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Course syllabus for

Public Health Response in Disasters, 20 credits

Hälsoinsatser vid katastrofer, 20 hp

This course syllabus is valid from autumn 2017.

Please note that the course syllabus is available in the following versions:

Autumn2013 , Autumn2015 , Autumn2017 , Spring2018 , Spring2020 , Spring2021 , Spring2022 , Autumn2022

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
Revised by: Education committee PHS
Last revision: 2017-02-15
Course syllabus valid from: Autumn 2017

Specific entry requirements

A professional degree of at least 120 credits in health care or medicine. In addition to this, work experience within one of the above mentioned fields is required (has to be certified by the employer). Alternatively a degree of at least 180 credits and work experience within a relevant field (such as aid and international organisations, certified by the employer/organisation). 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 course module focuses on the global burden of disease and factors that determine variations in the public health with a focus on low-income countries. The course highlights and analyses general and directed health strategies intended to improve global health. The course module also focuses on health-related needs in various types of disasters and methods for analysis and assessment of public health and health-related needs in disasters. 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 and as a group exercise. In each module, compulsory parts are also included, where active participation is required.

Module 1.
The examination consists of an individual written text. In addition a written groupassignment is included. The group assignment will be presented in the student group at a compulsory seminar.

Module 2.
The examination consists of an individual written test. In addition a written group assignment is included. The group assignment will be presented in the 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.

A 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 two individual examinations. The group assignments will be graded with Pass/Failed. In order to pass the course, the student must obtain at least grade E in the individual examinations and Passed on the group assignments. In order to get a higher grade, at least one examination require the higher grade and the second examination must not be graded less than one grade below.

Transitional provisions

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

Other directives

The course will be given in English.

Course evaluation will be carried out according to the guidelines that are established by the Board of education. 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

Lund : Studentlitteratur, 2006 - 327 s. ISBN:91-44-02198-4 LIBRIS-ID:9987549 Library search

Public health guide in emergencies

John Hopkins School of Public Health, International federation of Red Cross red Crescent Societies, 2008

Humanitarian needs assessment : the good enough guide

Rugby : Practical Action Publishing, [2014] - xi, 108 pages ISBN:9781853398636 LIBRIS-ID:18060371 Library search

Howard, Natasha; Sondorp, Egbert; Veen, Annemarie ter Conflict and health

Maidenhead, Berkshire, England : McGraw Hill/Open University Press, 2012. - xvii, 197 pages ISBN:9780335243792 (pbk.) LIBRIS-ID:18062121 Library search

Part 2 Required reading

Beck, Tony Evaluating humanitarian action using the OECD-DAC criteria An ALNAP guide for humanitarian agencies

ALNAP, Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance, 2006

Checchi, Gayer, Freeman Grais and Mills Public health in crisis- affected populations A practical guide for decision-makers

Humanitarian Practice Network at ODI , HPN, 2007

Connolly, M. A. Communicable disease control in emergencies : a field manual

Geneva : World Health Organization, c2005. - vii, 295 p. ISBN:92-4-154616-6 LIBRIS-ID:10160940 Library search

Handbook for emergencies, 3d edition

Humanitarian needs assessment : the good enough guide

Rugby : Practical Action Publishing, [2014] - xi, 108 pages ISBN:9781853398636 LIBRIS-ID:18060371 Library search

Norton, I; et al. Classification and minimum standards for foreign medical teams in sudden onset disasters.

Geneva: World Health Organization, 2013 URL: http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/fmt_guidelines_september2013.pdf

Public health guide in emergencies

John Hopkins School of Public Health, International federation of Red Cross red Crescent Societies, 2008

The Sphere handbook, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response

The Sphere project, 2011