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Fellowship
Introductory Course
The training begins with a
three-week introductory course, which provides basic knowledge of intervention
epidemiology and aims to inspire strong motivation for field investigation. The
course is also open to participants who are not enrolled in the two-year
training programme, but who are on an appropriate career track. The course
teaches intervention epidemiology using case studies and interactive teaching
methods, including:
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The development and presentation of a study protocol
(defining the study question, designing the methodology, drawing the
questionnaire and presenting the protocol to the rest of the group and to
facilitators)
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The basis for developing and evaluating surveillance
systems
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Information on methods of outbreak investigation,
supported by exercises and case studies based on real investigations
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Instruction in analytical epidemiological skills for data
analysis: risk, association, impact, stratification, bias, confounding,
effect modification, matching and multi-variable analysis
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Attendance at the EPIET Scientific Seminar, which is held
at the end of the three-week course.
Throughout the course
there is a strong emphasis on written and oral communication skills.
Field Placements
Following the EPIET introductory
course, fellows are assigned for the remaining 23 months to an
associated EPIET training
site. Currently,
participating countries and organisations include the EU member states,
Switzerland and Norway. Institutes selected to host an EPIET fellow
are those with responsibilities for communicable disease surveillance,
epidemiology, and public health advice. The training site selection criteria
include an assessment of the centre's potential for the practice of intervention
epidemiology and the quality of training supervision available for fellows.
During these placements, the fellows are actively involved in field
investigations, carry out surveillance and related research activities, and get
acquainted with laboratory methods relevant to epidemiological investigations.
Typically these activities are at national or regional level, but there are
increasing opportunities to participate in international missions. As well as
presentations at scientific meetings and congresses, communication with the
public and involvement with decision-making bodies is encouraged.
Training Modules
In addition
to the three-week introductory course, four to five one-week modules deal in
depth with relevant public health issues. The content of these modules can be
regarded as complementary topics:
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Communication and management
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Public health strategy for intervention
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Monitoring and surveillance for public health action
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Biostatistics
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Research and evaluation
Supervision
Training supervision is provided in two ways.
Day-to-day supervision is the responsibility of
the supervisor at the training site and should
cover on average 4 hours per week. Pedagogical
support is also provided at a distance by the
EPIET training programme coordinators, to ensure
that all fellows have equal opportunities to
develop their knowledge base and skills. There
is close monitoring and regular appraisal of the programme at training sites, so
that the training meets the needs of individual fellows, as well as the broader
educational objectives of the programme. The activities of the programme are
regularly reviewed, to ensure that it keeps abreast of needs and developments
within the European network, and with partners further a field.
Scientific Seminar
During their field placements EPIET fellows meet twice at the annual Scientific Seminar. At these seminars, fellows have the opportunity to share
their experience of the fellowship, present the results of interventions and
research, and to evaluate their progress towards achieving the programme
objectives. These activities inform the development of the programme. EPIET
alumni and host institute personnel are invited to attend the seminars. For
prospective candidates, attendance at these seminars gives good insight into the
breadth of activities of the programme, and an understanding of some of the
work, which was undertaken during field placements.
Salaries
During the two-years fellowship the EPIET
fellows receive a salary paid either through
their sending country, through their EPIET
hosting institute, or from ECDC directly. Salary
scales are country-specific and candidates are
advised to contact sending institutes, previous
EPIET fellows and the EPIET Programme Office to
obtain additional information.
Management
The programme is co-ordinated by a Steering
Committee, which meets once each
year. This committee comprises representatives of the different participating
institutions, with a maximum of one representative per country. The Steering
Committee defines the criteria to be used for the implementation of the
programme such as learning objectives, course curricula, criteria for candidate
selection, field assignments, criteria for trainers and supervisor selection,
evaluation schemes and codes of conduct. An Executive Board deals with matters
needing an interim decision. Daily administration is centralised at the EPIET
Programme Office. |
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