The course presents the main social dimensions of health described through the social model and the ecological and relational perspective. The fundamental concepts of social capital, social support, help networks, community work are exposed, and their applications in different groups of subjects for the purpose of prevention of illness and malaise, and for the purpose of integration and recovery of social categories at risk are shown. Starting from a perspective of sociological theory, the following aspects will be examined: from the point of view of individual health, the demand for wellbeing, body care and the search for physical and mental fitness; on the intersubjective level, social relationships and networks will be taken into consideration; in the cultural dimension, interventions for the quality of life, and healthy lifestyle and behavior will be presented. In particular, some tools, processes and products of communication of the relationship between health and physical activity in different social contexts will be discussed. The main objective is to stimulate the skills and planning in implementing effective social strategies for the maintenance and promotion of health and for the prevention of disease.

The course is divided into several thematic modules.

1. Social construction of health

• The functionalist and critical theories of the sociology of health 
• Social capital as a factor of health
• Social vulnerability and health inequalities
• Medicalization of society and bio-power
• Sociology of disease: stigma and metaphor

2. Health actions and needs

• Prevention, cure, care, rehabilitation, re-education
• The salutogenic social model
• The ecological-relational model
• The bio-psycho-social model
• The frail elderly
• Different abilities

3. Health communication strategies

• Risk communication in prevention: plans and projects
• Effects of the media on behavior changes
• Communication campaigns on health, sport and physical activity
• Health Literacy and culture of exercise
• E-health applications in the field of physical activity

4. Health and phisical activity interventions

• Communication between health operator and patient/client
• The interpersonal argument in health contexts
• Social re-integration of the traumatized patient
• Meanings of disease and conceptions of the body in patients 
• Plans to promote health and physical education among citizens

Students will gain knowledge, and understanding of the main sociological theories of health with particular reference to the issues and methods faced by different epistemological perspectives. Students are awarded this basic knowledge by attending the lectures and study of the texts discussed in class.

Students will also gain the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of concepts through the analysis of the promotion and communication products in the field of health. The skills will be acquired through  exercises in the classroom.

Students will be able to analyze with independent judgment projects, plans of communication and promotion of health in the social and training sector programs. That capacity must be exercised in the classroom in the confrontation with the teacher and the other students.

Students will be called upon to perform in the classroom communication skills by interacting with applications, trade with fellow students and writing short presentations for the final exam.

Students must be in possession of critical skills useful in identifying functional and adequate tools and methods of communication for health contexts, simulating action plans, designing a working hypothesis on campo

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching is carried out in ex-cathedra lectures, seminars, regular discussions in the classroom. During the lessons, we will used synthetic schemes and explanatory presentations, such as teaching aids to the understanding of the issues examined. Such material will be made available online. 

The teaching material and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures, class discussion, seminar activity, oral presentations, participatory lectures in which the presented works will be discussed, help texts.

Innovative teaching methods

The face-to-face teaching method will be enriched with individual and group exercises and insights that students will carry out using the university's moodle platform. Some topics of the course will be treated following the "flipped lesson" mode.

Attendance

For the exam students are required to prepare the texts indicated. Any examination programs customized, need to be agreed with the teacher. The students are required to  expose the issues addressed during the learning activities in the form of seminar or discussion in the classroom.

Course books

E. Greco. Sociologia della salute. Prevenzione sociale e sanitaria delle malattie. Soveria Mannelli: Rubbettino, 2016.
S. Rubinelli, L. Camerini, P. Schultz, Comunicazione e salute, Milano: Apogeo, 2010. 

Assessment

Methods to assess the level of preparation of students consist in the final oral examination and in the exposure of the issues addressed during the learning activities in the form of seminar or discussion in the classroom.

The exam will be held in an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting. It is possible to present a written document on a topic agreed with the teacher. 

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Students not attending will have access to the synthetic schemes and explanatory presentations used by the teacher in class, such as teaching aids to the understanding of the issues examined. Such material will be made available online.

Attendance

For the exam students are required to prepare the texts indicated. Any examination programs customized, need to be agreed with the teacher. The students are required to know the synthetic schemes and explanatory presentations used by the teacher in class, such as teaching aids to the understanding of the issues examined. Such material will be available online.

Course books

E. Greco (2016). Sociologia della salute. Prevenzione sociale e sanitaria delle malattie. Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino.

S. Rubinelli, L. Camerini, P. Schultz (2010). Comunicazione e salute, Milano, Apogeo 2010. 

Assessment

Oral examination

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting. It is possible to present a written document on a topic agreed with the teacher. 

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.