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

Military Medicine and Special Epidemiology

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
IUDK_032
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Medicine
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Department of Infectology
Contacts

Riga, Linezera Street 3, idk@rsu.lv, +371 67014777

About Study Course

Objective

The purpose of military medicine is to foster mastering of theoretical and practical knowledge of military medicine, its tasks in conditions of war and peace. To familiarise with criteria for physical and mental (psychic) selection and health assessment of military persons being recruited and already serving. To emphasise the role of military medicine in conditions of natural and man-made disasters, including in the context of bioterrorism and radiation. To provide information about epidemiology of war conditions, including peculiarities of infections and sanitary and hygienic principles in military persons and civilians in the military activity environment. The purpose of special epidemiology is to foster mastering of theoretical and practical knowledge of infectious disease epidemiology as a specific area of epidemiology, of specific and non-specific possibilities of safeguarding from infectious diseases, restriction of their spreading and evaluation of impact on the individual quality of life and public health; to be able to analytically evaluate the epidemiological situation in the context of infectious diseases in the country, in the continent, in the world, using objective data and measurable values, and to prepare a plan; to create a programme for a specific period of time for restriction of a specific infectious disease and its spreading, as well as to prepare recommendations for individual and public protection during an existing epidemic; to be able to use specific and non-specific preventive techniques for restriction of infectious diseases; to understand globalisation aspects of special epidemiology – in conditions of intense migration of the population, in case of natural and man-made disasters, in conditions of different understanding and opinions of people about specific prophylaxis of infections.

Preliminary Knowledge

Anatomy, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, parasitology, pathological physiology, microbiology, immunology, propaedeutics, internal diseases, occupational diseases, infections, epidemiology, pharmacology, statistics.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Military medicine: Students are able to distinguish between military medicine and civilian medicine; outline the role of bioterrorism and its impact on human health and classification of radiation, basic manifestations, impact evaluation values of radiation; describe and identify specific and typical evaluation criteria in health of military persons being recruited and already serving; understand the staff health evaluation programme by systematising evaluation goals, methods and approaches; formulate and explain general principles of diagnostics and therapy on the battlefield and in peace conditions; relate stages of the healthcare plan to customised healthcare; explain principles of modern specific prophylaxis in conditions of war. Special epidemiology: Students will be able to characterise and classify epidemiological markers of infectious and non-infectious diseases by their etiological and other factors, links to social, sanitary hygienic conditions, possibilities of spreading and danger for individual and public health; describe and identify specific, typical and other symptoms or phenomena, which characterise an epidemic and pandemic; explain the programme of activities and systematise epidemiological research methods; formulate and explain general principles for restriction of spreading of infections; link stages of the healthcare plan to customised anti-epidemic healthcare conditions; explain principles of modern specific prophylaxis, attributing them to the society, individuals and healthcare institutions.

Skills

1.Military medicine: Will be able to adapt own actions to the requirements of military medicine, to create a place of medical activities focusing on evaluation of individual’s health for fitness for military service and in war conditions; will be able to draw up a plan for actions in situations of bioterrorism and/or increased radiation for military persons and civilians; will be able to evaluate an epidemiological situation, create a programme/plan to ensure specific immunity in relation to the territories of the intended/existing mission. Special epidemiology: Will be able to create a plan for specific anti-epidemiological activities aimed at evaluation of individual health and protection of the society; will be able to implement the drafted plan taking into account epidemiological, laboratory examination, clinical and other data; will be able to evaluate the facts obtained as a result of investigation; will be able to integrate laboratory examinations in the epidemic evaluation design; to plan preventive measures, which are necessary to restrict spreading of the diseases and aspects of use of etiological drugs for the purposes of restricting epidemics.

