Infectology, Venerology (RGA_025)
About Study Course
Objective
To ensure acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical skills on infectious diseases in accordance with the requirements of the family doctor specialty regulation, prepare a specialist who is able to provide constant, uninterrupted and comprehensive care of the patient and their family members and help the patient make a choice between the offered health care services, ensuring the patient’s abilities for better physical, mental and social functioning, is able to assess the patient’s state of health, diagnose diseases and provide supportive treatment according to the defined competences. To prepare the doctor for certification in the specialty of family doctor, in accordance with the regulatory documents of the Republic of Latvia.
Learning outcomes
1.The family doctor must extend their theoretical knowledge of the basic principles of infectology and epidemiological aspects of infectology, must acquire practical skills on the clinical picture of infectious diseases, diagnosis, treatment and observation tactics, as well as indications and contraindications of diagnostic methods, must be able to assess the patient’s capacity for work and ensure prevention of infectious diseases.
Acute and chronic syndromes and diseases: diagnosis, treatment tactics, monitoring and referral to specialists.
Infectious diseases:
- knowledge of the spread of infectious diseases, the latent period,
- evaluation of the epidemiological situation, epidemiological activities, preventive measures if necessary,
- knowledge of the symptoms of infectious diseases, diagnosis, indications for referral to a specialist, treatment and isolation of patients depending on the form and severity of the disease,
- diagnosis and treatment of itching (pediculosis, pyoderma, exanthema, viral dermatosis),
- diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, evaluation of the epidemiological situation, cooperation with specialists when necessary,
Knowledge of the six key competences of family medicine
1. Organisation/management of primary health care:
- to manage and present facts about epidemiological knowledge, about problems in primary health care,
- to demonstrate knowledge in regular, continuous care of chronic patients,
- to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of preventive work, organisation thereof in the family doctor practice,
- to demonstrate knowledge of the work organisation of a primary health care (PHC) institution,
- to demonstrate understanding of the importance of communication skills in working with patients and staff of the doctor’s practice,
- to demonstrate knowledge of the work organisation of the health care system and its functioning in relation to primary health care,
- to improve knowledge of communication skills, particularly emphasising doctor-patient cooperation.
2. Person-centred care:
- to demonstrate knowledge on patient-centred care, understand its importance in relation to the patient, their problems and living conditions,
- to demonstrate knowledge in understanding the processes related to the growth and development of an individual, the years of maturity and ageing,
- to demonstrate understanding and knowledge about the functioning of family, its role in society, the influence of social and cultural specifics in the family and family values,
- to understand the patient-oriented family doctor consultation model, to perceive contact with the patient as an equal partner,
- to demonstrate knowledge in building relationships with the patient, evaluating priorities in the decision-making process,
- to demonstrate knowledge of creating a continuous, long-term and sequential care process.
3. Specific problem solving skills:
- knowledge on solving specific problems, the decision-making process, the ability to evaluate the spread of the disease, the incidence in the given population,
- the ability to evaluate the specifics and habits of the given population (age, gender distribution, incidence of chronic diseases),
- knowledge of obtaining and interpreting information based on anamnesis data, physical and laboratory examination of the patient,
- the ability to ask specific, disease-related questions during the examination of the patient, to use the known anamnesis about the patient’s family, social conditions,
- knowledge of the available options for investigation and treatment of the given problem,
- knowledge in evaluating emergency situations, making decisions in emergency situations,
- the ability to accurately analyse and evaluate the situation – in which case emergency assistance is required, the organisation of emergency therapeutic measures, in which case it is possible to carry out diagnostic and therapeutic measures in a planned manner,
- the ability to evaluate symptoms and signs of the disease, clinical findings, rapid and additional diagnostic tests in the process of diagnosis and treatment,
- the ability to orient in the costs of medical and diagnostic manipulations, to evaluate the necessity of these manipulations in the specific situation, understanding of the effect of specific treatment on the body.
4. A comprehensive approach to problem solving:
- understanding and knowledge of the concept of multimorbidity,
- knowledge of treatment options for several simultaneous diseases,
- knowledge of the possibilities of applying guidelines, evidence-based research data,
- knowledge of health promotion measures, disease prevention strategy, concept of health,
- understanding the role of family doctor and their team in promoting public health,
- recognition and identification of ethnic specifics in society,
- knowledge and ability to involve members of the family doctor’s team in the process of individual treatment, care, palliative care, organising the rehabilitation process, understanding the role of each member of the family doctor’s team in this process, being able to implement an individual approach to each patient, skilfully coordinating team work.
