Health Sciences

This course provides clear understanding of the different types of environmental exposures that are related with pathogenic mechanisms of human diseases. The first section reviews the natural environment (land, water, air, energy) and its impact on health indicators as well as nutritional content of food and nutraceuticals. The second section focuses on the built environment (housing, urban vs. rural landscapes, transport, work) and the relation of our living conditions with health outcomes. The third section reviews the effects of the psychosocial environment (mental health, stress, socialization, financial status) on the public health. The fourth section expands on the microenvironment features (microbiome) and the epigenetic effects (gene-by-environment interactions) that modulate disease mechanisms. The final section of the course focuses on the combined and synergistic impact of all different types of the environment on health indicators. It also showcases the added value of multidisciplinary approaches to evaluate the combined impact of environment on health and disease.

Modern healthcare has changed the way we approach medicine. We are now increasingly in charge of our health, assuming new roles in seeking information, understanding rights and responsibilities, and making health decisions. Underlying these demands, however, are the needs for the knowledge and skills to navigate the sea of information (and misinformation) to make smart decisions about health. Health literacy goes beyond having the basic ability of understanding and applying language, literacy and numeracy skills to process health information. It is also about having the knowledge, confidence and skills to interpret information. This course will equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand health information to the fullest, empower them to make informed decisions, to question the reliability of information, and to think critically about scientific evidence. 

This course introduces the basic human structure and life phenomena to students coming from non-medical backgrounds. The content of each lecture covers basic concepts from anatomy and the associated physiology to clinical diseases and their treatments. 

This course introduces the physiological characteristics, nutritional requirements, and common nutritional issues at various stages of life. It covers dietary guidelines, the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for the population, and findings from national nutrition surveys. Additionally, the basic principles of dietary planning are covered to provide a comprehensive understanding of nutrition across the lifespan.   

The course will revolve around the pivotal aspects of drug delivery, encompassing the introduction of the development of drug delivery technologies and systems, the application of drug delivery techniques in pharmaceutical research and development, a categorization outlining the materials, designs, and applications of mainstream drug delivery systems, as well as the arrangement of corporate visits to enhance students' comprehension of drug delivery.

The course provides students with an understanding of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research, and the key characteristics of common research designs applicable to nursing and healthcare, (qualitative, quantitative, and participatory approaches) linked to the theories that underpin them. Sampling and data collection methods are introduced. An understanding of research governance, ethics, and user involvement are developed.
 

This course introduces social research methods in relation to public health, covering research design, conducting research, data analysis, and research evaluation. Topics include the relationship between theory and research; the nature, principles, and methods of conducting social research; research methodologies; ethical implications of studying human beings; and research in the disciplines of sociology and public health. 

This course looks at the interface of community involvement and (effective) governmental approaches to public health. By studying how actors in this sphere collaborate in order to identify public health needs, select appropriate responses, and implement large-scale projects, students gain understanding of the different public health issues facing communities in the host environment, and the varied approaches to public health across the globe. The course pays special attention to identifying and understanding the main actors in public health systems, how such systems and their policies are influenced, and how the implementation of public health tools are affected by cultural and religious traditions.

This course develops knowledge of equality and diversity with a special focus on intersectionality. The course contains central theories and perspectives on diversity and equality. The course addresses how equality and diversity work is organized, developed, and run in different types of service organizations. These efforts reflect issues around individual situations and needs, which makes it doubly important to be able to understand and think critically about gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, and functional impairment. The course gives space for both the critical analysis of organizational equality and diversity issues, as well as the application of theoretical tools to understand these.