Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Occupational Medicine and Diseases
Course Code
AUVMK_001
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine; Public and environmental health
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Medicine
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Jeļena Reste
Structure Unit Manager
Jeļena Reste
Structural Unit
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Contacts
Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, avmk@rsu.lv, +371 67060816
About Study Course
Objective
To acquire knowledge of the role of various occupational risk factors (physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, mechanical); their identification, evaluation, control, prevention or reduction and their influence on the health of employees. To acquire skills in occupational disease etiology, pathogenesis, prevention treatment and rehabilitation.
Preliminary Knowledge
Chemistry, biochemistry, physics, microbiology, environmental health, internal medicine, neurology and physiology.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students acquire basic knowledge in occupational medicine and occupational diseases, which allows them to navigate and present questions about the importance, principles, directions, and tasks of occupational medicine and occupational health.
2.Students acquire basic knowledge of the impact of working environmental factors on the human body.
3.Students will learn about the prediction of occupational factors of occupational risk in the work environment, measurement methods, basic principles of assessment and rationing, regulations developed and implemented in legislation
4.Students will acquire knowledge of basic ergonomics issues, importance, methods applied in different working environments, as well as the development of preventive measures and supervision of the working environment.
5.Students will learn and be able to navigate and present issues regarding the risk of developing occupational diseases and occupational dependent diseases caused by occupational factors, their aetiology, pathogenesis, therapy, rehabilitation and preve
Skills
1.Students will be able to navigate literature and Internet databases in order to find the necessary information on occupational risk factors of the work environment and issues of work expertise.
2.Students will be able to assess and interpret the impact of various environmental factors on the human body and health.
3.Students will be able to recognise occupational factors that are harmful to human health.
4.Students will learn to assess changes in the human body in relation to the effects of different occupational risk factors on the human body.
5.Students will be able to recognise typical signs and forms of occupational diseases caused by the most common physical, chemical, ergonomic, biological, and mechanical occupational risk factors, and choose the right course of therapy and rehabilitati
Competences
1.Students will be able to: • classify and assess the level of risk for patient, employee, society and environment; • advise people on occupational hazards, patients’ rights, the process of occupational expertise, and prevention of occupational diseases; • work out preventive measures of reduction of occupational hazards; • apply the main laws, regulations and documentation related to the issues of occupational health and occupational medicine; • discuss issues of occupational health and occupational medicine within the occupational health team and participate in its work; • elaborate proposals, plan and introduce measures for improvement of treatment and working conditions, reduce gaps in work organization.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
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-
|
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Acquisition of extended knowledge, skills and competence from the training materials in e-study environment, from presentations, discussions on the students’ reports, essays and research. Hygienic inspection of health care institution (hospital’s in-patient, out-patient department, etc.) and development of a project for improvement of treatment environment and workplace conditions. Analysis of clinical case reports and situation tasks.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
10 points
|
|
The assessment of student knowledge shall take into account the quality of the total student work and individual contribution throughout the course: • participation and activities in practical class work, successful performance of teaching staff tasks (20%); • regular examination of theoretical knowledge of occupational medicine and occupational diseases throughout the course (20%) and at the end (60%). Test method: cumulative exam |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
|
Online
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to occupational medicine
|
-
Video Lecture
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Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
E-Studies platform
|
2
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Topics
|
Classification, assessment and mitigation of harmful occupational risk factors
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
E-Studies platform
|
2
|
Topics
|
Mandatory health examinations of employees, procedures and meaning of performance thereof
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
E-Studies platform
|
2
|
Topics
|
Health disorders caused by work. Registration of occupational diseases. Rights of persons suffering from occupational diseases.
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
E-Studies platform
|
2
|
Topics
|
Health effects of exposure to dust. Respiratory diseases caused by work aerosols. Pneumoconioses. Occupational diseases caused by asbestos. Occupational diseases caused by organic dust.
