Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Public Health
Course Code
SVUEK_107
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine; Public and environmental health
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Information and Communication Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Lauma Spriņģe
Structure Unit Manager
Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne
Structural Unit
Institute of Public Health
Contacts
Riga, Kronvalda bulvāris 9, svek@rsu.lv, +37167338307
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of the course is to extend knowledge and improve competence of basic issues of the modern society; to introduce the diversity of issues to be addressed in public health and the applicable methods of cognition.
Preliminary Knowledge
Basic knowledge of human biology.
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 health information sources. • 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 using data sources used in public health.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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Work in small groups, case analysis, compilation of statistical data and analysis, the end-of-course written examination.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
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-
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Accuracy of answers in the written examination.
Activity and participation in classes.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
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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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Public health, its sectors and key tasks. A brief insight into the history of public health. Health in all policies.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Evidence-based public health practice, its main activities. Public health problem characteristics, clarification of problems.
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-
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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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Definitions of health, its subjective and objective assessment. Individual and population health, basic methods in health research. Disease. Defining a case of disease.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Health evaluation approaches: health as absence of disease; health as optimal functioning; health as a component of quality of life.
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-
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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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Prevention, its explanation. Types of prevention. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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High risk individuals' and population prevention strategies. Key prevention activities in the context of public health.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Infectious diseases as a problem of public health. Foundations of infectious disease epidemiology, risk groups.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Chronic infectious disease impact in public health. Burden of dangerous infectious diseases. International priorities in the field of infectious diseases.
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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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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Chronic non-communicable diseases as a public health problem.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Chronic non-communicable diseases, their major risk factors – smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, obesity. The WHO global strategies to reduce the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases.
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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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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Emergencies in the context of public health. Emergency and disaster definitions and classifications.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Disaster medicine system and its principles. International rules of health protection.
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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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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Adolescence. The role of family, school and peers in adolescence.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Main health problems in adolescents in Latvia and globally. Main risk factors. Health behaviour related problems in adolescence.
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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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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Violence, research of violence in the context of public health. Violence related health consequences.
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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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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Violence against children. Violence against women. Strategies and activities for violence prevention.
|
-
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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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Maternal and child health issues as a public health problem.
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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
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Maternal and child health issues up to age of one. Health indicators, risk factors, prevention. Major health problems and risk factors for a child after age one and adolescents. Political directions of public health in improving the health of children and adolescents.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Mental health as a public health problem.
|
-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Mental health in terms of public health. Diversity of mental disorders. Risk factors. The main aspects of prevention and healthcare of mental disorders.
|
-
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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On site
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Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Addictive diseases as a public health problem.
|
-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Addictive diseases in terms of public health. Diversity of addictive diseases. Risk factors. The main aspects of prevention and healthcare of addictive diseases.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Accidents, trauma and violence as a public health problem.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Accidents/ injuries and their indicators, types and risk factors. Risks in different age groups. Prevention strategies.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
48 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Baltiņš M. Lietišķā epidemioloģija, Zinātne, 2003.
2.
Frances Wilson and Andi Mabhala. Key concepts in public health. Los Angeles: Sage, 2009. 312 pg.
3.
Unwin, Nigel Carr, Susan Pless-Mulloli, Tanja. An Introduction to Public Health and Epidemiology. Open University Press, 2007.
Additional Reading
1.
Brown B, Crawford P, Carter R. Evidence-Based Health Communication. Open University Press, 2006, 217 pg.
2.
Schiavo R.: Health Communication: From Theory to Practice (2nd Edition). Wiley, USA, 2013, 658 pg.