IGIENE A - L

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: CHIARA COPAT

Expected Learning Outcomes

The main aim of the course is to prepare the student to understand the specific factors that influence the potential for health and/or disease in the population, as well as to acquire knowledge and skills in managing various types of risks. Furthermore, the course aims to provide the foundations for training in epidemiology and prevention. 

Course Structure

The course includes classroom-based frontal teaching with a focus on fostering continuous interaction with students to develop their ability to apply the knowledge acquired during the course. 

Required Prerequisites

No prerequisites. A basic school-level knowledge level is required. 

Attendance of Lessons

Mandatory attendance as stated in regulations of the Degree Course in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, as indicated in the following link: http://www.dsf.unict.it/corsi/l-29_sfa/regolamento-didattico. 

Detailed Course Content

General Concepts of Epidemiology. Health and its determinants. Definition of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Health Indicators.  

Epidemiological Studies. Observational and Experimental Epidemiological Study Models. Measures of association between exposure and effect.  

Epidemiology and prevention of chronic-degenerative diseases. Risk factors and protective factors. Primary and secondary prevention.  

General requirements and measures for protection from biological risk. Classification of biological agents. General measures for protection from biological risk.  

Epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases. Concepts of infection transmission - Sources and reservoirs of infection - Chains of contagion - Epidemics - Endemics - Sporadicity. Primary and secondary prevention - Active and passive immune prophylaxis. 

Environmental Hygiene. Definition of environment. Studying the relationship between the environment and health. Identification of causative agents and risk factors. Risk analysis. Definition of hazard and hazard classification. Dose-response assessment. Preventive measures. 

Textbook Information

Barbuti S., Fara G.M., Giammanco G. – IGIENE, MEDICINA DI COMUNITÀ E SANITÀ PUBBLICA. II Edizione EDISES. 

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral Exam. 

The maximum score will be awarded to the student who demonstrates mastery of the topics, the ability to relate acquired knowledge, presentation skills, and mastery of disciplinary vocabulary

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Definition of primary and secondary prevention. Definition of source and reservoir of infection. Classification of biological agents. Cohort studies: study design and main characteristics. Risk analysis. Risk measures. Air pollution.