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Researches on Public Health and Epidemiology

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:3.00
Study Course Accepted:13.03.2024 14:34:45
Study Course Information
Course Code:LU_019LQF level:All Levels
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Clinical Medicine; Public HealthTarget Audience:Public Health
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Lolita Vija Neimane
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)7Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures14
Classes (count)5Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes10
Total Contact Hours24
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Objective:
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1History of public health to the present and its conceptual framework.Lectures1.00other
2Social determinants of health. Health promotion and saluteogenesis. The role of nutrition in health promotionLectures1.00other
3Demographic statistics. Its application in nutrition.Lectures1.00other
Classes1.00other
4Quality of life research. Preventive medicine. Screening.Lectures1.00other
Classes1.00other
5Measurement of health and disease( incidence). Qualitative research methods.Lectures1.00other
Classes1.00other
6Types of epidemiological studies.Lectures1.00other
Classes1.00other
7Methodological problems of epidemiological research.Lectures1.00other
Classes1.00other
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Independent work of students is organized individually and / or in working groups, assigning the following tasks: to independently prepare for seminar classes, practical work and mid-tests (E1; E2), final test (E3): 1. Evaluation of screening results according to available statistical data. 2. Practical calculations of health and disease incidence measurements at home. 3. Development of a protocol of semi-structured interview questions. Thematic analysis of qualitative interview material at home. 4. Identification of research design and description of design advantages and disadvantages in scientific articles. 5. Critical analysis of a medical publication in a selected scientific publication. 6. Practical work: presentation on the topic of the chosen master's thesis.
Assessment Criteria:
Attendance at seminars and practical work is mandatory. The overall evaluation of the results achieved in the student's study course consists of: 1) successfully passed intermediate exam - written test (different and common in public health and clinical medicine. Basic knowledge of epidemiology, its application in clinical medicine and public health. Application of demographic statistics in nutrition. Evaluation of screening tests. ): E1 25% and discussion of its results. 2) successfully passed intermediate exam - written test (the most important calculations of health and disease frequency measurements; strengths and weaknesses of epidemiological research designs): E2 25% and discussion of its results. 3) seminar: (identification of the research design and description of the advantages and disadvantages of the design in scientific articles (10%). 4) practical work (presentation on the topic of the chosen master's thesis) (10%). 5) written exam – test E3 30% (summary test on course topics).
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:1. Explains the links between health promotion, different forms of prevention, quality of life, inequality, individual and social factors influencing the burden of disease, nutrition habits and the impact on modern public health. 2. Understands the science-based methodological possibilities used in epidemiology in public health assessment. 3. Understands theories and research for the improvement and development of public health, identifies the possibilities of scientific research methodology used in nutrition.
Skills:1. Independently applies the principles of critical reading (thinking), draws conclusions about the causes, consequences and impact of public health problems on the health of the population. 2. Analyze, explain and discuss systemic aspects of the public health and nutrition in professional audiences and beyond. 3. Carries out independent research activity, performing all stages of the research, interprets possible choices and shifts in epidemiological research designs.
Competencies:1. Decides independently on the most appropriate type of epidemiological research to analyze, conclude and propose innovative solutions in the field of nutrition and the improvement of public health. 2. Arguments for the set of measures necessary for the application of nutritional knowledge in the promotion of public health. 3. Interpret summaries of scientific literature in the field of epidemiology and nutrition science, using the principles of critical reading in the analysis of scientific art
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Baltiņš, M. Lietišķā epidemioloģija. Rīga. Zinātne. 2003. 354 lpp.
2Martinsone K. Pipere A.Kamerade D. Pētniecība.Teorija un prakse.Rīga. RAKA. 2016. 542 lpp.
3Jekel's Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health. 2017 Elsevier, Inc. 420 lpp.
4Betty R. Kirkwood et al.Essential medical statistics 2nd ed. Dawsoner e-book, 2010 415 lpp.
5Stephen Polgar, Shane A. Thomas. Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences 5th ed. Dawsoner e-book, 2011 288 lpp.
Additional Reading
1Beaglehole R., Bonita R., Kjellstrom T. Basic epidemiology. WHO, Geneva, 1993
2Heflin, Mitchell T.; Cohen, Harvey Jay. Epidemiology of Aging The Aging Patient. Andreoli and Carpenter's Cecil Essentials of Medicine. published at ClinicalKey 2017
3Jekel's Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health. Published at ClinicalKey 2014
4https://www.rsu.lv/sites/default/files/book_download/Metodi…
5https://www.rakstiskatulkosana.lu.lv/studiju-darbi/
Other Information Sources
1http://www.vm.gov.lv/ LR Veselības ministrija
2http://www.csb.lv/ LR Centrālā statistikas pārvalde
3http://www.spkc.gov.lv/ SPKC
4http://www.who.int./ Pasaules Veselības organizācija
5http://www.who.dk./ Pasaules Veselības organizācija (Eiropas)
6http://www.un.org/ Apvienoto Nāciju Organizācija
7http://www.cdc.gov ASV Slimību kontroles un profilakses centrs
8http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Pub Med datubāze
9http://www.sciencedirect.com Science direct datubāze
10Latvijas Ārsts
11Doctus
12Eurosurveillance (European communicable disease journal)
13British Medical Journal
14New England Journal of Medicine
15European Journal of Public Health
16The Journal of Nutrition
17Nutritional epidemiology