Term Paper in Public Health

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:2.00

Study Course Accepted:21.06.2022 09:26:44

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SVUEK_132		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Clinical Medicine; Public Health		Target Audience:		Nursing Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Toms Pulmanis
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 9 Kronvalda boulevard, svekrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67338307
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		6	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		12
Classes (count)		5	Class Length (academic hours)		4	Total Contact Hours of Classes		20
Total Contact Hours								32
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
The basics of normal and pathological physiology, Introduction to Psychology and Sociology, Introduction to Evidence-Based Care.
Objective:
To provide insight in the basic aspects of Public Health and Epidemiology, which are necessary for the evaluation of health information and for evidence-based practice of Public health in the framework of Nursing. To introduce students with basic principles of scientific methodology and the use of principles in the research of public health problems; to introduce with the organization, execution and evaluation stages of scientific work; to read, select and structure scientific literature and prepare literature review about specific topic in the area of public health and healthcare; to develop and promote evidence-based, systematic and analytical thinking process for problem-solving in the area of public health and healthcare.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Health. Public Health. Insight in Disease Prevention and Health promotion.			Lectures		2.00	other
2	Epidemiology, causality, basic measures in epidemiology – incidence and prevalence.			Lectures		2.00	other
3	Study designs in epidemiology – descriptive and analytic studies.			Lectures		2.00	other
4	Research and scientific methodology, research problem, research question, research aim, research objectives.			Classes		1.00	other
5	Research methods, instruments, concept.			Classes		1.00	other
6	Resources of RSU library in searching for scientific publications.			Classes		1.00	RSU Library
7	Scientific literature, the structure and content of scientific publications, searching, reading, compilation and synthesis of scientific literature, the principles of writing literature review.			Classes		1.00	other
8	Presentation of the Topic of the Term Paper.			Classes		1.00	other
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Work with scientific literature. The analysis of research publications. Selection of the Topic of the Term Paper, description of the topicality of the topic, preperation of aim and objectives of the Term Paper.
Assessment Criteria:
Independently and appropriately (according to Methodological guidelines) prepared literature review about selected topic of the Term Paper and defense.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Defence (Semester paper)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Will define health, Public Health, disease prevention and health promotion concepts, approaches and challenges. Will recognize the basic designs of epidemiologic studies and basic epidemiological measures. Will describe the stages of research work; differentiate between scientific publications and popular sources of information; recognize sources of information that are based on the principles of scientific methodology; know the databases for the searching of scientific publications; describe information according to selected research question and technical requirements.
Skills:		Will be able to interpret, and use correctly health, Public Health, disease prevention and health promotion conceptual approaches, use basic measures in epidemiology and distinguish study designs. Will be able to propose and define the aim and the tasks of research project according to research question; to select scientific literature according to research question; to integrate information from different data sources into specific literature review about selected research problem.
Competencies:		Will be able to discuss public health issues and potential solutions, to evaluate the appropriateness of data sources and indicators to ascertain public health problem/-s, to evaluate the appropriateness of study design to answer research question. Will be able to independently formulate research question and topic; to obtain, select and analyze information of public health research according to principles of scientific methodology.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Baltiņš M. Lietišķā epidemioloģija. Zinātne, 2003. (akceptējams izdevums)
2	Gertsman B.B. Epidemiology Kept Simple. Wiley-Liss, 2013.
3	Mārtinsone K. Ievads pētniecībā: stratēģijas, dizaini, metodes. RaKa, 2011. (akceptējams izdevums)
4	Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students
5	Gertsman B.B. Epidemiology Kept Simple. Wiley-Liss, 2013.
Additional Reading
1	Beaglehole R., Bonita R., Kjellstorm T. Basic Epidemiology. WHO, 2006.
2	Bowling A. Research methods in health. Open University Press, 2014.
3	Ridley D. The Literature Review. A step-by-step guide for students. Sage, 2012.
4	Matthews JR & Matthews RW. Successful scientific writing. A step-by-step guide for biological and medical sciences. Cambridge, 2014.
5	Greenhalgh T. How to read a paper. The basics of evidence-based medicine. BMJ Books, 2014.
6	Hall GM. How to write a paper. BMJ Books, 2013.
Other Information Sources
1	www.spkc.gov.lv
2	www.csb.gov.lv
3	www.who.int
4	European Health Information Gateway. Available from: https://gateway.euro.who.int/en/