Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases in the EU and WHO-Euro
Full course description
The module focusses on health and disease not only within the EU but takes the wider perspective of the WHO European region. In this geographical and geo-political perspective, concrete communicable and non-communicable diseases are the focus of attention. You will learn about common and rare diseases and the policy frames to counter these. The classic perspective of public health is to focus on infectious diseases. Thus, the module will start with the introduction of infectious diseases. You will discuss diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites and their incidence and prevalence. You will learn about policy initiatives to prevent and fight these diseases across the WHO European region. For non-communicable diseases, we cover three broad sub-categories: 1) metabolic-toxic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, 2) cancer and 3) mental health. In the context of bacterial infectious diseases, the module explores the issue of antimicrobial resistance – in Europe and globally. The structure of the module reflects the idea of “layers of complexity”, which means that you will learn about diseases starting from 1) understanding different definitions of diseases and their causality; 2) learning about the complexities of comorbidities; 3) understanding the burden of mental disorders; 4) the role of antimicrobial resistance; 5) the role of broader environment in human health. This module thus approaches diseases through a certain frame, namely through different perspectives and from different angles, among them: aetiology, comorbidity, bio-social determinants, and health equity. Within this module, you will be introduced to the social, biological and epidemiological aspects of diseases. It is not expected that you have prior indepth knowledge in biology. However, for future public health professionals who will work in collaboration with medical doctors and biomedical scientists, it is important to understand some of the concepts and challenges that these professionals meet in their practice.
Course objectives
Expert
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Define (European) public health as a domain, identify main public health methods;
- Distinguish between public health and (medical approaches to) health care;
- Recall and name basic public health measures of health status;
- Identify key health indicators and extract such indicators from scientific literature;
- Recall, list and describe (influential models of) factors that determine health status;
- Articulate diverse roles of public policy in health protection & promotion within the EU;
- Outline archetypal structures of public health infrastructure in Europe.
Investigator
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Explain basic forms of qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Summarize the empirical cycle, in particular phase 2 “selecting research methods”;
- Identify basic components and levels of public health interventions;
- Explain and illustrate problems using academic approaches and critiques;
- Describe the ways in which research forms the basis for public health activity;
- Name sources of quality public health information.
Communicator
By the end of the course, students should be able (on a basic level) to:
- Present on public health topics for peers and teachers;
- Demonstrate understanding of feedback from teachers and peers;
- Produce limited feedback for peers under supervision.
Professional
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Accept and reflect on feedback from staff and students passively;
- Behave in a respectful, professional and reliable manner in tutor groups, practicals and group work;
- Contribute actively and positively in tutor groups and training groups;
- Understand, describe and apply the problem-based learning approach;
- Positively engages the challenges and opportunities of intercultural diversity within tutorial groups.