CommunityMedicine

1.Goal

To ensure that the medical graduate acquires broad public health competencies needed to solve health problems of the community with emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, cost-effective interventions and follow up

2.Objectives

At the end of the course the graduate doctors should be able to:

• Conceptualize people as the focus of the lifetime service of a doctor and be ready to help always and specially in time of need, minimize the suffering of people and have the ability to “think globally and act locally”.
• Apply the basic epidemiological principles to investigation of diseases, outbreaks, health promotion and disease prevention.
• Contribute to health systems’ performance as a member of the health team in the generation and efficient utilization of human and logistic resources.
• Foster healthy lifestyles in the individual and the community level to prevent environmental degradation and to promote social harmony.
• Identify the health needs of populations and population subgroups through planning, intervention, monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide patient-centered comprehensive primary health care including referral, continuing care and follow-up.
• Ensure research competencies in

i)accessing and appraising scientific information

ii)preparation of reports and maintaining records

iii)presentation of research findings and publishing

3.Head of Department’message:

It is a great privilege to head the department in this esteemed institute. Department of community medicine at B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad is one of the first department to be established in the country under the able guidance of Dr. P. D. Paranjpe since 1958.

I have been serving in this department since 1983. It started with U.G and PG teaching and today it has developed in active collaboration with local, State, National and International agencies. The department is doing commendable work in the field of teaching, training, service and research including operational research. Apart from undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, department is recognized for diploma in public health and IGNOU courses (MCH, Geriatric Medicine and Hospital Administration)

The department is one of the members of National Public Health consortium under NIHFW as the apex body. It plays a key role in analyzing and solving Public Health problems along with regular involvement in all academic & administrative avenues of the college. It is nodal centre of training in filed epidemiology in which training is imparted to Epidemiologist and District Surveillance Officers of Gujarat and other States of India. Department is regional training centre for ‘Vector Borne Disease Control Program’. Various National and International research projects have also been undertaken by the department.

With the rapid dissemination of knowledge, many diseases are being controlled effectively but new diseases have emerged and diseases which have declined earlier have resurfaced. A keen watch needs to be kept on the changing trend of the diseases. I am happy to share that our department is actively involved in the epidemic investigation, death audit, disease surveillance, assessment of magnitude of the problem and monitoring & evaluation of the preventive measures.

4.Facilities in the department for teaching/ training and research

• Adequate, well qualified and trained staff according to MCI norms.
• Lecture theater/seminar rooms/tutorial room/demonstration room.
• AV Aids with computer facilities.
• Vehicle for field visits.
• Updated museum.
• Updated library with more than 1000 referral books.
• Public health laboratory.
• Adequate paramedical staff for field training.
• Well equipped training room.

5.Subject curriculum/ Contents

• Concepts in health
• Basic Epidemiology
• Epidemiology of specific disease
• Reproductive and Child health
• Demography and family planning
• Adolescent and geriatric health
• Environmental and occupational health
• Role of genetics in health
• Social and behavioral science
• Nutritional health
• Rural /tribal and urban health
• Biostatics ,health planning and management
• Health education
• Teaching and training

• Community Medicine Training Methods and Period

• Class room teaching:-Lectures, seminar, group discussions, demonstration, practical etc.
• Field visit/clinical posting

Field visit to community, various Health agencies, Industries, Hospitals, participation in various National Health Programs, Health education programs.

6. Examination Pattern

Community Medicine Marks scheme – University Examination[at the end of 7^thsemester]

• Internal assessment:-

• *includes – 6 marks for attendance in classes

6 marks for viva and project performance during clinical posting of community medicine.

• Pattern of theory question paper (Paper 1 and Paper 2)

Section 1

Q.1. Write notes on any 2 out of 3 6×2 = 12 marks

Q.1. Write notes on any 3 out of 4 4×3 = 12 marks

Q.1. Write notes on any 2 out of 3 3×2 = 06 marks

Section 1

Q.1. Write notes on any 2 out of 3 6×2 = 12 marks

Q.1. Write notes on any 3 out of 4 4×3 = 12 marks

Q.1. Write answer to the point in two or three sentences, any 6 out of 8 = 6 marks

Instructions: -1. Time duration for each paper is 3 hours.

2. Total marks for each paper is 60.

• Pattern of practical examination

• Student must appear for preliminary examination before appearing for university examination

MCQ examination- conducted twice (twenty marks each) along with first internal and preliminary examination

7. OPD day-CPGP -Monday to Saturday

Urban Health Training centre -Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

Health Camps in field practice area - Tuesday and Thursday