Objectives and Contextualisation

The subject Preventive Medicine and Public Health is part of the fifth year program of the Medical Degree, which corresponds to the last training period before moving on to the clinical practice course.

The subject consists of its own parts, such as the foundations and contents of Public Health, the actions and programs of Health Promotion, the organization and functioning of the Health System, the objectives and instruments of health management and evaluation, and the deployment . of international health, among others

On the other hand, it consists of a set of topics that have to be taught in an interrelated manner with the medical pathology subjects, such as preventive actions in communicable diseases and chronic diseases. Regarding these points, within the teaching of Preventive Medicine, an epidemiological vision of the corresponding health problem is presented first, and then, the specialized components of prevention. In these topics, Preventive Medicine represents an additional preventive training, which complements the basic training included in the teaching on the treatment of diseases.

In modern society, the maintenance and promotion of individual health requires both the operation of general public health and health care programs, and the daily work of health professionals in the deployment of preventive and health promotion actions. health. The notable longevity of the population, which is associated with a high burden of chronic diseases, and the persistence of communicable diseases, requires continued activity of preventive actions, immunizations, screening, health education and preventive advice, so that they constitute a prominent part . of the doctor's professional action, for which he must be properly prepared.

The objective of the subject is for the student to know the field and activities of Public Health and to be able to apply Preventive Medicine in medical actions. All of this implies the acquisition of knowledge, attitudes and skills about Preventive Medicine and Public Health. It includes learning both an individual and collective vision of health promotion and risk prevention, as well as disease prevention and health promotion strategies and techniques.

General learning objectives

After successfully completing the subject, we hope that the student will be able to:

Analyze health problems from a community and integrative perspective, and understand the "health-disease continuum" as a result of social, environmental, clinical, health and biological processes, and not as the simple interaction in a single individual of biological forces isolated from the human, political, economic and sociocultural context. Understand the foundations of epidemiological reasoning and apply the main methods and techniques of epidemiology to both clinical medicine problems and community health problems. Know the basics necessary to make a health diagnosis and health plan for the community where you work. Identify the conditions, factors and risk processes associated with the most frequent diseases in our country and the prevention measures (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary), the efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency of which have been substantially scientifically demonstrated. Integrate into your clinical practice the preventive care and health promotion guidelines most appropriate for each group of people. Judge the scientific validity, relevance (biological, clinical, health, environmental or social) and statistical precision of research papers and articles. Organize and evaluate your professional activity and that of your team, with the aim of improving the health status of the community where you work and your professional satisfaction