University of Zagreb School of Medicine

Community Health

According to the evaluation feedback the course Community Health at the sixth year is a among the
top quality courses offered at the integrated course of studies in medicine offered both to Croatian and English students. The course is coordinated by the faculty of the Andrija Štampar Schooll of Public Health since 1952 is based on a principle that the primary task of the physician cannot only be reduced to work in doctor’s offices and clinical departments, but physicians primary task is to be devoted to the human community.

The major objective of teaching is to expose students to the whole complex of issues that influence
health and life in a community. Students are exposed to the community for a period of one week , and small groups of students (15‐20 students) spend their filed work outside Zagreb under the mentorship of two faculty, in those counties representing mostly rural areas of population. The practical training is composed of four areas: participation of students in regular activities of the local health service (not only physicians but community nurses), special field research programs (at homes, jobs, and at schools), healthpromotion activities (at schools, kindergartens and at homes), participation in the national health prevention campaigns that are carried out in the local community (early detection of the breast cancer, colon cancer), and programs devoted to health ecology themes ( water and water supply analysis, disposition of waste materials, etc.). Finally, this field practice has also a unique intercultural component consisting of introduction to historical, cultural , economic, natural and other resources of a particular local area. Besides daily discussions pertaining to their observations on their daily activities students are also required to conduct their own diary, assess the quality of their own work, the quality of organization and content of this field practice.