Chronic Diseases

Code:

OPT_MSP12_19

Acronym:

MSP12_19

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Epidemiology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree Course in Public Health

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MSP	13	Current Studies Plan	1	-	3	27	81

Teaching language

English

Objectives

Acquisition of knowledge about the burden of the most prevalent chronic (non-communicable) diseases and their time trends in the population.

Recognition of the specificities of different groups of chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions, mental disorders) and consequent implications for the epidemiological investigation of each nosologic group.

To explore prevention and management of chronic diseases, namely the intervention in the main risk factors.

Learning outcomes and competences

To acknowledge the burden and main risk factors of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the population.

To understand the characteristics of chronic diseases that explain their high frequency and associated disability.

To distinguish the specificities of epidemiological research on different groups of chronic diseases.

To apply an epidemiological reasoning to the discussion of prevention and management strategies for chronic diseases.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Chronic diseases - mortality, morbidity and time trends.

Research methods in chronic diseases.  

Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases.

Cancer epidemiology.

Mental health. 

Prevention and intervention in risk factors for chronic diseases.

Group debates on challenges and opportunities for chronic diseases.

Mandatory literature

Patrick L. Remington, Ross C. Brownson, and Mark V. Wegne; Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Control Third Edition

Comments from the literature

The bibliography will also include relevant scientific articles and other materials.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Group work.

Evaluation: distributed without final exam – presentation and debate, and individual written assignment.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	3,00
Estudo autónomo	42,00
Frequência das aulas	24,00
Trabalho escrito	12,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of at least 75% of all classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = (written individual assignment mark*0.5) + (oral presentation/debate from group work*0.5)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance to the current rules of FMUP.

Classification improvement

The student can improve the grade of the individual component, by submitting a new individual assignment (there is no improvement of the group work component).