Diabetes and public health
Code
9474
Academic unit
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública
Department
Saúde Pública e Comunidade
Credits
3.0
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases has been steeply increasing all over the world. Diabetes is an excellent model of the new paradigm that health systems are facing and is considered a priority in Public Health.
A global and integrated approach is proposed so as to make possible that students acquire knowledge, skills and competences in the areas of epidemiological surveillance, prevention, therapeutic interventions, and economical evaluation. At the end students should:
· integrate the concept of non-communicable diseases in populations’ health;
· know the classification and natural history of diabetes;
· know the mechanisms of action of non pharmacological interventions and of pharmacological interventions and its integration in existing recommendations;
· know the tools for the impact assessment of diabetes in individuals and populations;
· know different models of health care models organization;
· formulate preventive and management strategies in different contexts.
Subject matter
Through this curricular unit the following topics and concepts will be approached:
· The concept of non-communicable disease and its implications in populations;
· Assessment of non- communicable diseases in populations and individuals;
· Demographic and economical transition;
· Natural history of diabetes
- Classification and diagnosis
- Disease mechanisms
- Gene and environment interactions
· Health (biological, social, economical) determinants of diabetes;
· Nutrition in Public Health;
· Physical activity assessment;
· Prevention in diabetes;
· Epidemiological studies and statistical analysis;
· Screening for diabetes;
· Diabetes complications and comorbidities – cardiovascular disease;
· Diabetes therapy – lifestyle interventions, pharmacological intervention;
· Measuring the burden of diabetes;
. Health care organization, the role of patients, health care professionals, others;
· National Diabetes Plans.
Bibliography
• Gardete-Correia L, Boavida JM, Raposo JF, Mesquita AC, Fona C, Carvalho R, Massano-Cardoso S. First diabetes prevalence study in Portugal: PREVADIAB study Diabet Med. 2010 Aug;27(8):879-81.
• Clinical Practice Recommendations of American Diabetes Association, disponível em
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/35/Supplement_1 5
• Laiteerapong N, John PM, Nathan AG, Huang ES. Public health implications of recommendations to individualize glycemic targets in adults with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2013 Jan;36(1):84-9. doi. PubMed PMID:22961575.
• Sarkar U, López A, Black K, Schillinger D. The wrong tool for the job: diabetes public health programs and practice guidelines. Am J Public Health. 2011 Oct;101(10):1871-3. PubMed PMID:21852653.
• Schwarz PE. Public health implications: translation into diabetes prevention initiatives-four-level public health concept. Med Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;95(2):397-407, PubMed PMID: 21281841.
Teaching method
The Unit of Diabetes and Public Health has a short duration. All the themes will be divided in discussion classes (at the start and end of each theme), case presentation and discussions, group work and field visits – diabetes in clinical contexts.
Evaluation method
Evaluation will be performed continuously and will consider:
· Assiduity (it’s necessary to attend 2/3 of the activities);
· Continuous assessment of the students (40% of total evaluation);
· Written report that includes the discussion of the cases, critical appraisal of the field visits, presentation and discussion of Public Health needs in the field of diabetology. This report should be submitted electronically up to the last day of the unit (60% of total evaluation).