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Theory of Public Health

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:5.00
Study Course Accepted:22.03.2022 12:20:14
Study Course Information
Course Code:SVUEK_037LQF level:Level 7
Credit Points:4.00ECTS:6.00
Branch of Science:Clinical Medicine; Public HealthTarget Audience:Public Health
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Anita Villeruša
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Riga, 9 Kronvalda boulevard, svekatrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67338307
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)8Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures16
Classes (count)8Class Length (academic hours)4Total Contact Hours of Classes32
Total Contact Hours48
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Public health and epidemiology, ethics, philosophy, sociology.
Objective:
The aim of the study course is to acquaint students with the diversity of the theoretical basis used in public health research and practice, to develop students' understanding of the link between evidence-based public health policy, practice and research, developing the ability to critically analyze the situation, to develop, adapt and implement proposals and to evaluate the achievements in various sub-areas of public health.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Development of public health as practice and science in a historical context.Lectures1.00auditorium
2The role of the state in the health of the individual and the health of the population. Areas of activity and competencies of public health services and specialists, the greatest achievements in public in the last century. The range of future public health issues and challenges.Classes1.00auditorium
3Philosophical and ethical aspects of public health.Lectures1.00auditorium
4Population health at the macro and micro levels, health determinants. Social and ecological understanding of health. The concept of causation.Classes1.00auditorium
5Types of evidence, their acquisition and use. Principles of choosing the problem to be solved. Epidemiology in support of evidence-based Public Health. Strategic planning as a tool for problem solving.Classes1.00auditorium
6Evidence-based public health policies and practices for reducing infectious and non-communicable diseases. Example: Covid-19 pandemic response strategies globally and nationally.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Application of sociological theories in public health research and practice.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Possibilities of using sociological theories and their usefulness in generating theoretical and practical innovations in public health.Classes1.00auditorium
9Significance of different sociological concepts – social capital, disease narratives, social construction of health and disease, stigma, social context of suicide, agency and structure – and their application in public health.Classes1.00auditorium
10Society and health. Causes and solutions of the formation of sociological concepts.Lectures1.00auditorium
11Application of key theories that explain an individual's behavior and behavior between the individual and the societal level in public health practice. The process of health behavior change, the factors that affect it.Classes1.00auditorium
12Theories used in health promotion.Lectures1.00auditorium
13The process of implementing the goals and tasks set in the public health policy. Use of theories in program planning, implementation and evaluation. Planning models. Prioritization. Advocacy and lobbying. Community involvement. Opportunities to influence the government, media support.Classes1.00auditorium
14Politics in public health and public health policy at different levels.Lectures1.00auditorium
15Evaluation of public health policies and programs.Lectures1.00auditorium
16Types of public health policy and program evaluation, designs, indicators. Selection and development of indicators.Classes1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Situation analysis, policy evaluation – independent works prepared and submitted in writing.
Assessment Criteria:
Participation in the course, group work (20%,); situation analysis, policy evaluation – individual task submitted and presented (30%), written exam (50%).
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:Will be able to comment on the diversity of theories used in public health; illustrate current public health issues and define the most effective approaches to address them.
Skills:To find and systematize the main documents supporting public health policy; to substantiate the origin of public health problems with evidence, to explain their multifactorial etiology; to prepare an analysis and assessment of the state of public health in a specific environment; select and calculate various indicators.
Competencies:Apply various theories in solving public health problems and choose the most effective prevention options and argue them.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Essential Public Health, Theory and Practice. S.Gillam, J.Yates, P. Badrinath. Cambridge University Press, 2012. (ProQuestEbookCentral)
2Evidence- Based Public Health. 3rd ed. Ross C.Brownson, Elizabeth A.Baker, Terry L.Leet, Katheleen N.Gillespie. Oxford University Press, 2018.
3Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice. 4th ed. Edited by: Ichiro Kawachi, Lain Lang and Walter Ricciardi. Oxford University Press, 2022
4Transdisciplinary Public Health : Research, Education, and Practice. Haire-Joshu, Debra; McBride, Timothy D. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2013 (ProQuestEbookCentral)
Additional Reading
1Managing Chronic Conditions. Experience in eight countries. Ellen Nolte, Cecile Knai, Martin McKee. European Observatory on Health System and Policies, WHO, 2008.
2Developing Practice for Public Health and Health Promotion. Jennie Naidoo and Jane Wills, Bailliere Tindall. 2010
3Principles of Public Health Practice. F.Douglas Scutchfield, C.William Keck. Thomson/Delmar Learning, 2003
4Textbook of International Health: Global Health in a Dynamic World. 3rd ed. by Anne-Emanuelle Birn (Author), Yogan Pillay (Author), Timothy H. Holtz (Author). 2009
5Ecological Public Health: Reshaping the Conditions for Good Health. Rayner, Geof; Lang, Tim. Taylor & Francis Group, 2012 (ProQuestEbookCentral)
6A History of Public Health, Revised expanded version. Georg Rosen. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015.
7Rose's strategy of preventive medicine. Geoffrey Rose. Oxford University Press, 2008.
8Oxford textbook of global public health. 7th ed., edited by Roger Detels, Robert Beaglehole, Mary Ann Lansang and Martin Gulliford. Oxford University Press, 2021
9Lietišķā epidemioloģija. Māris Baltiņš. Zinātne, 2003, 11- 51.
10Eiropas slimību profilakses un kontroles centra dati un publikācijas
11Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students:
12Oxford textbook of global public health. 7th ed., edited by Roger Detels, Robert Beaglehole, Mary Ann Lansang and Martin Gulliford. Oxford University Press, 2021
13Rose's strategy of preventive medicine. Geoffrey Rose. Oxford University Press, 2008.
14A History of Public Health, Revised expanded version. Georg Rosen. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015.
15Ecological Public Health: Reshaping the Conditions for Good Health. Rayner, Geof; Lang, Tim. Taylor & Francis Group, 2012 (ProQuestEbookCentral)
Other Information Sources
1PVO un Eiropas reģiona datu bāzes Health for All, Whosis u.c. un publikācijas www.who.int/research/en; www.who.int/whosis/en/;
2CDC datu bāzes un publikācijas
3Global Health Observatory (GHO) publikācijas
4Veselība 2020, https://www.spkc.gov.lv/lv/starptautiskie-dokumenti/veselib…
5Nacionālais attīstības plāns (NAP 2020 un NAP 2027)
6Eiropas Observatorija
7Latvijas Sabiedrības veselības pamatnostādnes 2014.-2020.
8Sabiedrības veselības analīze Latvijā, statistikas apkopojumi veselības apsekojuma rezultāti LR Centrālā Statistikas pārvalde, www.csb.gov.lv; u.c.