PUBLIC HEALTH, POLITICHE DELLA SALUTE E MANAGEMENT SANITARIO

1. Knowledge and Understanding

Upon completion of the course, the student must demonstrate a solid theoretical foundation in:

• The evolution and structure of the Italian NHS (SSN): Understanding the transition from the 1978 reform to the "corporatization" (aziendalizzazione) of healthcare, and the division of competencies between National, Regional, and Local levels.

• Essential Levels of Care (LEA): Defining what the public system guarantees and how healthcare delivery is organized.

• Epidemiological Methodology: Understanding the scientific method, the distinction between descriptive and analytical epidemiology, and modern paradigms such as One Health and Planetary Health.

• Quality and Safety: Comprehending healthcare accreditation processes and clinical risk management (including "sentinel events").

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding

The student will be able to utilize methodological tools to:

• Interpret data: Calculate and distinguish between rates, ratios, proportions, incidence, and prevalence within socio-health contexts.

• Assess risk: Apply concepts of absolute, relative, and attributable risk to analyze health determinants within a population.

• Planning and Design: Collaborate in drafting research projects, training interventions, or educational programs aimed at prevention and community support.

• Evidence-Based Practice: Navigate systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA protocol) to make decisions based on Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM).

3. Making Judgements

The student must develop the critical capacity to:

• Evaluate the appropriateness of healthcare interventions in relation to the specific needs of a population.

• Identify intervention priorities through the analysis of socio-health indicators (direct/indirect, positive/negative).

• Recognize the vital importance of socio-health integration and the ethical-professional role of the social worker within organizational dynamics.

4. Communication Skills

The student should be able to:

• Use appropriate technical language (epidemiological and legal-sanitary) to interact effectively with multidisciplinary teams (physicians, nurses, managers).

• Translate complex data into accessible information for users and the community, facilitating health self-management.

• Articulate and justify methodological choices made during the design of public health interventions.

5. Learning Skills

The student must have developed the necessary skills to:

• Continuously update their knowledge by consulting scientific databases and updated healthcare legislation.

• Independently explore emerging health models (One Health) and the ongoing legislative evolutions of the SSN.

• Critically use EBM tools for their own continuous professional development.

 Lectures

HEALTH PLANNING AND THE ITALIAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION

The fundamentals of public health. Health Planning. The National Health Service (SSN) from 1978 to today. The structure of the NHS: national level, regional level, local level. The skills of the NHS. Essential Levels of Assistance (LEA). Role and responsibility of the social worker in the NHS.

One Health and Planetary Health.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL METHODOLOGY Definition, objectives and tools of epidemiology and hygiene. Health maintenance. Descriptive epidemiology: Objectives of descriptive epidemiology. Health determinants. Sources of data and measures of frequency of events (absolute frequency, ratios, proportions, rates). Incidence and prevalence. Direct, indirect, positive and negative socio-health indicators. Main socio-health indicators. Analytical epidemiology: concept of risk and causal relationship. Risk measures: absolute, relative, attributable risk. Analytical studies: transversal or prevalence, case-control or retrospective, cohort or prospective. Evidence Based Medicine, Critical reviews, systematic reviews and PRISMA meta-analysis.

 ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY OF HEALTH STRUCTURES

Clinical risk, direct and indirect health indicators. Sentinel event. Drafting and organization of research projects, training interventions, educational and support interventions for the individual and the community for self-management and control of risk factors and health problems

Suggested books

S. BARBUTI, E. BELLELLI, G.M. FARA, G. GIAMMANCO: Igiene. Monduzzi Editore, Bologna.
W. RICCIARDI: “Igiene, Medicina Preventiva, Sanità Pubblica”. Idelson Gnocchi srl, Napoli.
C. MELONI, G. PELISSERO: “Igiene” ed. CEA Ambrosiana

Oral exam. Elements to be evaluated: relevance of the answers, quality of their contents, ability to connect with other topics within the program, ability to report examples, quality of technical language, and overall expressive ability.

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, students can request a meeting in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measure, according to the educational goals and specific needs. In this case, it is advisable to contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participated Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLD) professor of the Department where the Degree Course is included.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it

• Define what a sentinel case is.
• What is the goal of descriptive epidemiology?
• Outline the fundamentals of public health.