Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme

Damian Hoy; A. Mark Durand; Thane Hancock; Haley L. Cash; Kate Hardie; Beverley Paterson; Yvette Paulino; Paul White; Tony Merritt; Dawn Fitzgibbons; Sameer Vali Gopalani; James Flint; Onofre Edwin A Merilles; Mina Kashiwabara; Viema Biaukula; Christelle Lepers; Yvan Souares; Eric Nilles; Anaseini Batikawai; Sevil Huseynova; Mahomed Patel; Salanieta T. Saketa; David Durrheim; Alden Henderson; Adam Roth

doi:10.5365/wpsar.2016.7.4.005

Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme

Damian Hoy, A. Mark Durand, Thane Hancock, Haley L. Cash, Kate Hardie, Beverley Paterson, Yvette Paulino, Paul White, Tony Merritt, Dawn Fitzgibbons, Sameer Vali Gopalani, James Flint, Onofre Edwin A Merilles, Mina Kashiwabara, Viema Biaukula, Christelle Lepers, Yvan Souares, Eric Nilles, Anaseini Batikawai, Sevil HuseynovaMahomed Patel, Salanieta T. Saketa, David Durrheim, Alden Henderson, Adam Roth

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PROBLEM: The Pacific region has widely dispersed populations, limited financial and human resources and a high burden of disease. There is an urgent need to improve the availability, reliability and timeliness of useable health data.

CONTEXT: The purpose of this paper is to share lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme that was designed to respond to these Pacific health challenges. The pilot programme built on and further developed an existing field epidemiology training programme for Pacific health staff.

ACTION: The programme was delivered in country by epidemiologists working for Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network partners. The programme consisted of five courses: four one-week classroom-based courses and one field epidemiology project. Sessions were structured so that theoretical understanding was achieved through interaction and reinforced through practical hands-on group activities, case studies and other interactive practical learning methods.

OUTCOME: As of September 2016, 258 students had commenced the programme. Twenty-six course workshops were delivered and one cohort of students had completed the full five-course programme. The programme proved popular and gained a high level of student engagement.

DISCUSSION: Face-to-face delivery, a low student-to-facilitator ratio, substantial group work and practical exercises were identified as key factors that contributed to the students developing skills and confidence. Close engagement of leaders and the need to quickly evaluate and adapt the curriculum were important lessons, and the collaboration between external partners was considered important for promoting a harmonized approach to health needs in the Pacific.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	21-26
Number of pages	6
Journal	Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR
Volume	8
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2016.7.4.005
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2017
Externally published	Yes

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Hoy, D., Durand, A. M., Hancock, T., Cash, H. L., Hardie, K., Paterson, B., Paulino, Y., White, P., Merritt, T., Fitzgibbons, D., Gopalani, S. V., Flint, J., Edwin A Merilles, O., Kashiwabara, M., Biaukula, V., Lepers, C., Souares, Y., Nilles, E., Batikawai, A., ... Roth, A. (2017). Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme. Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR, 8(3), 21-26. https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2016.7.4.005

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title = "Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme",

abstract = "PROBLEM: The Pacific region has widely dispersed populations, limited financial and human resources and a high burden of disease. There is an urgent need to improve the availability, reliability and timeliness of useable health data.CONTEXT: The purpose of this paper is to share lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme that was designed to respond to these Pacific health challenges. The pilot programme built on and further developed an existing field epidemiology training programme for Pacific health staff.ACTION: The programme was delivered in country by epidemiologists working for Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network partners. The programme consisted of five courses: four one-week classroom-based courses and one field epidemiology project. Sessions were structured so that theoretical understanding was achieved through interaction and reinforced through practical hands-on group activities, case studies and other interactive practical learning methods.OUTCOME: As of September 2016, 258 students had commenced the programme. Twenty-six course workshops were delivered and one cohort of students had completed the full five-course programme. The programme proved popular and gained a high level of student engagement.DISCUSSION: Face-to-face delivery, a low student-to-facilitator ratio, substantial group work and practical exercises were identified as key factors that contributed to the students developing skills and confidence. Close engagement of leaders and the need to quickly evaluate and adapt the curriculum were important lessons, and the collaboration between external partners was considered important for promoting a harmonized approach to health needs in the Pacific.",

author = "Damian Hoy and Durand, {A. Mark} and Thane Hancock and Cash, {Haley L.} and Kate Hardie and Beverley Paterson and Yvette Paulino and Paul White and Tony Merritt and Dawn Fitzgibbons and Gopalani, {Sameer Vali} and James Flint and {Edwin A Merilles}, Onofre and Mina Kashiwabara and Viema Biaukula and Christelle Lepers and Yvan Souares and Eric Nilles and Anaseini Batikawai and Sevil Huseynova and Mahomed Patel and Saketa, {Salanieta T.} and David Durrheim and Alden Henderson and Adam Roth",

