84243 - Determinants of Health and Disease

Learning outcomes

Describe and critically scrutinize the proximal and structural determinants of health, their uneven distribution within and between different populations, and identify health professionals’ responsibility in reducing inequalities in health, both at a global and local level.

Course contents

Different approaches on health inequalities:

Lecture 1: Social determinants of health: the basics

Lecture 2: Different approaches to health inequalities: examples taken from maternal and child health.

Lecture 3: Social determinants of health and health inequalities.

Lecture 4: Neighbourhood and its importance in the development of health inequalities. The importance of
urban programming and the role of smart cities.

Lecture 5: envronmental disparities in public health

Lecture 6: strategies to tackle inequalities in public health

Lecture 7: class discussions on the papers analyzed

Lecture 8: general recap of all the topics analyzed and course review

 

Main Topics approached:

Social Determinants Theory

Social Network approach

The ecological approach

The life course perspective

Four social theories in Global Health

Environmental disparities

Tackle inequalities

Readings/Bibliography

Slides and material provided in class.

Teaching methods

Class discussions

power point

Assessment methods

The final exam is a joint written test covering all the teaching units of the Integrated Course. It consists of a paper-based, multiple-choice quiz with 32 questions (each with 4 choices, only one of which is correct). The number of questions for each unit is proportional to its number of CFU:

• History of Medicine: 4 questions
• Ethics and Behavioural Sciences: 8 questions
• Medical Statistics and Epidemiology: 8 questions
• Scientific Research Methodology: 4 questions
• Determinants of Health and Disease: 8 questions

The exam lasts 30 minutes. There are no penalties for wrong or blank answers.

The test is passed with at least 18 correct answers, provided that the student answers at least one question correctly in each module. A score of 31 or 32 correct answers is awarded with 30 cum laude (30L). Students who fail the exam can retake it on the next available date.

Grades will be sent by email to each student's institutional address (@studio.unibo.it). The student has three days to reject the grade by replying to the professor's message. After that, the grade will be considered accepted and recorded.

Reviewing the exam with the professor is possible, upon request, only in case of a failing grade. Details about the test questions or the student's incorrect answers will not be shared by email.

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or those with temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the relevant office in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) to arrange appropriate compensatory measures. The request must be submitted to the professor at least 15 days before the exam date. The professor will assess the suitability of the proposed measures in relation to the course's learning objectives.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Davide Gori