Public Health, Epidemiology and Ecology

Scholar Year: 2020/2021

Courses

Head Teacher Responsability Ana Paula Gato Rodrigues Polido Rodrigues Head Joaquim João Casimiro Gronita Colaborador

Weekly workload Hours/week T TP P PL TC S E EL OT TPL O OT/PL Type of classes 2 Lectures Type Teacher Classes Hours Theoretical Totals 1 2,00 Ana Paula Gato   1,20 Joaquim Gronita   0,80

Teaching language

Portuguese

Intended learning outcomes (Knowledges, skills and competencies to be developed by the students)

As a result of the learning is expected that the student:
• Understand the evolution of paradigms in health and illness
• Discuss the trends and issues of public health at national and international level
• Reflect critically on the impact of the globalization in health
• Discuss the health determinants and his impact in individual and collective health
• Differentiate the various components and forms of organization of health systems
• Know the National Health Plan
• Recognize the systemic and ecological nature of health problems
• Know the methods and epidemiological studies necessary for the prevention, monitoring and assessment
of problems and programs in public health
• Analyse the interactions between social systems and ecological systems, considering its relationship to
public health and epidemiology
• Get theoretical and methodological knowledge of psychosocial intervention and community intervention
in health

Syllabus

1.Public Health and Epidemiology
• Health and disease
• Public Health and Global Health
• Health determinants, lifestyles and quality of life
• Demographic dynamics and health
• Health literacy and inequality
• Health and Health Systems Policies
• The Portuguese health system and the National Health Service
• The National Health Plan
• Fundamentals and Methods in Epidemiology
• Descriptive epidemiology: evaluation burden of disease in the community
• Measures and health indicators
• Analytical epidemiology: identifying the determinants of health and disease in the community:
intervention and evaluation
• Health Information sources
2. Ecology
• Fundamentals of Human Ecology.
• Human Ecology Theories
•Since the ecological perspective to the bioecology human development perspective
• Health, culture, development and the impact of events in the life trajectories
• Health Ecology: Observation, analysis and practices in different systemic levels

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the UC intended learning outcomes

It is expected that students understand, reflect and discuss the conceptual and operational questions of
the various themes contained in the syllabus. The contents were selected and organized to respond to the
expected objectives, and are organized into two modules: 1. Public Health and Epidemiology and 2.
Ecology. The analysis of the evolution of paradigms, as well as the global health concept provides the
framing of public health and the understanding of the trends and problematics at national and international
context. The reflection about the demographic dynamics, development, health determinants, citizenship,
policies, health system and the interrelationship between social systems and ecological systems, allow
their knowledge, analysis and discussion of their impact and contextualize the social and individual health
change processes. Also the acquisition of knowledge about the fundamentals, methods and diversity of
epidemiological studies, is reflected in the program.

Teaching methodologies

he teach-learning methodologies include theoretical exposition, analysis of texts, discussion and group
work. The theoretical sessions will be of a expository character.
The theoretical and practical sessions rely on the active participation of students with debate and problem
solving from the analysis of specific cases and scientific papers, moderated by the teacher.

Demonstration of the teaching methodologies coherence with the curricular unit's intended learning outcomes

The different contents will be treated favouring participative and reflective methodologies that allow the
acquisition of the concepts, individual study, discussion and group work about problem solving, in order
to achieve the expected goals. The methodologies used are based on a reflection and analysis adjusted to
the theoretical and theoretical-practical teaching sessions. The theoretical and practical classes have as
main objective the solving of case-based problems, in order to apply the content learnt in the theoretical
classes, and the reading and interpretation of scientific articles. The use of group work, guided reading,
classroom discussions based on various proposed themes, are examples of methodologies to achieve the
expected learning outcome. The evaluation options, a working group and an individual test, that requires
the review and critical depth on all the topics of curriculum addresses the need of attracting students to
the importance of health and ecology questions and their impact in the life of people and society.

Assessment methodologies and evidences

Continuous evaluation:
The evaluation methodology consists in carrying out a group work covering epidemiological issues and a
written individual test throughout the semester covering all subjects of the course. The final classification
is calculated through the following formula: 30% group work + 70% written individual test.
Evaluation by examination:
- Written Individual test

Bibliografia

Biscaia, A. et al. (2006). Cuidados de Saúde Primários em Portugal. Lisboa: Padrões Culturais Editora.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (2011). Bioecologia do Desenvolvimento humano. Tornando os seres humanos mais
humanos. Porto Alegre: Artmed.
BrooKer, L. & Woodhead, M. (2012). Healty Environments. Milton Keynes: The Open University.
Crisp, N. (coord.), Berwick, D., Kickbusch, I., Bos, W., Antunes, L. Barros, J. & Soares, J. (2014). Um futuro
para a saúde. Todos temos um papel a desempenhar. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.
Gordis, L. (2009) Epidemiologia. Loures: Lusodidacta.
Ornelas, J. (2008). Psicologia Comunitária. Lisboa: Fim do Século.
Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento. (2014). Relatório do desenvolvimento humano
2014. Reduzir as Vulnerabilidades e reforçar a resiliência. Washington DC: Programa das Nações Unidas
para o Desenvolvimento.
Rocha, A., Cesar, C. (2008). Saúde Pública. Bases concetuais. S. Paulo: Atheneu