Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The "Medicina Preventiva Sociale e di Comunitŕ in Ambito Pediatria e Adolescenza" program is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills in the field of disease prevention and health promotion in pediatric and adolescent settings.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

• Provide students with basic notions of preventive medicine principles.
• Introduce students to epidemiology principles.
• Cover primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention topics.
• Equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and prevent risk factors, promoting healthy lifestyles and effective prevention strategies.
• Develop students' abilities in planning, organizing, and evaluating prevention interventions.
• Foster students' skills in health education and promotion.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the program, students will be able to:

• Understand the principles and processes of preventive medicine.
• Recognize environmental, social, and behavioral factors influencing health.
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of prevention interventions.
• Understand the concept of need and distinguish between different types of needs.
• Differentiate between prevention and health promotion concepts.
• Design health education and communication interventions to modify risky behaviors and lifestyles.
• Promote health education interventions in school communities to foster healthy lifestyles.

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for this program.

Teaching Methods

The program consists of frontal lessons aided by slides, with a focus on active methodologies and interactive discussion of practical cases. The total duration is 20 hours of teaching (2 CFU).

Program Content

The program covers:

• Analysis of reference legislation.
• Definition of Social and Community Preventive Medicine and its objectives.
• Definition of the health concept.
• Definition and classification of "Prevention".
• Objectives of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
• Definition of "Health Promotion" and its differences from prevention.
• Objectives of health promotion.
• Definition of need and health need in pediatric and adolescent contexts.
• Physiological and primary needs of children and adolescents.
• History of School Medicine and related legislation.
• Functions of the sanitary assistant in School Medicine.
• Reorganization of School Medicine in the Genoa territory.
• Definition of welcoming and consultatory welcoming (objectives and functions).
• Services for adolescent welcoming "Youth Center".
• Analysis of the Regional Prevention Plan.
• The role of schools in health promotion.
• Life skills.
• Overview of main parasitic and infectious diseases in school settings (prevention, management, control, and containment).
• Analysis of the professional profile (D.M. 69/97) and functions of the sanitary assistant in consultatory and preventive medicine for the evolving age.
• Promotion of obligatory and recommended vaccinations in pediatric and adolescent contexts.
• Structures composing the service network for the target audience.
• National and regional health surveillance projects (OKkio alla Salute, HBSC).
• National program "Guadagnare Salute".
• Guidelines for planning and implementing health education and promotion interventions in school settings.

Teaching Materials

Teaching materials are provided by the instructor (slides, handouts, and other consultation materials).

Instructors and Commissions

The program is led by Germana Longo.

Lessons

Lesson schedules can be found on the EasyAcademy portal.

Exams

The learning assessment for this specific course takes place through a final oral exam lasting approximately 20 minutes, which includes the presentation of a topic covered during lessons chosen by the instructor and the presentation of a health promotion project.

Exam Modalities

The exam modality allows for the verification of the following abilities/knowledge and competencies:

• The final evaluation aims to verify that students have acquired the contents and notions transmitted during lessons and are able to achieve the predetermined training objectives.
• It prioritizes students' ability to make significant connections between the various subjects of instruction, adding personal reflections.

Additional Information

For further information not included in the course sheet, please contact the instructor.