5. Community-oriented health care:
- knowing the existing resources in the given environment, being able to match the needs of individuals with the needs of the society in which they live,
- to understand public health in general, based on the epidemiological situation in the given population,
- to understand the relationship between health care and social care,
- to understand the impact of poverty, ethnicity, epidemiological situation on health,
- to understand the structure of the health care system and its economic possibilities,
- to evaluate the work of other specialists and know how to find opportunities for cooperation,
- to understand the possibilities of using the health care system in the interests of the patient and the doctor (procedure of referrals, patient payments, sick leaves, legislative acts).
6. A holistic approach:
- knowledge and understanding of the holistic care principle and application thereof in family medicine,
- ability to perceive and work with the patient as a bio-psycho-social being,
- knowledge and ability to interpret and use the information obtained in the diagnostic and treatment process about the cultural and ethnic specifics of the patients,
- knowledge of how to use the patient’s experience, wishes, trust in the doctor in the health care process.
Demonstrates knowledge of disease risk factors, aetiology, primary and secondary prevention, knows the limits of family doctor’s competence and is able to orient in clinical practice guidelines and treatment in sub-branches of medicine and nosologies; learns and uses the latest methods of examination and treatment. Demonstrates understanding in the field of health education, organising health care-related events in the interest of public health.
1.Skills to be strengthened during the family medicine education programme – examination, treatment methods, disease prevention and health promotion measures:
Health examination and related consultations:
- knowledge of diagnostic methods,
- assessment of physical work capacity,
- explaining the harmfulness of tobacco,
- sexual education,
- counselling in cases of psychological problems, stress management,
- education about hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women.
Laboratory tests:
- blood: hemoglobin, erythrocytes, leukocytes, ESR,
- leukogram, sugar level, CRP,
- evaluation of urine test results (specific gravity, ph, colour, sugar, protein, bilirubin, ketones, acetone, nitrites, sediment),
- faeces (co-program, parasites, blood),
- sputum (bacterioscopic examination),
- gynaecological smear analysis: degree of cleanliness of the vagina (vaginosis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhoea, candida).
Other manipulations:
- injections (into a muscle, a vein),
- palpation examination of the rectum and prostate,
- taking a skin biopsy,
- taking bacteriological material in case of infections of the genitourinary tract.
1.Able to independently formulate and critically analyse complicated scientific and professional problems. The knowledge and skills of a family doctor are manifested in six key competences:
1. Organisation/management of primary health care,
2. Person-centred care,
3. Specific problem solving skills,
4. A comprehensive approach to problem solving,
5. Community-oriented health care,
6. A holistic approach.
The acquired competences allow to justify decisions, to perform additional analysis if necessary:
- Able to explain the impact of environmental changes on the incidence of diseases in the population, to understand the application of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic methods in this aspect.
- Able to assess patient complaints, their connection to the patient’s state of health. Has a broad understanding of diseases and risk factors thereof, the most common diseases in the population, care in case of chronic diseases, diseases that cause disability, and conditions that require emergency care.
- Has an understanding of the use of preventive and diagnostic manipulations in primary health care, which covers practically all specialties (i.e. paediatrics, gynaecology, surgery, otolaryngology, dermatovenerology, ophthalmology, neurology, psychiatry, cardiology).
- Ability to provide treatment to the patient at the level of primary care, organise rehabilitation if necessary.
- Understanding of diagnostic possibilities at the primary and secondary level of health care, the possibilities of referring the patient to a specialist doctor if necessary.
- Ability to organise and conduct consultations on issues related to the organisation of health care.
- Understanding of public health issues.
- Ability to understand the importance of a positive doctor-patient relationship, to teach the patient to understand their complaints, to learn to live with them.
- Ability to work in a team with other members of the primary health care team and other specialists.
- Understanding of health care organisation issues in general and primary health care organisation in particular.
- Knowledge of legislative acts and directives in health care, ability to participate in the development thereof.
