Cairo University
Faculty of Medicine
Program Specification for Master Degree in
Public Health and Community Medicine
Program type: singleProgram code: COMM 800
Department offering the program: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine Total credit points: 155
Academic year: 2010/2011
Program Coordinators: Prof. Dr. Mona Soliman Prof Dr. Hanan El Raghi Prof Dr. Mona El Lawindi Prof Dr. Ibrahim Hegazy External evaluators:
I. Program aims
1. Prepare future leaders in the field of public health by providing the highest quality education and practice opportunities in theories, approaches, methods, and other substantive issues pertinent to public health.
2. Create and nurture an environment conducive to interdisciplinary public health initiatives, with special emphasis on vulnerable populations who suffer disproportionately from illness and disability.
3. Pursue innovative and rigorous research on critical public health issues to prevent disease and injury, promote well-being, and foster overall physical and mental health.
4. Stimulate collaboration with the community to develop effective partnerships in combating the health challenges in our communities, city, state, and region.
5. Inform public policy, disseminate health information, and increase awareness of public health concerns through disease surveillance, needs assessment, and program evaluation.
II. Intended learning outcomes of the program (ILOs)
1. Knowledge and understanding: By the end of the program the candidate should be able to:
a - Demonstrate a knowledge base in the disciplines of biostatistics, chronic and infectious disease epidemiology, health systems, public policy, social and behavioral sciences and environmental health. b - Describe the interrelationships among a multitude of factors which can impact on a public health problem,
c- Demonstrate knowledge of ethical standards and professional values as they relate to the practice of public health, and sensitivity to the social context within which public health professionals practice.
2. Intellectual skills: By the end of the program the candidate should be able to:
a- Apply basic research skills to specific public health problems in both group and individual settings including the ability to define problems; construct, articulate, and test hypotheses; draw conclusions; and
communicate findings to a variety of audiences
b- Demonstrate the ability to use public health skills in the context of actual public health problems experienced in the community or work environment, through application of concepts, principles, and methodologies obtained through formal course work
c- Evaluate programs, interventions, and outcomes which relate to public health practice critically.
3. Professional and practical skills: By the end of the program the candidates should be able to;
a- Apply epidemiologic skills in a public health setting, specifically in the formulation or application of public health programs or policies
b- Design an epidemiologic study for an investigation of an epidemic /outbreak as part of a health team and to address a question of interest
c- Conduct, document and analyze a comprehensive situation analysis taking into consideration the multiple factors involved in health, nutrition and disease and adequately respond to these factors in favor of the client, patient & community
d- Use data and statistical methods for problem identification and resolution appropriately.
e- Participate in health promotion, disease prevention and national health care programs applying MOHP standards and protocols for different settings, different age groups particularly of the vulnerable groups. f- Apply management functions in problem identification, prioritization, planning, implementation and
evaluation of health care services
g- Apply appropriate health education and communication strategies in different settings using behavioral change models
h- Communicate effectively with clients, colleagues from other disciplines i- Deal appropriately with specific health problems
j - Detect early signs for disease occurrence and manage appropriately
4-General and transferable skills: By the end of the program the candidates should be able to;
a- Appreciate the utilization of data in medical and social research.
b- Acknowledge the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and group for disease prevention, national health care programs and in conducting public health surveillance to address specific public health problems and issues.
c- Appreciate the role of cultural, social, and behavioral factors in determining disease and its prevention, health promoting behavior, and medical service organization and delivery.,
d- Interact and communicate sensitively, effectively, and professionally and demonstrate respect for persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, and professional backgrounds, and with persons of all ages and lifestyle preferences.
III. Academic standards
External references for standards:
Council for Education of Public Health (CEPH) and the Association of Schools of Public Health:
IV. Program structure and contents
Program admission requirements
According to the bylaws of the Faculty of Medicine Cairo University applicants should have M.B.B.Ch or equivalent degree. According to Cairo University requirements, all applicants for postgraduate studies should fulfill preliminary courses on the following subjects; Medical statistics I – English language (TOEFL or
equivalent degree) – Computer skills (ICDL). Admission to the program is open during July.
Program duration: Three years.
Program structure: Total Credit points: 155 credit points
· First part: 1.5 years - (table 1) 55 credit points
Candidates should fulfill the following:
Compulsory courses: one academic year (30 weeks Starts October) 10 credit points
· Environment 4 credit points
· Basic nutrition 2 credit points
· Bacteriology 1.5 credit points
· Parasitology 1.5 credit points
· Psychology(Behavioral and Social Sciences) 1 credit point
Elective courses 1 credit point
Scientific activities 2 credit points Practical Training Program: 42 credit points
· Second part: 1.5 years - (table 2) 80 credit points
Candidates should fulfill the following:
Compulsory courses: One academic year (30 weeks) 16 credit points Scientific activities 4 credit points Practical training program 60 credit points Master Thesis: completed during second part 20 credit points.
