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About Study Course

Department: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
Credit points / ECTS:2 / 3
Course supervisor:Kristīne Ozoliņa
Study type:Full time
Course level:Master's
Target audience:Social Welfare and Social Work; Nursing Science; Public Health; Health Management
Language:Latvian
Branch of science:Clinical Medicine; Public Health

Objective

The purpose of the study course is to provide an opportunity to acquire knowledge and practical skills about the prevalence of substance use, risk factors and evidence-based prevention.

Prerequisites

Basics of public health, basics of epidemiology, English language skills.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

• Knows the basic principles of the European prevention program and the science of substance abuse prevention; •Defines the concept of prevention of the use of addictive substances; • Name the contributing factors to the use of addictive substances; •Knows the latest trends in the epidemiology of substance abuse and their prevalence rates; •Defines the levels of prevention of the use of addictive substances; •Knows the set of principles of quality standards in determining the strengths and weaknesses of prevention interventions; •Identifies approaches to the prevention of the use of addictive substances in different conditions and environments; •Knows the evidence and importance of persuasion campaigns in substance abuse prevention; •Knows the importance of advocacy and intersectoral cooperation in the implementation of prevention programs; •Knows the basic principles of monitoring and evaluation of measures to prevent the use of addictive substances.

Skills

•Knows how to find information about evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs and policies; •Knows how to recognize an effective prevention program from an ineffective one; •Knows how to find and interpret the latest trends in substance abuse epidemiology; •Differentiates the factors promoting and protecting the use of addictive substances; • Differentiate between levels of prevention of the use of addictive substances; •Able to apply quality standards in determining the strengths and weaknesses of prevention interventions; •Differentiates approaches to the prevention of the use of addictive substances in different conditions and environments; •Able to find and evaluate evidence on the implementation of persuasion campaigns in the prevention of substance abuse; •Understands the importance of advocacy and intersectoral cooperation in the implementation of prevention programs; •Able to apply the basic principles of prevention of the use of addictive substances in the monitoring and evaluation of measures.

Competence

•Concludes and argues the need for evidence-based programs for the prevention of addiction-causing substance abuse, taking into account actualities and priorities in the epidemiology of substance abuse; •Differentiates sources of information on good practices for the prevention of the use of addictive substances; •Concludes the appropriateness of a substance abuse prevention program as an evidence-based program.

Study course planning

Planning period:Year 2024, Spring semester
Study programmeStudy semesterProgram levelStudy course categoryLecturersSchedule
Nursing Studies, MZFM2Master’sLimited choice
Public Health, SVFM2Master’sLimited choice
Planning period:Year 2024, Autumn semester
Study programmeStudy semesterProgram levelStudy course categoryLecturersSchedule
Public Health, SVFM3Master’sLimited choice
Public Health, SVFM1Master’sLimited choice