engleski

Practicing community health

A field programme in the community aims to help students to understand how environmental and other factors influence health and to what extend health is a result as well as a prerequisite of weilbeing ; how moral, cultural, social and other values influence health. Students, live in community, assisting in implementation of specific programmes, and participate in regular activities relating to health services. Visits to local industries, historical and cultural sights are important parts of teaching. At the end the student is able to recognize health needs of the community, to assess efficiency of measures for particular health problems, and to critically examine health services. Skills such as communication skills, health education, presentation, interview, as well as assessment of living and working environment, epidemiological survey, organization of vaccination etc. are required. According to our experience, students are willing to participate in and commit themselves to any programme with a clear purpose and goals. Observation alone has small effect. The best results are achieved through activities that local health services are interested in, developed together with the teachers, and when there is a clear need in the community for such activities achieving direct benefit for the community. Two weeks in the community is necessary.

community health; community practice; medical students

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