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
E-Studies platform
|
2
|
Topics
|
Basics of occupational toxicology. Poisoning with heavy metals (lead, mercury). Poisoning with organic solvents.
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
E-Studies platform
|
2
|
Topics
|
Occupational diseases caused by physical overload. The most common occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Compression neuropathies.
|
-
Video Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Off site
|
E-Studies platform
|
2
|
Topics
|
Effects of ionising radiation on health. Acute and chronic effects. Acute radiation syndrome. Health problems of Chernobyl nuclear powerplant emergency mitigators.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
|
Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Study room
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4
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Topics
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Occupational health and occupational medicine, their tasks, legislation. Hazards in the working environment, a harmful situation, a harmful occurrence, a risk. Determination of occupational risk factors. The role of the general practitioner and occupational physicians in carrying out occupational medicine tasks. List of occupational diseases. Mandatory health check-ups for employees. The most characteristic occupational risk factors and occupational diseases in the work of medical personnel.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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4
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Topics
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Occupational respiratory diseases resulting from dust, irritants and chemical substances. Diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Pneumoconiosis. Asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases. Bronchitis caused by dust. Organic dust related occupational diseases. Occupational allergic diseases. Biological risk factors in the work environment. Occupational infectious diseases (tuberculosis, viral hepatitis).
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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4
|
Topics
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Occupational diseases resulting from chemical exposures. Poisoning to heavy metals (lead, mercury, etc.), organic solvents. Occupational oncological diseases. Ionizing radiation induced acute and chronic health problems. The main health problems of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident clean-up workers.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
4
|
Topics
|
Occupational musculoskeletal and nervous system diseases caused by physical overload. Compression neuropathies. Occupational diseases caused by physical factors: vibration disease, noise-induced hearing loss. Psychoemotional factors and stress at work. Burnout syndrome.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Eglīte, M. 2012. Darba medicīna. 2. izd. Rīga: RSU. (latviešu plūsmas studijām)
2.
Eglīte, M., 2008. Vides veselība. Rīga: RSU. (latviešu plūsmas studijām; latviešu valodā pieejamā grāmata, kas ietever kursam nepieciešamo informāciju)
3.
Dundurs, J. 2015. Environmental & Occupational Medicine. Rīga: RSU.Suitable for English stream
4.
Smedeley, J., Dick, F., and Sadhra, S., eds. 2022. Oxford Handbook of Occupational Health. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. Iegūts no: via EBSCOhost Web
5.
LaDou, J., Harrison, R. J. 2021. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 6th ed. McGraw-Hill. Iegūts no: via Access medicine
Additional Reading
1.
Baxter, P., Aw, T.C. et al., eds. 2010. Hunter's Diseases of Occupations. Taylor & Francis Group. Iegūts no: ProQuest Ebook Central
2.
European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. 2009. Information notices on occupational diseases: a guide to diagnosis. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
3.
Kaļķis, V. 2008. Darba vides risku novērtēšanas metodes. Rīga: Latvijas izglītības fonds.
4.
Roja, Ž. 2008. Ergonomikas pamati. Rīga: Izdevniecība SIA “Drukātava”.
Other Information Sources
1.
Rosenstock L., Cullen M.R., Brodkin C.A., Redlich C.A. Textbook of Clinical Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 1994. 1338 p.
2.
International Labour Organization. Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health & Safety http://www.iloencyclopaedia.org/
3.
National Institute of Health. Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases https://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/
4.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
5.
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work https://osha.europa.eu/en
6.
Eiropas darba drošības un veselības aizsardzības aģentūra./European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Publikācijas. http://osha.lv/lv/publications
7.
World Health Organization. Health topics. Occupational health. http://www.who.int/topics/occupational_health/en/
8.
WHO Regional Office for Europe. Occupational health http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/occupational-health
9.
International Labour Organization. Publications. http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/lang--en/index.htm
10.
WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer. Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/PDFs/index.php
11.
WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer. Classification of the carcinogens. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/
12.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Workplace Safety & Health Topics https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/