Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

Public Health

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
SVUEK_122
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine; Public and environmental health
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Business Management
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Institute of Public Health
Contacts

Riga, 9 Kronvalda boulevard, svek@rsu.lv, +371 67338307

About Study Course

Objective

The aim of the course is to extend knowledge and improve competence of basic issues of the modern society and introduce the diversity of issues to be addressed in public health and the applicable methods of problem identification, control and prevention.

Preliminary Knowledge

Secondary school education.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Students will: • Define the concept of health and name the main categories of health affecting factors. • Name health indicators to be used for assessing health and applicable data sources. • Formulate functions of the public health sector. • List the main areas of activity of public health nowadays. • List key public health issues and their causes and prevention options.

Skills

1.Students will: • Classify health determinants. • Explain the nature of the indicators used for assessing health and opportunities of using them. • Differentiate and compare various sources of health information. • Apply the concepts used in public health. • Analyse indicators and information characterising the public health issues.

Competences

1.Students will: • Relate and generalise health assessment and measurement issues to public health practice. • Justify the nature of public health sector and its role within historical and demographic context. • Critically assess and justify the problems and the situation in public health, applying data sources used in public health.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

-
-
Independent performance of tasks, preparation of public helath data analysis and preparation of presentation.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
-
1. Attendance of seminars, participation in classroom activities (group works and discussions) – compulsory. 2. Analysis and presentation of practical situation – 30%. 3. Exam – 70%.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Evidence-based public health. Measures of disease occurence: prevalence and incidence, formulas, application in practice. Mortality rates.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Prevention. Types of prevention. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Main prevention activities in public health.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Definitions of health, its subjective and objective assessment. Individual and population health, basic methods in health research. Disease. Defining a case of disease.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Health evaluation approaches: health as absence of disease; health as optimal functioning; health as a component of quality of life. Health statistics. Public health surveillance.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Health evaluation approaches: health as absence of disease; health as optimal functioning; health as a component of quality of life. Health statistics. Public health surveillance.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Potential years of life lost, years lived with disability. Measures of association.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Potential years of life lost, years lived with disability. Measures of association.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Screening. The health impact pyramid.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Infectious diseases, classification. Infectious diseases transsmision, pathogenesis. Mechanisms for control. Surveillance of infectious diseases. Epidemic, pandemics. Noncommunicable diseases, main NCD risk factors – smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity. Strategies for NCD risk factor prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Infectious diseases, classification. Infectious diseases transsmision, pathogenesis. Mechanisms for control. Surveillance of infectious diseases. Epidemic, pandemics. Noncommunicable diseases, main NCD risk factors – smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity. Strategies for NCD risk factor prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Cardiovascular diseases as public helath problem. Mortality rates. Classification. Risk factors and risk groups. Prevention programmes.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Population ageing. Diabetes as public health problem. Morbidity rates and prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Population ageing. Diabetes as public health problem. Morbidity rates and prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Health problems in mothers and infants. Health indicators, risk factors and prevention. Policies for children and adolescent health improvement.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Mental health in public health perspective. Risk factors. Main aspects of prevention and health care.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Mental health in public health perspective. Risk factors. Main aspects of prevention and health care.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Injuries as public health problem. Types of violence and risk of violence in different age groups. Strategies and policy for prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Injuries as public health problem. Types of violence and risk of violence in different age groups. Strategies and policy for prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Addiction as a public health problem in Latvia, public health indicators. Prevention of alcohol and tobacco use in national and international policy documents. Acitivities and instruments for tobacco and alcohol harm reduction. Health in all policies for addiction control and prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Addiction as a public health problem in Latvia, public health indicators. Prevention of alcohol and tobacco use in national and international policy documents. Acitivities and instruments for tobacco and alcohol harm reduction. Health in all policies for addiction control and prevention.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
40 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Evidence-based public health. Measures of disease occurence: prevalence and incidence, formulas, application in practice. Mortality rates.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Prevention. Types of prevention. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Main prevention activities in public health.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Definitions of health, its subjective and objective assessment. Individual and population health, basic methods in health research. Disease. Defining a case of disease.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Health evaluation approaches: health as absence of disease; health as optimal functioning; health as a component of quality of life. Health statistics. Public health surveillance.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Potential years of life lost, years lived with disability. Measures of association.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Screening. The health impact pyramid.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Infectious diseases, classification. Infectious diseases transsmision, pathogenesis. Mechanisms for control. Surveillance of infectious diseases. Epidemic, pandemics. Noncommunicable diseases, main NCD risk factors – smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity. Strategies for NCD risk factor prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Cardiovascular diseases as public helath problem. Mortality rates. Classification. Risk factors and risk groups. Prevention programmes.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Population ageing. Diabetes as public health problem. Morbidity rates and prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Population ageing. Diabetes as public health problem. Morbidity rates and prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Health problems in mothers and infants. Health indicators, risk factors and prevention. Policies for children and adolescent health improvement.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Mental health in public health perspective. Risk factors. Main aspects of prevention and health care.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Injuries as public health problem. Types of violence and risk of violence in different age groups. Strategies and policy for prevention.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Addiction as a public health problem in Latvia, public health indicators. Prevention of alcohol and tobacco use in national and international policy documents. Acitivities and instruments for tobacco and alcohol harm reduction. Health in all policies for addiction control and prevention.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
28 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice. edited by David Pencheon at all, Oxford University press, 2006.

2.

Seltzer, B. 101 + Careers in Public Health. Second edition. New York, NY : Springer Publishing Company. 2016. eBook.

Other Information Sources

1.

CDC datu bāzes un publikācijas. Pieejams no: www.cdc.gov

2.

PVO datu bāzes un publikācijas. Pieejams no: www.who.int

3.

Global Health Observatory (GHO) publikācijas. Pieejams no: www.who.int/gho/publications/en/index.html

4.

Eiropas slimību profilakses un kontroles centra dati un publikācijas. Pieejams no: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Pages/home.aspx

5.

Sabiedrības veselības analīze Latvijā, Veselības aprūpes statistikas apkopojumi; Latvijas iedzīvotāju veselības apsekojuma rezultāti, LR Centrālā Statistikas pārvalde. Pieejams no: www.csb.gov.lv; www.vmnvd.gov.lv u.c.