Public Health

Objectives

The main learning objectives are:
• Acquire basic knowledge of Public Health.
•  Identify and characterize important problems in public health and public health and nutrition, in Portugal and the World.
•  To recognize and prioritize the health needs of individuals, groups and communities.
• Understand the dynamics of the disease and its natural history, data sources and main types of epidemiological study and measurement of data.
•  Set appropriate and relevant strategies that contribute to Health Promotion and control of major health problems.
•  In each theoretical-practical class, four/five students’ group shall, on a proposed theme under the subject of Public Health/Nutrition, elaborate a document directed to different contexts, which will be presented in adequate support material.

General characterization

Code

41022

Credits

4

Responsible teacher

Prof. Doutor João Filipe Raposo

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

 

Bibliography

• Essentials of Epidemiology in Public Health. Aschengrau A. e Seage III GR, 2008 Jones and Barthett Publishers
• Epidemiology,  Gordis L  Elsevier 2019
• Precaution Prevention and Public Health Ethics, J Med and Philosophy 2004  29  3,  313-332
• A Code of Ethics for Public Health  Am J Public Health 92, 7, 1057-1059 July 2002
• Haupt A and Krane TT. Population handbook, 5th ed, 2004
• INE. Projecções da população residente 2012-2060
• http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/AboutTheCochraneLibrary.html#CDSR   
• WHO (2009). Milestones in Health Promotion: Statements from Global Conferences.  
• Maxwell NI. Understanding Environmental Health. JB Learning. 2 nd Ed
• Saracci, R. Intoducing the history of epidemiology.Oxford University Press, 2001. 1-19.
• CDC. Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice. An Introduction to Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics. 3.Ed
• "sites" sobre Public Health and Nutrition

Teaching method

For the 2020/2021-year class this unit will use a e-learning methodology.
Theoretical classes will be provided in asynchronous e-learning format. The classes will be available also in moodle for later consultation. Discussion groups will be created for each topic.
Theoretical- Practical classes (part of an exposition component and an interactive component, aimed at small groups – including the elaboration and presentation of the group work. These classes will be provided in e-learning format. This component may be adapted to face-to face if possible.

Evaluation method

The Curricular Unit evaluation is continuous and takes place during the semester. Each student must successfully complete each part of the assessment, with a final average mark higher than 9.5 out of 20.
A - Group evaluation - elaboration and presentation of group work, in each TP class, considering:
- In classroom context - discussion of the lesson topic and how to approach the context of the group activity
- Preparation of the work and presentation in the presentation class, every 3 weeks
- Each work is valued at 20 points. There are 8 assignments in the semester. The final mark of this component is given by the average of the 8 assignments and is worth 60% of the final mark of the Curricular Unit, i.e. up to 12 of the 20 marks of the final mark. (a mark higher than 5.7 is considered positive)
B - Individual assessment - focused on the topics presented in lectures
- Provided 2 mini-tests in quiz format, one with 20 multiple-choice questions and another with 15 multiple-choice questions and a development question.
- The final mark is given by the average of the two tests. The individual assessment corresponds to 40% of the final mark of the curricular unit, that is, 8 out of 20. (A mark of 3.8 is regarded as positive)
C - Final evaluation - sum of the two components (A+B). It is considered a success if both components are positive. If one of the components is negative, the student must take the exam with the whole subject in the 1st season, and the grade of the curricular unit is given by the score of the exam. (it is considered positive over 9,5 points).
D - Examination period - 1st season - Test with 25 multiple choice and/or short answer questions. 2nd season – oral exam
Improvements in marks - 2nd season
Note: improvements and special time - oral exam 

Criteria
Class attendance compulsory (at least 80%); record of attendance for theoretical-practical,
Group works - a necessary condition to the frequency and assessment of discipline (at least 75%).
Special regimens of students not able to attend the theoretical-practice lessons - Preparation of a written paper on a topic related to Nutrition/Public Health and oral presentation.

Subject matter

Public Health (PH) - overview and general principles; health, development and social determinants
PH ethics
Multidisciplinary, cross-cutting and research; human rights, individual responsibility, citizenship, Law and social justice
Population and health: dynamic population - ageing
Indicators of health and introduction to PH research
Review of Descriptive epidemiology, ecological studies, health systems
Health promotion
Epidemics; communicable diseases and Non Communicable Disease’s
Disasters and PH
Genetic / diabetes / Obesity - the PH approaches
Health and environment- Climate change and populations
Quality of health services
Big issues of nutrition and contemporary PH
Screenings, screening tests and diagnostics
Epidemiological Surveillance of waterborne and foodborne diseases.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: