585-031 Public Health and Community Medicine

Note

Credit Points

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

On completion of the public health lectures students should: understand the principles of epidemiology and its application to clinical medicine and population health, the relevance of statistical principles to disease at the population level and to clinical medicine; the contribution of lifestyle to morbidity and mortality in the community. On completion of the community medicine tutorials students should: understand the significance of communication in medical care; acquire basic skills; take a sexual history; appreciate how different sexual meanings and values are ascribed during sexual development. Major topics covered include nature and role of epidemiology in preventive and clinical medicine; morbidity and mortality; risk and cause: confounding and modification; diagnostic tests: study designs; sources of bias. Critical appraisal of scientific evidence. Health promotion: life style and health. Analysis of campaigns evaluation. Occupational medicine and environmental health: History of public health. Talking and listening skills; barriers in communication; bad news and empathic responses; disadvantaged and special groups; cross- age communication; terminally ill and dying; discomforts and anxiety about sexual health; sexual meanings during sexual development; taking a sexual history; beliefs and values; sexuality and ageing.

Assessment

A 2-hour written examination at the end of the first semester (75%) and a 1 hour written examination at the end of the second semester (25%). The practice of communication skills is assessed at a pass/fail level and the assessment has two components. In the first component student performance is based on continuous formative appraisal including active participation in tutorials and completion of exercises described in the student handbook for the subject. Satisfactory attendance at all communication skills tutorials is required and a pass in this component of the assessment is a pre-requisite for sitting the second component. In the second component of the assessment students are required to videotape an interview with a simulated patient and demonstrate a pass level of competence in basic communication skills. Students who fail the second component will be permitted to proceed with the medical course but will be required to undertake further assessment in fourth year and, if necessary, fifth year.

Prescribed Texts

• Jekel, Elmore & Katz, Epidemiology Biostatistics and Preventive Medicine. 1997, Text and Review series.
• Myercough P R, Talking with Patients - A Basic Clinical Skill. 2nd ed., 1992 Oxford University Press.