Abstract:

A gradual ageing of population will be one of the most important social challenge in future Europe and future world. According to Eurostat, the share of people aged 65 or over will account for 28.7% of the European Union -28’s population by 2080 and people aged 80 or above can double until 2080 to 12.3%. Simultaneously studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3-in-10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age. This results from various factors, becoming a peculiar symbol of the changing civilization, that determine unhealthy lifestyle, habits or behavior like overeating, no or less physical activity, stress, smoking, alcohol consuming etc.

The consequences are addressed to both:
(a) people who suffer from health problems such as joint and skeletal problems, cardio-vascular diseases, hypertension, overweight, depression and so on, and
(b) economy by increased social and healthcare expenditure.

Functional evaluation (FE) is one of domain of medicine which creates a new frame for diagnostic and treatment procedures considering the relationships of health and lifestyle meaning integration of physical impairments with mental health and social integration. This approach to health services assumes benefit of receiving more accurate diagnosis and improved treatments. Health assistance will be more focused in what patients do and how they do it improving their quality of life giving tools for protection against future functional disability.

Taking this considerations as a background of the research, the aim of this paper is to present a spectrum of FE approaches in today diagnosis and treatment procedures as well as to report recognition of knowledge about FE included in education programs of medical schools in Europe.

The methodology was based on systematic review of up-to-date research reports available in Elsevier Science Direct and Springer Link databases including peer-reviewed journal articles as well as examination of curriculum in leading representatives of medical universities. As a result, a trends, possible promising solutions and loops in the area of FE were recognized and discussed.

Particularly, the new knowledge and good practices in the area of FE is a subject of an educational and international Erasmus+ project entitled “Development of innovative training solutions in the field of functional evaluation aimed at updating of the curricula of health sciences schools - TEACH”.

Keywords:

Functional evaluation, new curriculum, health sciences schools, TEACH project, Erasmus plus.