Course Outline:
Students should learn about:
• variations of health and disease pattern between and within countries
• economic, social, cultural and environmental determinants of the health of a population
• variations of fertility as well as population growth and composition in different countries
• variations of access, type and quality of health services between and within countries
• objectives and activities of the main international health organisations
Expected knowledge gained
• awareness of how fellow human beings live and die around the world
• understanding of major measurements of the health of populations and its determinants
• skills in accessing, compiling and presenting the health situation of any country
• ability to interpret the reasons for health changes and variations of the world and its nations
• an evidence based world view
Entry Requirements:
The course is open to students at Karolinska Institutet in the Medical programme, Midwifery programme, Nursing programme, Dental programme, Biomedical laboratory programme, Physiotherapy programme, Occupational therapy programme, Biomedical programme.
Course Modules:
The first block at KI reviews the rapidly growing amount of facts about global health. The second block abroad provides an experience-based understanding of human livelihoods, health and medical services in middle and low-income countries. The mix of learning basic facts at KI and the personal experience of a different reality abroad provides strong impetus for changing from old and preconceived notions about the world to an evidence based world view.
1. Global Health theoretical part (3 credit points)
The first block of the course will be conducted at KI. The lectures cover:
• measurements of health and health determinants
• demographic indicators and basic concepts of population growth
• economic theories on development and review of world economic trends
• review of the main determinants of health
• priorities for prevention and treatment of the most important diseases in children and adults globally
• reproductive and sexual health variations in the world
• health- and drug-policy as well as organisation and financing of health services in different countries
• the work of international health and humanitarian relief organisations
The students will during seminars and group assignments learn how to collect, compile and present data on the health status of a country. They will also learn how to make a brief organisational analysis of an international health organisation.
2. Global Health practical part (2 credit points)
The second block of the course is conducted at a medical university in a low or middle income country. The staff of these universities and the staff of the involved peripheral health institutions are responsible for the teaching. Participating teachers from KI facilitate the learning process. The teaching comprises:
• lectures on national development of health services and change of health status
• learning opportunities about variation of human livelihoods through home visits to families under guidance of the local primary health care staff.
• visits to community services like primary schools and traditional medicine practitioners
• observation of maternal and child health services
• bed-side teaching regarding the disease panorama with a focus on the diagnostic and curative options in different health facilities
• study visits to various public and private health facilities, including primary health care, district hospitals and university hospitals
• interviews with patients about their health seeking behaviour as well as their costs for the health care received
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures by teachers with extensive international experience. Group studies of global health statistics and development of selected using multi-media and interviews. Group studies of international organisations through available documentation, visits.
Compulsory items
All teaching is compulsory. Absence is compensated by special assignments.
Examination
At the end of the first block there is a written examination on basic facts of global health variations. In addition, there is one oral examination on the students' analysis of the health of nations. During the second block there is one oral examination based on a case study of the health of a family that the students have interviewed during a home-visit. A second oral examination concerns the health care seeking behaviour of a patient interviewed in the university hospital.
Other comments
The course is conducted in English. Attendance of all lectures, seminars and study visits is mandatory.
URL:
www.phs.ki.se/globalhealth/index2.htm
Contact:
Ann Sophi Eriksson, Course Administrator
+46 (0) 8 5177 6541
ann.sophi.eriksson@phs.ki.se
Hans Rosling MD, Professor, Course Leader
+46 (0) 8 5177 6498
hans.rosling@phs.ki.se
Asli Kulane MD, Course Co-ordinator
+46 (0) 8 5177 6489
Asli.Kulane@phs.ki.se