Competences

1.Military medicine: To use basic knowledge of argumentation, logic and rhetoric to analyse the situations identified in military medicine, discuss, explain own opinion and constructively promote the achievement of professional goals and specific tasks in ensuring health of an individual (persons to be recruited or military persons) and civilians; to cooperate with a military structure in a professional way, including medical colleagues in the atmosphere full of respect, observing state interests and medical ethical standards, respecting human rights and ensuring epidemiological safety; to independently learn and use the e-medicine environment for communication with students and colleagues; to demonstrate and improve oneself as a future medical practitioner and health promoter in the context of military medicine. Special epidemiology: To use basic knowledge of argumentation, logic and rhetoric to analyse the situations identified in epidemiology in the context of practical infectology, discuss, explain own opinion and constructively promote the achievement of professional goals and specific tasks in ensuring individual and public health; when facing specific situation of an epidemiological nature and contacting persons and colleagues involved, to successfully communicate in the area of prevention of infectious diseases; to cooperate in a professional way with members of the epidemiological process in the atmosphere full of respect observing medical ethical standards, respecting human rights and ensuring epidemiological safety; to independently and constantly learn and use the e-medicine environment for communication with students and colleagues; to demonstrate and improve oneself as a future medical practitioner having knowledge in special epidemiology and health promoter in the context of specific and non-specific prevention of infectious diseases.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

-
-
Prior preparation for respective topics of classes. Independent work – report on the selected topic.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
-
Independent work – report, assessment criteria – compliance of the content of the work with the selected topic, independent work contributed by the student, level of the student’s knowledge, which is assessed by discussing the independent work with the lecturer, presentation of the work. Exam: class attendance, assessment of independent work, two theoretical questions: one in military medicine and one in special epidemiology.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Military medicine - definition, content, tasks, etc. Organization of medical provision and organization of emergency medical measures in local and international aspects in the context of military medicine.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Physical and mental health criteria for the selection of regular service military personnel. Maintaining health of military personnel - nutrition, physical activities, psycho-emotional support during service.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Applying the structures of the civilian health care system to the needs of military medicine as a matter of urgency and reorganization to the needs of victims in military conflicts.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Natural and man-made disasters. Basics of disaster medicine.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Bioterrorism – concept, classification, recognition and prevention possibilities.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Chemical and radiation attacks, their characteristics and damage prevention options.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Characteristics of battlefield medicine. Surgical, internal medicine and mental health in the context of military medicine. Preventive human resources conservation actions and measures in real time.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Principles of operation of civil defense medicine and their importance in meeting the needs of the military medical base in peacetime.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
4

Topics

Definition, tasks, goals and history of special epidemiology of infectious diseases. Epidemic process; patterns of occurrence and spread of infectious diseases; goals and principles of surveillance, prevention and combating of infectious diseases.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
4

Topics

Operational goals, tasks and responsibilities of institutions important in the field of international epidemiology of infectious diseases (WHO, CDC, ECDC, etc.), cooperation within national and international networks and structures (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of Latvia (SPKC), Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment, Latvia (BIOR), Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RECUH) Laboratory Service).
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
4

Topics

Enumeration, description and significance of the ways of spread of infectious diseases in the contexts of individuals, society, economy and globalization.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
4

Topics

Principles of investigation of infectious disease cases and outbreaks. Principles of routine and confirmatory diagnosis of infections. Conditions and procedures for reporting and responding, as well as the responsibility of the medical personnel. Imported infections and issues and problems related to refugees and other immigration and globalization processes. Measures to limit the possible spread of infections.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

2018.Emergency War Surgery. 5th ed.( e-book). USA: Borden Institute US Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

4.

Charles Van Way, III. 2016. War and Trauma: A History of Military Medicine. Mo Med. Jul-Aug; 113(4): 260–263. PubMed.

6.

Ibrahim Abubakar, Helen Stagg, Theodore Cohen, Laura Rodrigues ed. 2016. Oxford Specialist Handbook of Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Iegūts no: via EBSCO

7.

Principles of infectious disease epidemiology.

8.

Johan Giesecke ed. 2017. Modern Infectious Disease Epidemiology. 3th ed. CRC Press. Published. Iegūts no: via EBSCO

9.

Christopher J. L. Murray, Alan D. Lopez, Colin D. Mathers ed. 2004. The global epidemiology of infectious diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization. (akceptējams izdevums)

Additional Reading

1.

Žurnāls: Эпидемиология и инфекционные болезни

2.

Žurnāls: Эпидемиология и вакцинопрофилактика

Other Information Sources