Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the student with knowledge of hygienic aspects to be applied in the professional field; to acquire the tools and methodology for autonomous learning; to acquire autonomy of judgment related to the specific professional activity and communication skills related to both specialists and patients.
Course unit content
The course deals with aspects related to the aim of epidemiology as a fundamental tool for identifying public health problems, identifying risk and protective factors, planning and evaluating public health interventions; general concepts of hygiene and health; fundamental concepts of epidemiology and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases; measures and strategies of prevention; the levels of preventive intervention; chemoprophylaxis and immunoprophylaxis; epidemiology and prevention of specific diseases; environmental hygiene with particular reference to the quality of water for human use, to air quality and soil quality.
Full programme
DEFINITION OF HEALTH AND DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH/DISEASE
Evolution of the definitions of health and the concept of a health-disease continuum.
THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL METHOD
Definition of epidemiology; the main epidemiological measures: proportions and rates, prevalence and incidence, relative risk, odds ratio; the concept of causality, the Bradford Hill criteria of causality; epidemiological studies (descriptive-analytical) and notes on randomized clinical trials.
GENERAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Microorganisms and us (saprophytes, commensals and pathogens), infection and disease; contagiousness, diffusivity, pathogenicity, virulence;
Sick and infected reservoirs and sources (humans - healthy, precocious, convalescent and chronic carriers);
Mechanisms (ways) of transmission: direct, semi-direct, indirect transmission; vehicles and carriers.
THE "LEVELS OF PREVENTION": primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.
GENERAL PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Notification, diagnostic assessment, isolation, health surveillance, epidemiological investigation;
Disinfection: main disinfectants and applications in the health sector;
Sterilization: main sterilization methods (critical, semi-critical and non-critical instruments);
Asepsis (maintenance of sterility);
Antisepsis (killing and removal of pathogens);
Active and passive immunoprophylaxis: what are vaccines, main types, general theory of active immunization; vaccination campaigns; vaccinations for childhood, adolescence, adults and at-risk categories; Immunoglobulins.
SPECIAL PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES: notes on etiology, epidemiology, prevention
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Tuberculosis, Influenza, Meningitis, Measles, Varicella, Parotitis
Hepatitis A, Food-borne diseases and food-borne infections
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS
Agents of foetopathies: Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasmosis
BASICS OF GENERAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTION OF NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The Burden of disease, screening.
HEALTH CARE-RELATED INFECTIONS: definition, epidemiology, risk factors, preventive measures.
SPECIAL PREVENTION OF SOME CHRONIC DEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Neoplastic disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease.
ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
Water (resource and drinking water criteria); Air (air pollution); Soil (waste disposal).
Bibliography
Igiene e Sanità Pubblica. Per scienze infermieristiche e altre professioni sanitarie. C. Signorelli.
Roma: Società Editrice Universo, 2021.
Igiene e Sanità Pubblica. Secrets, domande e risposte 2021. C. Signorelli. Roma: Società editrice Universo.
Didactic materials available on the specific platform (ELLY).
Teaching methods
Lectures will be supported by slide presentations, which will be available on the Elly platform.
Lectures will be held on-site in compliance with safety standards, provided that further instructions on the ongoing health emergency are not implemented. Supporting material will be available on the specific, student-reserved platform (Elly).
Assessment methods and criteria
The course includes a written exam (multiple-choice quiz) to assess the knowledge, skills and abilities acquired by the students during the course.
Students with learning disabilities (DSA/BSE) must contact the University's Center for Accommodation and Inclusion (cai@unipr.it).
