To provide the students with an understanding on epidemiological concepts and the ability to critically interpret reports from epidemiological studies. To understand the principles of preventive medicine, and the role of physical activity in prevention of chronical diseases. 

Definitions of preventive medicine. Natural history and prevention of infectious and chronic degenerative diseases. The risk factor and cause-effect relationships. Case-control and cohort studies. Experimental epidemiology. Evaluation of experimental data. Molecular epidemiology for the study of intermediate biomarkers. Epidemiological knowledge to implement preventive measures. The three levels of prevention. Primary prevention and susceptibility or pre-disease stage. Methods of primary prevention. Chemoprophylaxis and chemoprevention. Immune prophylaxis. Disinfection, disinfestation, sterilization techniques and their applications for sports equipment and environments. Secondary prevention and latent disease. Methods of secondary prevention. Population screening. The Major blood tests. Tertiary prevention and overt disease. Tertiary prevention methodologies. Limitation of disability, and functional recovery. The prevention of multifactorial diseases. Models of environmental and behavioral prevention of tumours, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic bronchopneumopathies. Epidemiological and prevention aspects of non-infectious diseases in school age: paramorphisms, allergies, myopia. Environmental prevention. Definition, characteristics of atmospheric air and physiological importance of air. Air pollution and health effects. Indoor air quality. Methods and equipment for detecting the comfort and healthiness of confined spaces. The prevention of pathologies from thermal imbalance, identification of the risk of thermal accident and of subjects at risk. The air conditioning. Water: water needs and sources. Water pollution and health effects. Criteria for potability and potabilisation in swimming pools. Concepts of medical hydrology: hydrology, thermalism, climatotherapy. Hygiene applied to structures for motor activities. Gyms: hygienic requirements and microclimatic parameters. Swimming facilities: definition and classification; management, hygiene and microclimatic aspects; water treatment and related controls. Changing room hygiene. Health effects due to altitude and diving activities. Hypobaric and hyperbaropathies. The prevention and control of the most common infectious pathologies in environments for sports and rehabilitation activities: enteric, wound, skin and vector transmitted infections. Immune prevention in the athlete. The prevention of sports injuries. Health protection of sporting activities and sportsmen who travel. The Italian health system

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 material and teacher messages are available,in the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it 

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Course books

Brandi, Liguori. Romano Spica: Igiene e Sanità Pubblica per Scienze Motorie. A. Delfino Editore.