Physiotherapy REPLICA I - REGIONE MOLISE-IRCCS NEUROMED POZZILLI

Basic principles of hygiene and health promotion: health determinants, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, and the role of prevention in rehabilitation settings. Descriptive epidemiology: basic concepts, disease distribution by time, place, and person. Measures of frequency: prevalence, incidence, rate. Calculation and interpretation in different contexts. Analytical epidemiology: observational studies (case-control and cohort studies), design and objectives. Measures of association: relative risk, odds ratio, attributable risk. Interpretation and limitations. Experimental epidemiology: principles of interventional studies (randomized controlled trials), randomization, control groups, bias. Evaluation of diagnostic test accuracy: sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, ROC curves. Principles of evidence-based practice: integration of scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences.

The student is expected to have basic knowledge of human body functioning, the main determinants of health and disease, and the fundamental concepts of prevention and health promotion. The ability to understand scientific texts in both Italian and English is required, along with a preliminary understanding of the scientific method. Familiarity with the concepts of risk, causality, and critical reading of scientific literature is also necessary to understand the application of evidence in rehabilitative practice.

Ichiro Kawachi, Iain Lang, Walter Ricciardi (a cura di). Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice. 4ª edizione, Oxford University Press.

Attendance is mandatory. The course includes both theoretical lessons and practical exercises, as well as interactive activities that are essential for achieving the learning objectives. Regular participation is required to acquire the expected competencies and to be admitted to the final assessment.

Student learning will be assessed through a written exam, consisting of: Multiple-choice questions, aimed at verifying the understanding of theoretical concepts covered during the course (e.g., measures of frequency, study designs, diagnostic test accuracy, prevention methods, interpretation of association measures). Practical exercises, aimed at evaluating the ability to apply acquired knowledge to solve practical problems (e.g., calculation and interpretation of prevalence, incidence, sensitivity, specificity, relative risk, and interpretation of epidemiological charts and tables). Passing the exam requires a satisfactory performance in both sections.

The course is delivered through face-to-face lectures, supported by multimedia presentations, case discussions, and practical exercises. Lessons aim to provide both the theoretical foundation and the applied skills necessary to understand and use scientific evidence in rehabilitation and preventive health settings. Scientific articles, international guidelines, examples of epidemiological studies, and tools for critical appraisal of sources will be used. Active student participation will be encouraged during exercises and interactive sessions.