The Public Health is a compulsory course in the VI. year of the Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Study of Medicine, which takes place at 11th semester, and consists of 30 hours of lectures, 15 hours of seminars and 15 hours of exercises, i.e. a total of 60 hours (4 ECTS). The course takes place in the lecture halls of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rijeka and online.
The method and form of teaching may be changed depending on the epidemiological situation related to the epidemic COVID -19, about which the students will be informed in time.
The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the development, role and functioning of the public health system in our country and in the world, as well as with the way the health system functions and is organised.
The content of the course is as follows: Students will learn what public health is, what are the main public health challenges of the 21st century, how health care is organised for all population groups and in different emergency situations. In addition, students will acquire knowledge of the peculiarities of the organisation of health care in the community, the peculiarities of the organisation of health and social care, methods of financing and the basics of management in health and social care, health economics and the implementation of public health interventions.
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THE COURSE:
I. COGNITIVE DOMAIN – KNOWLEDGE At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- explain the importance of public health in the 21st century and its influence on the
organisation and delivery of health care,
- distinguish levels of health care provision, identify financing methods and their impact on he availability and use of health care,
- explain the importance and organisation of the social system,
- interpret the various challenges of today and the ways of organising and providing health care,
- explain the importance and the way of implementation of public health interventions.
II.PSYCHOMOTOR DOMAIN - SKILLS At the end of the course, students will be able to identify and relate the methodology used in public health research to practise and develop methods of evaluation.
Delivery of teaching:
Classes are delivered in the form of lectures, seminars and exercises. Active participation of students in the curriculum is achieved by conducting seminars, which students prepare in advance, and during the exercises they conduct research in the community. During lectures, students are actively involved in thinking about thematic issues. The seminars prepare students for independent problem solving and integrative thinking. Students' active participation in the curriculum is achieved through independent reading of available and peer-reviewed literature, drawing correct conclusions, conducting research in the community and writing seminar papers. During the exercises, students are divided into groups to create a programme/project for a specific public health priority. This is done based on a mentor-led analysis of databases, selection of an individual priority and creation of a specific programme/project. The student is required to prepare the material discussed.
The lecturer will assess the student's participation in the seminar work (demonstrated knowledge, understanding, ability to pose problems, concluding, etc.).