Table 1: First part
Courses Course modules Credit
points
total ILOs
Compulsory courses (One academic year)
Environment · Nature of environmental pollutants. · Exposure situation. · Media of transmission · Miscellaneous 4 1a, 2b,3e Basic Nutrition · Definition and concepts · Macro-and micro-nutrients · Diet planning · Food safety 2 1a,,2b,3e Bacteriology · Immune system& immunity · Systemic microbiology · Systemic virology · Infection control 1.5 1a,2b,3e Parasitology · Helminthic infections · Protozoal infections · Medically important insects 1.5 1a,2b,3e Behavioral and Social Sciences · Intelligence &personality · Developmental psychology 1 1b,1c,2b,3g 3h Elective Courses Candidate chooses 2 courses
-o Medical ethics o Health economics o Mental health 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 1c,4a,4d 1a,2c,3f 1a,1b,3e,3g 4c,4d
Table 2: Part 2
Item Credit
points
ILOs.
· Epidemiologic Methods ,Biostatistics and Demography
· Epidemiology of Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases
· Health Management , Health Services and Applied Nutrition 5 6 5 1a,2a,4a 1a,2a,2b,4b, 1b,1c,2b,2c, 4c,4d Scientific activities 4 Master thesis 20
Practical Training Program (phase 2) 60 3a,b,c,d,e,h,g
,h,I,j
Practical Training Program
· Phase one:
According the new By-laws (July 2009) for post graduate programs, all the students should have a basic 42 credit points practical training in a health district of MOHP.
· Phase two:
All students should complete 60 credit points practical training
Master Thesis
All master-degree students should prepare a thesis in Public Health and Community Medicine. The department and the ethical committees must approve the protocol of the research. The thesis (should include a review part and a research part. The thesis is supervised by one or more senior staff members and may include other specialties according to the nature of the research. The thesis should be evaluated and approved by a committee of three professors including one of the supervisors and an external professor.
Scientific Activities:
The students should participate in the scientific activities of the departments such as:
o Breast feeding 0.5 1a,3e,3h,3I
4c,4d Scientific activities
2 Practical Training Program (phase one)
42 3d,3e, 3h,4a,b,c,d
· Seminars (including recent topics and controversial issues) once weekly. Students are expected to participate in the discussions.
· Scientific meetings arranged by the department · Attendance of Thesis discussions
· Others
Each activity will be monitored and given credit points registered in a Resident logbook. The student should collect the required points before being allowed to sit for final exam
V.
Regulations for progression and program completion
After finishing the first part of practical training, attending the specified courses and collecting the required credit points, the student should pass the first part examination including the basic sciences before proceeding to the second part. After passing the first part, the student submits a protocol for Master Thesis at the beginning of second part. Before submitting to the final exam, he/she should finish the thesis and get approval, complete phase 2 of practical training program, and collect the required credit points. The candidate will receive his degree after passing this final examination. Master degree should be obtained within a maximum of 6 years after registration date.
VI. Assessment
According to the bylaws, professors carry continuous assessment during the program. A training program logbook will be kept for each student to document all his/her activities as well as his/her participation in different scientific activities. The head of the department should allow the students to undergo the final examination when they complete their training program and collect the credit points needed.
Final Exam Part 1 (Table 1)
· Environment: Three-hour written exam (including short and long essay and multiple choice questions) + Oral exam+ Practical exam
· Basic nutrition: Three-hour written exam (including short and long essay and multiple choice questions & case studies) + Oral exam+ Practical exam
· Bacteriology and Parasitology: Two-hours Written exam(two papers) (including short essay and multiple choice questions) + Oral exam+ Practical exam
· Social and behavioral sciences: One-hour written exam Final Exam Part 2 (Table 1)
Three written exams (Three-hours each) including short and long essay questions, and MCQ (including problem solving) + Oral exam + Clinical exam
Written exam will be held on three days:
Day one: Biostatistics, Epidemiologic Studies and Demography
Day two: Epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases and health management Day three: Health services and applied nutrition
It is mandatory to pass each paper of the exam separately This will be followed by the clinical and oral exams on separate days
Marks allocated to courses (each credit point 50 marks)
Part 1
Subject Duration of
written Exam Written Oral Clinical Total
Environment 3 100 50 50 200 Basic Nutrition 3 50 25 25 100 Bacteriology + Parasitology 2 50 + 50 15 + 15 10 + 10 150 Behavioral and Social
Sciences 1 50 50 Part 2 A- Epidemiologic Methods,Biostatistics and Demography
3
130
80
55
Epidemiology of Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases3
130
80
55
Health Management , Health Services and Applied
Nutrition
3
130
80
60
800
Remarks
· It is mandatory to pass each paper of the exam separately · Passing mark in a written exam is ≥ 60%
VII. Evaluation of the program
Date of approval by department council
Signatures
Program Coordinator Head of DepartmentDr.Hanan El Raghi Dr. Mona Soliman Dr.Mona El Lawindi
