aVLOZ0141p Public Health I - lecture

Faculty of Medicine
autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. MUDr. Bc. Zuzana Derflerová Brázdová, DrSc. (lecturer)
MUDr. Marie Kolářová, CSc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Michal Koščík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Abanoub Riad, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Ing. Veronika Išová (assistant)
Mgr. Pavlína Kaňová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Ing. Kateřina Novohradská (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Bc. Michal Koščík, Ph.D.
Department of Public Health – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: Ing. Veronika Išová
Supplier department: Department of Public Health – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Timetable
Thu 21. 9. 8:00–9:40 B11/114, Thu 5. 10. 8:00–9:40 B11/114, Thu 19. 10. 8:00–9:40 B11/114, Thu 2. 11. 8:00–9:40 B11/114, Thu 16. 11. 8:00–9:40 B11/114, Thu 30. 11. 8:00–9:40 B11/114, Thu 14. 12. 8:00–9:40 B11/114
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
In the course Public Health I - lecture, our primary objective is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of public health. This course is thoughtfully designed to align with international standards, ensuring that students gain knowledge and skills that are globally relevant. Students will explore the impact of social determinants on health outcomes, equipping them with a deeper understanding of healthcare disparities on a global scale. They will also develop proficiency in utilizing demographic data for assessing and addressing population health trends, a fundamental skill for effective healthcare planning.
Furthermore, this course places a strong emphasis on evidence-based medicine, preparing students for clinical decision-making and success in examinations such as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Part I. It also delves into healthcare policy development, fostering a broad perspective on healthcare systems and their implications.
In addition to these objectives, students will gain a global perspective on public health challenges and international healthcare practices, aligning them with the ever-evolving landscape of global health standards. Ethical considerations in healthcare and public health will also be explored, emphasizing the importance of ethical healthcare practices.
Both Public Health I - lecture and its companion course, Public Health I - practice, are meticulously designed to provide students with equivalent knowledge and skills to excel in the USMLE Part I. These courses are inspired by the United Kingdom Faculty of Public Health (UK-FPH) textbook, ensuring that our students receive a well-rounded and internationally recognized education in public health and healthcare practices.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
■ Develop a comprehensive understanding of the foundational principles and practices of public health, preparing students for a career in healthcare and public health.
■ Analyze the multifaceted impact of social determinants of health on healthcare outcomes, enabling students to address health disparities effectively.
■ Acquire proficiency in using demographic data to assess and strategize for population health trends, a vital skill for healthcare planning and decision-making.
■ Master the concepts and applications of evidence-based medicine, empowering students to make informed clinical decisions and excel in USMLE Part I, particularly the 'Biostatistics, Epidemiology/Population Health, & Interpretation of the Medical Literature' section.
■ Gain a global perspective on public health challenges and international healthcare practices, equipping students to navigate the complexities of global health standards and contribute to the improvement of healthcare systems worldwide.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to Public Health & Determinants of Health. September 21st, 2023
  • 2. Health-related Demographics. October 5th, 2023
  • 3. Evidence-based Medicine (EBM). October 19th, 2023
  • 4. Health Policy & Financing. November 2nd, 2023
  • 5. Global Health. November 16th, 2023
  • 6. Biomedical Ethics. November 30th, 2023
Literature
    required literature
  • FLETCHER, Grant. Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials. 6th ed. Wolters Kluwer Health, 2020, 288 pp. ISBN 978-1-9751-0955-4. info
  • FPH, Faculty of Public Health. Public Health Textbook. London: Faculty of Public Health (FPH), 2023. Public Health Textbook info
    recommended literature
  • Bonita R, Beaglehole R, Kjellström: Basic epidemiology. 2nd edition. Geneva - Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2006. 212 pages. ISBN 978-92-4-154707-9.
  • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice: Third Edition. An Introduction to Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics. October 2006 - Updated May 2012. SELF-STUDY Course SS1978
  • Ray M. Merrill: Principles of Epidemiology Workbook: Exercises and Activities. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2011, ISBN 9781284177374, 1284177378
  • Noel S. Weiss: Exercises in Epidemiology 2nd Edition Applying Principles and Methods. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190651534, 0190651539
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Reading and studying all required literature.
Assessment methods
Evaluation System
The subject of Public Health I is divided into two collateral courses; aVLOZ0141p (for theoretical lectures) and aVLOZ0141c (for practical seminars), that took place simultaneously during the 1st semester (1st year) of the General Medicine study program. Students are entitled to acquire 2 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits upon successful completion of the course.
The two courses of Public Health I are mutually dependent, which means that the student has to acquire the 1 ECTS credit of the seminars (aVLOZ0141c) to be qualified for the final (written) exam, which will award them the second 1 ECTS credit.
The evaluation system of the seminars (aVLOZ0141c) consists of 18 points that are claimable through attending (and active participation in) the seminars and successful fulfilment of the seminars assignments.
Attendance (and active participation) of each seminar will award the student 1 point (x6 points), and successful fulfilment of each ROPOT assignment will award the student 1 point (x6 points). In addition, students are entitled to gain 2 points from ROPOT assignments of the lectures.
The final group project can award the student up to 4 points, and the project will be presented in the last week of the course.
Students are entitled to sit for the final exam if they achieve 14 out of 18 points.

Attendance
You are expected to attend all the seminars on time.
Late coming is defined as the arrival to the seminar room 5 minutes later than the scheduled time of the seminar. Latecomers are not entitled to enter the seminar room without a prospective excuse. On extraordinary occasions, latecomers without prospective apologies may enter the seminar room, and such permission is up to the discretion of the seminar tutor on a case-by-case basis.
The location of your seminar room is precisely mentioned in your academic timetable.

ROPOT Assignments
The assignments aim to provide a self-assessment tool for the students to evaluate their performance in studying modules content. Therefore, the students are highly encouraged to resolve assignments honestly and after preparing properly for them.
A total of 8 ROPOT assignments (6 seminar ROPOTs + 2 lecture ROPOTs) will be released throughout the semester. Each assignment contains 20-30 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) with a single correct answer.
The students will have one week to submit their assignments after the day of its release. If the student does not achieve the passing score of the ROPOT assignment (70%), they will be entitled to retake it in the following week. If the students do not submit their assignments on time, there will be no chance of re-taking the assignment in the second week. Please note that the assignment application (ROPOT) is a single log-in application; therefore, you will be required to finish your assignment once you open the application.

Final Exam Instructions
The final exam of Public Health I will take place during December 2023 and January 2024 (the final schedule will be released later). The exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with single correct answers, and its duration is 45 minutes.
The specific instructions for the final exam will be released in November 2023.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 15.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, autumn 2018, autumn 2019, autumn 2020, autumn 2021, autumn 2022, autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/autumn2023/aVLOZ0141p