IGIENE

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.

Knowledge

·       Understand the fundamental concepts of Hygiene and Epidemiology, health determinants, and epidemiological indicators.

·       Comprehend the types of epidemiological studies and the measures of association between exposure and effect.

·       Acquire knowledge on environmental hygiene, risk analysis, and preventive measures.

·       Understand the principles of epidemiology and prevention of chronic-degenerative and infectious diseases.

·       Comprehend the requirements and general measures for protection against biological risk.

Cultural, Disciplinary, and Methodological Competences

·       Critically analyze the relationship between environment and health, identifying risk and protective factors.

·       Apply epidemiological methodologies to assess the health status of the population.

·       Use tools and models for primary and secondary prevention of major chronic-degenerative and infectious diseases.

·       Acquire skills in managing and reducing biological and environmental risks.

Skills

·       Interpret epidemiological data and health indicators.

·       Distinguish between different epidemiological study designs and apply them to concrete contexts.

·       Identify appropriate preventive measures in relation to different risk scenarios.

Knowledge and Understanding Skills

·       Understand the concepts of infection transmission, chain of contagion, epidemic, endemic, and sporadic occurrence.

·       Interpret and connect theoretical concepts to practical situations regarding disease prevention.

·       Integrate biological, environmental, and social knowledge in the interpretation of epidemiological phenomena.

Critical Thinking and Judgment Skills

·       Independently assess the impact of various risk factors on population health.

·       Recognize the limitations of different epidemiological models and correctly interpret their results.

·       Formulate informed judgments on the effectiveness of prevention and protection strategies.

Communication Skills

·       Present concepts using an appropriate technical-scientific language.

·       Communicate preventive and risk management measures in a clear and structured way.

Learning Skills

·       Acquire study and research methods useful for pursuing specialist training paths.

·       Develop a critical and autonomous approach to scientific inquiry and professional learning

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Oral Exam.

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.