The main objective of the Diploma in Field Epidemiology training program is to fortify the capacity of MOH and other health institutions in KSA and other gulf states to use Epidemiology to find appropriate solutions to the existing and emerging health concerns. In this connection, the Epidemiological Practice unit provides an excellent opportunity for strengthening the capacity of MOH while at the same time providing the training opportunity for the resident. Unit will consist of two set of activities,
- first being participation in studies conducted by other residents of DFE and
- second a 4-week attachment with a health program.
Objectives:
- To obtain field experience in the process of outbreak investigation and research project development and implementation
- To practice the skills obtained earlier in the course to explore the epidemiology of the priority diseases and other health related issues of the Kingdom
- To conduct a health system analysis to study the relation between the identified problem and the health care system
- To apply their epidemiological skills to the control and prevention of these priority diseases and other health related issues.
- To communicate their findings and actions to the other health care personnel and administrators
- To facilitate the participation of FETP in the development of public health practice in the Kingdom
Activities:
- Participation in research projects
- Residents will participate in the research projects of other residents during Hajj and outbreak investigations, in which they are not a designated co-investigator.
- Their participation will include one or more of the activities like development of questionnaire, data collection, data entry and data analysis
- Attachment to a health program/department: As part of this attachment, the residents will perform the following activities under the direct supervision of designated local health administrator and his advisor at FETP
- Explore the health care situation in an identified region to identify the specific health care issues
- Prioritize these problems and identify a specific problem for detailed investigation and intervention
- Investigate the identified problem to quantify the size of the problem and estimate its effect on the health system/community and the various associated factors, with a special focus on factors which can be manipulated
- Develop the intervention plan to rectify the problem, within the available resources
- If feasible within the time limits of assignment, implement the intervention and evaluate the outcome of the intervention
- Present progress reports regularly at the staff meetings in the MOH
- Submit a final report to FETP, both in Arabic and English, including the process of identifying the priority problem, findings of pre-intervention investigation, process of development of intervention, intervention done and post-intervention evaluation (2000-3000 words)
- Present the final report in Round Table meeting
- The total duration of the attachment will be 4 weeks
Supervision and follow-up:
- Participation in other research projects will be supervised by the designated supervisor of the research project
- Attachment to a health program/department will be supervised as follows:
- The designated Health administrator in the health region and designated advisor of the resident at FETP will mutually supervise the resident.
- Throughout the period of this attachment, the resident will regularly report to the designated health administrator and will not leave the allocated health region or avail leave without his permission.
- All the leaves availed during the period will be communicated to the FETP for further processing
- The resident will be expected to submit a fortnightly report of his activities, through email to his designated supervisor in the FETP.
- In conformation with the overall objectives of the training program, due to alternate priority activities the ‘Supervisor FETP’ can temporarily suspend, postpone or terminate the activity at any time.
Assessment:
The course will contribute 800 marks to the final evaluation, and will be distributed as follows:
- Participation in research projects:
- hajj study participation (200 marks) and
- outbreak participation (200 marks).
- Marks will be allocated by the Hajj studies supervisor and supervisor of the outbreak investigation, respectively.
- Attachment to the health program/department (400 marks), will be evaluated as follows:
- By health administrator to whom the resident is attached based on his evaluation of resident's activities in the field (120 marks, 30%)
- By designated advisor of resident in FETP: Evaluation of final report submitted (160 marks, 40%) and Presentation (120 marks, 30%)