Knowledgement on clinical epidemiology and the impact on academic, scientific and social goals

Abstract

Introduction: Epidemiological studies allow health professionals to identify trends of morbidity and health problems in the population, helping to identify groups exposed to certain risks and to  describe populations in terms of their health profiles.

Objective: To describe the impact of situated knowledge on the academic, scientific and social results of the clinical epidemiology course in the 10th semester of the medical career of the Universidad Marista de Merida.

Method: A descriptive, observational, prospective study, during the clinical epidemiology course, an academic program based on situated cognition was developed. It contemplated theoretical learning at the same time as practical learning through the design, implementation, analysis and implementation of health projects with an epidemiological approach allowing medical students to integrate their clinical, practical and theoretical knowledge acquired during their formation.

Results: The students expressed positive views about the field activity, managed to integrate clinical, theoretical and practical knowledge from other areas of the medical science and practice; They reinforced their vocation of service and their interest to reduce the health problems of the communities, while they expressed interest in getting involved in the continuation of their research projects, presenting them at conferences, publishing, and continuing their research as thesis topics.

Conclusion: This study allowed the student to understatement of the cultural and social differences in which health problems can present and to facilitate the statistical analysis of the data understanding its origin.