first day of class.

5.2. Learning tasks

The course includes 6 ECTS organized according to:

- Lectures (1,5 ECTS)

- Practice sessions (0,5 ECTS)

- Assignments (0,5 ECTS)

- Autonomous work (3'5 ECTS)

Lectures: 40 face-to-face participative sessions lasting 50 minutes each one. The professor will present theoretical contents already available at the Moodle website.

Practice sessions: 10 practice sessions where students will work with case studies and problem-based activities (training activity program activities). Students are divided into four smaller groups.

Assignments: in groups, students will elaborate an critical reading (including bibliographical research, analysis, summary, scientific rigor, coherence of expression and citations).

Teaching methodology

The learning process that has been designed for this subject is based on the following: Theoretical lectures (one group), Training activity lectures (four groups) and Programmed tutorials (small groups)

- Theoretical lectures: Oral presentation by the teacher of the theoretical fundamentals of each topic. The sessions will use audiovisual material available on the network teaching of the University of Saragossa with the sufficient anticipation in order to review it before the corresponding class.

- Training activity lectures: Perform exercises that make up the training activity program, in the classroom and under the supervision of the teacher. These exercises are set out in the notebook practices, available on the network teaching.

- Programmed tutorials: Cross-sectional sessions whose purpose is to provide the student with the integration of previously taught content through critical discussion or solving some exercise.

- Independent work of student.

5.3. Syllabus

The course will address the following topics:

Section 1: Expanding the Concept of Public Health

Topic 1. Health and Disease. Determinants of Health

Topic 2. Demographic and Epidemiological Transition. Concepts and functions of Public Health

Topic 3. Measuring, Monitoring, and Evaluating the Health of a Population

Section 2: Epidemiology and Research Methodology in Physiotherapy

Topic 4. History and Scope of Epidemiology

Topic 5. Measures of Morbility and Mortality used in Epidemiology

Topic 6. Descriptive Epidemiology:  Person, place and time.

Topic 7. Study Designs: Ecologic, Cross-Sectional, Case-Control

Topic 8.  Cohort Studies

Topic 9. Experimental Study Designs. Intervention studies, clinical trials and community trials

Topic 10. Establishing Causal Relationships

Topic 11. Hierarchy of Study Designs

Topic 12. Literature search and review of the scientific literature.

Section 3. Services and Health Management. Health Programs

Topic 13. Health Care financing and Organization

Topic 14. Spanish Health System. Features and organization

Topic 15. Information systems in health management

Section 4: Prevention of Health Problems interest in Physiotherapy

Topic 16. Communicable Diseases: The nature of Communicable Disease. Modes of Transmission of Disease.  Immunity. Surveillance. Endemic and Epidemic Disease. Control of Communicable Diseases. Methods of Prevention

Topic 17. Connections between Infectious and Chronic Diseases. Control and Eradication of Infectious Diseases

Topic 18. Non-Communicable Diseases and Conditions: The rise and Spread of Chronic Disease. Global  Burden of non-communicable diseases. Risk Factors and Prevention of Non-Communicable diseases.

Topic 19. Disabling Conditions: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders. Osteoporosis. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Topic 20. Trauma, Violence and Injury

5.4. Course planning and calendar

For further details concerning the timetable, classroom and further information regarding this course please refer to the "Facultad de Ciencias de la salud" website https://mmpysp.unizar.es/

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

Books:

Basic Epidemiology  / Ruth Bonita. 2th edition. Washington, DC, Pan American Health Organization, 2008

Manual of epidemiology and public health degrees in health sciences /  Ildefonso Hernández-Aguado  [et al.] 2th ed. Madrid, Editorial Medica Panamericana, 2011

Concepts of public health and preventive strategies: A Handbook for health sciences /  Miguel Ángel Martínez-González [et al.]). Barcelona, Elsevier, 2013

Web Links:

Web Links showcase external sites that provide additional information about topics covered in the syllabuss

Twiter:

@FCSsaludpublica