040116Y Public health and interprofessional collaboration

ECTS Credits 5.0 

Language: Finnish 

Timing: C1; 1. year autumn term 

Learning outcomes: After the study module students are able to identify the essential challenges of Finnish public health and to describe Finnish health and social welfare systems and national strategies guiding them. In addition students are able to identify the factors that improve doctor-patient relationship and interprofessional collaboration in the work of doctor and dentist.

Contents: Public health and sickness and inequality in health, concepts of health and sickness, concepts and means of health promotion, concept of positive health, essential concepts and theories of health sociology, essential features of social and health care systems and their relation to the community, doctor-patient relationship and interprofessional collaboration.

Learning activities and teaching methods: Lectures, demonstrations, e-learning, practical period in health care center (3 days), small group working, participating in student congress and preparing the presentations for the congress. Part of the teaching is carried out in collaboration with the students from Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

Person responsible: Anja Taanila, professor of public health

040105Y Basic Epidemiology

ECTS Credits 1.5  

Language: Finnish. Can be offered in English if several English speaking students registered.

Timing:  C4; 2. year spring term.

Learning outcomes: Students are expected to learn the basic concepts of epidemiology and basics of epidemiologic methods used in medicine and in general in health sciences.

Contents: The course includes a lecture on the following topics: 1) introduction to basic concepts and causality, 2) principles of study design, 3) precision and validity, 4) exposure assessment, 5) assessment of health effects and measures of disease occurrence, association and effect  , 6) principles of cohort studies, 7) data analysis in cohort studies, 8) principles of case-control studies, 9) data analysis in case-controls studies and 10) cross-sectional studies. In addition, the course includes two exercise sessions conducted in small groups on: 1) epidemiologic methods based on critical reviews of articles and 2) calculation. Students will also review individually and critically a scientific article.

Learning activities and teaching methods: 10 one-hour lectures, two 3-hour exercise sessions and critical review of articles.

Person responsible: Jouni J.K. Jaakkola, professor of public health.

040119Y Environmental health care

ECTS Credits 1.5 

Language:  Finnish. Can be offered in English if several English speaking students registered.

Timing:  C4; 2. year spring term.

Learning outcomes:  Students are expected to learn most important health effects of environmental exposures and to understand the role of physicians and other professionals in municipal environmental health.

Contents: Thematic day in environmental health includes lectures on the following topics: 1) Environment and health, 2) Ambient air 3) Indoor environment, 3) Chemical actors in drinking water, 5) Microbial factors in food and drinking water, 6) Municipal environmental health and 7) Physicians in environmental health care.

Learning activities and teaching methods: Participation in the thematic days, small group working and a written exam.

Person responsible: Jouni J.K. Jaakkola, professor of public health.

080417A General Practitioner and Public Health

ECTS Credits 9.5 

Language:  Finnish

Timing: C11; 6. year autumn term

Learning outcomes: The student will understand the principles of health at population level, and as applicable to a particular disease. The student will have knowledge of the most important public health schemes and programs, and is able to apply them at a local level. The student will know the principles and organization of insurance and rehabilitation medicine, and is able to apply their knowledge into clinical practice. The student will understand the etiological factors of disease both at an individual and population level and is competent at diagnosis and management of the common diseases.

The student is able to critically assess and interpret findings of public health research, and to act as an expert of preventative medicine in primary care. The student will learn the ability to adopt and apply methods of health promotion and disease prevention at an individual-, family-, and population level, therein also considering the expertise role of the multidisciplinary team. Student will have an appreciation of the doctor-patient relationship and the role of communication between family members as applicable to patient management, and is able to use and apply communication skills in different clinical scenarios. The student is able to evaluate the quality and economics of all his/her work.

Contents: Population health, health promotion and recognizing health problems; preventative medicine; encouragement of health behavior that will promote health. Epidemiology, social- and health service and economics as part of patient management. Medical law, application of social security law in clinical practice, medical certificates and medical statements. Introduction to rehabilitation, environmental medicine and nutrition at population level. Team working with expert members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Learning activities and teaching methods:  Lectures, theme days, seminars and workshops. One-week practical training module at a primary health care center, which includes a set of learning tasks.

Person responsible: Jouni J.K. Jaakkola, professor of public health and Markku Timonen, professor of general practice