Contribution
The Master’s Program "Rheumatology - Musculoskeletal Health" aims to address significant, unmet, scientific, educational, and social needs. Rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases are one of the most common groups of diseases in the general population, affecting approximately 1 in 4 adults. The increase in the life expectancy of the general population in combination with other precipitating factors (increased obesity rate, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, etc.) is expected to lead to further increase in the number of patients affected by these diseases in the coming years. Disability and loss of working hours are frequently caused by these diseases, which also have a significant impact on patients' quality of life. The direct and indirect economic costs of rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases in Greek society are already significant and are expected to increase further in the coming decades. Early prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases requires the coordinated effort of a group of well-trained health care providers, including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, etc.
To date, this subject (Rheumatology-Musculoskeletal Health) is covered in fragments by the first cycle of study programs in the Departments of Medicine and other related Departments. In Greece, there is no other Master's Program in this particular subject, and even in the international field, there are few Master's Programs available.
Purpose
The purpose of the Master's Program "Rheumatology - Musculoskeletal Health" is:
- Τo provide high-level postgraduate education in the scientific fields of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Health.
- To promote knowledge and research in areas that fall within the scope of the above scientific fields.
- To train health care providers in formulating prevention strategies for the most frequent rheumatic diseases and musculoskeletal medical conditions in general population.
- To cultivate coordinated diagnostic approaches and treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases and musculoskeletal medical conditions, from a well-educated healthcare team (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists etc.).
Objectives
Upon completion of Master's Program "Rheumatology - Musculoskeletal Health", graduates should:
- Understand the basic principles of research methodology and its practical application in rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Plan the realization (literature review, clinical or laboratory work), writing and public presentation of a research paper.
- Be familiar with the epidemiology of rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Understand the basic principles of normal immune response and the mechanisms of tissue damage in patients with autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases.
- Recognize the most common clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings related to rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Possess the skills for a preliminary clinical examination of patients with rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Recognize and understand the principles of prevention for rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases and their comorbidities.
- Understand the role of exercise and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Be familiar with the fundamental principles of assessing and treating patients with rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases, utilizing physiotherapy and occupational therapy techniques.
- Plan a practical program of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or rehabilitation for patients with rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Know the basic principles of administration, indications, and most frequent side effects of antirheumatic drugs, used in patients with rheumatic diseases.
- Know the basic principles of prevention, assessment, and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal injuries.
- Know the basic pathophysiological principles of chronic pain, as well as its treatment in patients with rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Acquire an insight into the perspective of patients with rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
- Participate in multidisciplinary teams for diagnosis and treatment of patients with rheumatic-musculoskeletal diseases.
