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Occupational Medicine and Occupational Diseases among Midwives

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:3.00
Study Course Accepted:06.08.2024 10:37:54
Study Course Information
Course Code:AUVMK_023LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Clinical Medicine; Health CareTarget Audience:Nursing Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Maija Eglīte
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, avmkatrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67060816
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)5Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures10
Classes (count)11Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes22
Total Contact Hours32
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Prior knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, microbiology, propedeutics, neurology and physiology is required.
Objective:
The objective of the study course is to learn the theoretical foundations and practical methods of occupational medicine and occupational diseases on the impact of various risk factors of the working environment on the health of workers, prediction, identification, assessment, control, prevention or reduction, as well as the aetiology, pathogenesis, principles of treatment and rehabilitation of occupational diseases.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1List of occupational diseases. Procedures for diagnosing occupational diseases in Latvia.Classes1.00clinical base
2Occupational health and occupational medicine. List of occupational diseases.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Indoor air pollution and impact thereof on health. Sick building syndrome.Classes1.00auditorium
4Occupational health for health care workers. Work-related body specifics of young people and women.Lectures1.00auditorium
5Occupational health for health care workers.Classes1.00auditorium
6Ergonomic work environment risk factors for health care workers. Preventive measures.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Ergonomic work environment risk factors.Classes2.00auditorium
8Psychosocial work environment risk factors for health care workers. Burnout syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder.Lectures1.00auditorium
9Occupational diseases caused by psycho-emotional risk factors.Classes1.00auditorium
10Diseases of the musculoskeletal, connective tissue system.Classes1.00auditorium
11Peripheral neuropathies.Classes1.00auditorium
12Biological risk factors in health care. Chemicals as risk factors in health care.Lectures1.00auditorium
13Biological risk factors in health care.Classes1.00clinical base
14Chemicals as risk factors in health care.Classes1.00auditorium
15Presentation of the paper.Classes1.00clinical base
Assessment
Unaided Work:
The student independently prepares a presentation during the course, which is presented to the group with the aim of studying in depth one of the topics covered in the course. Tasks: • To choose a topic for in-depth research and analysis, using the latest data and research from around the world; • To prepare a presentation (10 minutes), present it to the group; • To prepare to answer questions and take part in the discussion after the presentation.
Assessment Criteria:
During the course, the student is assessed according to the following criteria: 1. 100% attendance is required for a student to be eligible to take the exam for this course. 2. The student actively participates in classes, analyses situational tasks and patient cases – 20% of the total assessment; 3. The student prepares an independent presentation during the course, which is presented to the group: 30% of the total assessment; 4. At the end of the course, the student takes an exam (in written form), getting 3 random examination papers and 1 situational task: 50% of the total assessment.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:As a result of completing the study course, students will obtain knowledge and will be able: • to explain the meaning, principles, directions and objectives of occupational medicine; • to describe the prediction of occupational risk factors, measurement methods, basic principles of standardisation, regulatory documents developed and implemented in legislation; • to formulate the basic issues of ergonomics, importance thereof, methods used in different work environments; • to briefly describe the ways of developing preventive measures and monitoring of the work environment; • to describe the aetiology of occupational diseases caused by occupational risk factors and work-related diseases, pathogenesis, therapy, rehabilitation.
Skills:As a result of completing the study course, students will be able: • to independently, critically analyse, substantiate and justify the role of occupational medicine as a preventive branch of medicine in the work environment; • to orient in literature and online databases to find the necessary information on occupational risk factors in the work environment and occupational examination; • to carry out a sanitary and hygienic inspection of various objects of the work environment, revealing occupational risk factors that are unfavourable and harmful to human health; • to prepare recommendations, organise and manage measures to prevent or reduce the risk of occupational factors; • to recognise the typical signs and forms of the most common occupational diseases caused by physical, chemical, ergonomic, biological and mechanical risk factors in the work environment, and choose the correct methods of examination; • to prescribe the optimal therapeutic and rehabilitation course for patients.
Competencies:The acquired competence allows to: • to assess the degree of danger of harmful risk factors to the health of the patient, worker, society and the environment; • to take part in an occupational health team to address issues related to health and safety at work, to detect occupational diseases at an early stage and to help with occupational examination issues; • to communicate with people of different competences and backgrounds on occupational health issues; • to take evidence-based, verifiable decisions in relation to the health of patients, the public as a whole and the state of the environment; • to propose, plan and implement measures to improve treatment conditions and eliminate or reduce deficiencies in the organisation of the work environment.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Higiēna. Prof. Z.Lindbergas red., Rīga, 1991. (akceptējams izdevums)
2Eglīte M. Darba medicīna. – Rīga, 2012. (akceptējams izdevums)
3Dundurs, Jānis, Occupational health : occupational hazards / J. Dundurs ; Riga Stradina University. Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health. Riga : [RSU], 1998. 84 p. (akceptējams izdevums)
4Dundurs J. Methodic Directions for Practical Works in Occupational Health. 2001. (akceptējams izdevums)
Additional Reading
1Zenc C (ed). Occupational medicine. Mosby, 1988.
2Rom WN. Environmental and occupational medicine. Boston, Little, Brown, 2007
3Timbrell J. Introduction to Toxicology. Glasgow: Taylor & Francis, 2009.
4Pruss-Ustun A, Bos R, Gore F, Bartram J. Safer water, better health: costs, benefits and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2008.
Other Information Sources
1Pasaules veselības organizācijas un citas arodveselības nozares interneta vietnes.