Course syllabus for

Public Health Response in Disasters, 20 credits

Hälsoinsatser vid katastrofer, 20 hp
This course syllabus is valid from autumn 2013.
Please note that the course syllabus is available in the following versions:
Course code
2QA236
Course name
Public Health Response in Disasters
Credits
20 credits
Form of Education
Higher Education, study regulation 2007
Main field of study 
Public Health in Disasters 
Level 
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements 
Grading scale
Fail (F), fail (Fx), sufficient (E), satisfactory (D), good (C), very good (B) or excellent (A)
Department
Department of Global Public Health
Decided by
Board of Higher Education
Decision date
2014-06-23
Course syllabus valid from
Autumn 2013

Specific entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

Objectives

The aims of the course are to provide competencies, to adequately prioritize, plan, implement and monitor public health interventions in disaster relief, based on needs and risks.

Module 1
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

  • explain how different health determinants influence vulnerability and a society's ability to cope with disasters.
  • define various types of disasters and describe how they can be prevented, as well as how their negative influence on the public health can be mitigated.

Skills and abilities

  • in a multistage process explain and plan how data and information about health risks and health needs can be sought, analysed and assessed in disasters.

Judgement and approach

  • evaluate how various types of disasters influence public health.

Module 2.
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

  • explain principles of and handling of mass-casualty situations
  • explain the principles of evaluation of health actions at disaster actions.

Skills and abilities

  • plan for epidemiological surveillance in disasters situations.

Judgement and approach

  • relate to disaster response systems, their potentials and weaknesses.
  • argue for different strategies intended to meet the public health needs of the disaster.
  • argue for the most important components for control of infectious diseases.

Content

The course is divided in two modules:

Pre-disaster and Disaster Situations - Global Perspective, 8 hp The current part of the course brings up established definitions of various types of disasters and strategies to prevent and mitigate damage effects of these. Further the module covers health-related needs at various types of emergency situations and methods for analysis and assessment of health state, the epidemiological profile and health-related needs at disasters.

In this part, lectures and individual reading is included, where the student as examination assignment will make a risk analysis and proposal give proposal on measures that mitigate these risks. Public Health Response in Disasters, 12 hp The part of the course follows after assessments of health-related needs in a disaster. Important fields are: Priorities and organisation of health actions, epidemiological supervision and control of infectious diseases. Specific strategies for mass-casualty situations and industrial disasters are highlighted. The module is completed with methods and principles of evaluation of health actions.

Teaching methods

Interactive lectures. Web-based assignments in groups and individual, simulation exercises and discussion seminars.

Examination

The two modules will be examinated individually In each module, compulsory parts are also included, where active participation is required.

Module 1.
The examination consists of a written assignment.

Module 2.
The examination consists of two written assignments.One of these assignments will be presented in teh student group at a compulsory seminar. This examination includes a "peer learning-part" where the students review and give feedback on each other's work.

Student who has not passed the regular examination has a right to participate at further five examinations.

The student will receive a final grade for the whole course (A-F). The final grade is an appraisal of the results in the different examinations. In order to pass the course, the student must obtain at least grade E in all examinations. In order to get a higher grade, at least two examinations require the higher grade and the third examination must not be graded less than two grades below To pass the course, one must obtain at least grade E in all examinations. To obtain a higher grade, this grade in at least two examinations is required and not more than two grades lower on the third and the fourth examination.

Transitional provisions

After each course there will be at least 6 occasions for examination within a two-year period.

Other directives

Course evaluation will be carried out according to the guidelines that are established by the Board of education. The course will be given in English. The course may not be included in a higher education qualification at the same time with the overview and passed course, whose contents completely or partly corresponds to the course content.

Literature and other teaching aids

Part 1

Required reading

Global Health : an introductory textbook Lindstrand, Ann
Public health guide in emergencies

Recommended reading

Handbook IMCI Integrated management of childhood illness
Rapid health assessment in refugee or displaced populations
Refugee health : an approach to emergency situations
Schreeb, Johan von Needs assessment for international humanitarian health assistance in disasters
WHO child growth standards and the identification of severe acute malnutrition in infants and children

Part 2

Required reading

Beck, Tony Evaluating humanitarian action using the OECD-DAC criteria An ALNAP guide for humanitarian agencies
Connolly, M. A. Communicable disease control in emergencies : a field manual
Handbook for emergencies, 3d edition
Public health guide in emergencies
The Sphere handbook, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response
Checchi, Gayer, Freeman Grais and Mills Public health in crisis- affected populations A practical guide for decision-makers

Recommended reading

Clinical guidelines: Diagnosis and treatment manual for curative programmes in hospitals and dispenseries:
Essential drugs: Practical guidelines
Manual for the health care of children in humanitarian emergencies:
Medical response to major incidents and disasters : a practical guide for all medical staff Lennquist, Sten
Pocket book of Hospital care for children: Guidelines for the management of common illnesses with limited resources
Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care: A guide for essential practic
Rapid health assessment in refugee or displaced populations
Refugee health : an approach to emergency situations
WHO child growth standards and the identification of severe acute malnutrition in infants and children
Young, Helen; Jaspars, Susanne The meaning and measurement of acute malnutrition in emergencies: a primer for decision-makers
Articles and lecture presentations, which will be provided during the course.