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doi = "10.5365/wpsar.2016.7.4.005",

language = "English",

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Hoy, D, Durand, AM, Hancock, T, Cash, HL, Hardie, K, Paterson, B, Paulino, Y, White, P, Merritt, T, Fitzgibbons, D, Gopalani, SV, Flint, J, Edwin A Merilles, O, Kashiwabara, M, Biaukula, V, Lepers, C, Souares, Y, Nilles, E, Batikawai, A, Huseynova, S, Patel, M, Saketa, ST, Durrheim, D, Henderson, A & Roth, A 2017, 'Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme', Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 21-26. https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2016.7.4.005

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme

AU - Hoy, Damian

AU - Durand, A. Mark

AU - Hancock, Thane

AU - Cash, Haley L.

AU - Hardie, Kate

AU - Paterson, Beverley

AU - Paulino, Yvette

AU - White, Paul

AU - Merritt, Tony

AU - Fitzgibbons, Dawn

AU - Gopalani, Sameer Vali

AU - Flint, James

AU - Edwin A Merilles, Onofre

AU - Kashiwabara, Mina

AU - Biaukula, Viema

AU - Lepers, Christelle

AU - Souares, Yvan

AU - Nilles, Eric

AU - Batikawai, Anaseini

AU - Huseynova, Sevil

AU - Patel, Mahomed

AU - Saketa, Salanieta T.

AU - Durrheim, David

AU - Henderson, Alden

AU - Roth, Adam

PY - 2017/7/1

Y1 - 2017/7/1

N2 - PROBLEM: The Pacific region has widely dispersed populations, limited financial and human resources and a high burden of disease. There is an urgent need to improve the availability, reliability and timeliness of useable health data.CONTEXT: The purpose of this paper is to share lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme that was designed to respond to these Pacific health challenges. The pilot programme built on and further developed an existing field epidemiology training programme for Pacific health staff.ACTION: The programme was delivered in country by epidemiologists working for Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network partners. The programme consisted of five courses: four one-week classroom-based courses and one field epidemiology project. Sessions were structured so that theoretical understanding was achieved through interaction and reinforced through practical hands-on group activities, case studies and other interactive practical learning methods.OUTCOME: As of September 2016, 258 students had commenced the programme. Twenty-six course workshops were delivered and one cohort of students had completed the full five-course programme. The programme proved popular and gained a high level of student engagement.DISCUSSION: Face-to-face delivery, a low student-to-facilitator ratio, substantial group work and practical exercises were identified as key factors that contributed to the students developing skills and confidence. Close engagement of leaders and the need to quickly evaluate and adapt the curriculum were important lessons, and the collaboration between external partners was considered important for promoting a harmonized approach to health needs in the Pacific.

AB - PROBLEM: The Pacific region has widely dispersed populations, limited financial and human resources and a high burden of disease. There is an urgent need to improve the availability, reliability and timeliness of useable health data.CONTEXT: The purpose of this paper is to share lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme that was designed to respond to these Pacific health challenges. The pilot programme built on and further developed an existing field epidemiology training programme for Pacific health staff.ACTION: The programme was delivered in country by epidemiologists working for Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network partners. The programme consisted of five courses: four one-week classroom-based courses and one field epidemiology project. Sessions were structured so that theoretical understanding was achieved through interaction and reinforced through practical hands-on group activities, case studies and other interactive practical learning methods.OUTCOME: As of September 2016, 258 students had commenced the programme. Twenty-six course workshops were delivered and one cohort of students had completed the full five-course programme. The programme proved popular and gained a high level of student engagement.DISCUSSION: Face-to-face delivery, a low student-to-facilitator ratio, substantial group work and practical exercises were identified as key factors that contributed to the students developing skills and confidence. Close engagement of leaders and the need to quickly evaluate and adapt the curriculum were important lessons, and the collaboration between external partners was considered important for promoting a harmonized approach to health needs in the Pacific.

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DO - 10.5365/wpsar.2016.7.4.005

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SN - 2094-7321

VL - 8

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JO - Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR

JF - Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR

IS - 3

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Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme

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