Egypt Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP)

Courses Catalog:

Duration of training :

The full-time program lasts two years during which residents work at a training site while assigned, residents participate in training workshops that don't exceed 25% of the duration of the program. a one-year condensed version including the core capacities but none of the elective workshops. The basic level course (PHEB-BFE) is a Four to Six-month program for public health officers and health inspectors to equip them with the knowledge and skills to enable them in the field of epidemiology.

Training workshops

The program starts with an introductory workshop that provides basic instruction in applied epidemiology/public health and aims to inspire strong motivation for fieldwork. In addition to the introductory workshop, residents attend training workshops covering the areas of interest.

Core workshops

1. Basics of Public Health and Epidemiology
2. Public Health Surveillance
3. Descriptive Biostatistics
4. Outbreak Investigations
5. Public Health Laboratory Basics
6. Study designs and research methodology
7. Communication & Scientific writing
8. Inferential Biostatistics
9. One Health approach
10. Risk communication and community engagement
11. Leadership and Management

Elective workshops

• GIS Mapping
• Data Analysis using R
• Epidemic Intelligence
• Time Series Analysis & Modelling Health Data
• Public Health Economics
• Non-Communicable Diseases

The content of the workshops is tailored to address the competency-based objectives of the program. Workshops are also opportunities to engage training site supervisors. Moreover, scientific days are organized monthly during which the following activities are done:

• A focal person from each preventive department at the central level present his department's function, roles and responsibilities so that the residents be well oriented to the functional structure of the preventive sector at the MoHP
• Residents meet, submit and share their quarterly reports/activities with the coordinators and site supervisors
• Listen to online modules and epidemiological classes
• Assign residents to present and discuss a selected topic

Field assignments

To acquire competencies, residents conduct a number of field assignments based on the residents' learning needs and the public health service needs of the training site. They deliver professional quality products/deliverables. The quality of the deliverables will be evaluated by the FETP Advisory committee in consultation with the FETP coordinator and field supervisor/mentor based on a detailed checklist. If the deliverables require further work, the supervisors will return the checklist and corresponding deliverable to the resident for further revision. These deliverables are:

1. Conduct surveillance projects (design, data analysis /evaluation)

The aim of the surveillance assignments are to use information from surveillance systems for action in light of the strengths and limitations of the data.

Description of the assignment

The surveillance project includes:

1. Characterizing the operation of a public health surveillance system and evaluation using updated CDC guidelines for surveillance system evaluation
2. Conducting a descriptive analysis of the data collected by a public health surveillance system to generate information for action. The surveillance summary report should include a description of the surveillance system; presentation of the data using appropriate text, tables, and graphs; interpretation of the findings and discussion of the credibility of the data

Surveillance data analysis are highly relevant to the surveillance objective. A full discussion of the limitations of the information generated through surveillance will take into account the attributes of the system and therefore may constitute the equivalent of a surveillance evaluation.

Product/deliverable
1. Write a surveillance data analysis report that includes
   • Description of the surveillance system
   • Presentation of the data using appropriate texts, tables, and graphs
   • Interpretation of the finding
   • Limitation of the data, and recommendation regarding the surveillance system
2. Write a surveillance system evaluation report based on standard evaluation criteria with recommendation that address the system weakness.
Recommended Timeframe

During first rotation in first year.

2. Investigate outbreaks

The aim of the outbreak investigation assignment is to engage in all stages of an outbreak investigation.

Description of the assignment

Residents will investigate as many outbreaks as possible using the steps of field epidemiology approach.

Upon completion of the program, residents should have investigated at least one outbreak as a primary investigator. However, an equivalent experience may have been acquired working on more than one outbreak with various levels of responsibility.

Product/deliverable

To complete the outbreak assignment, residents need to produce at least one final outbreak report.

Recommended Timeframe

First investigation during first year, second investigation later in first year or in second year.

3. Conduct a planned epidemiologic study (for the advanced and intermediate levels)

The aim of this project is to master all aspects of the life cycle of a planned epidemiologic study.

Description of the assignment

Residents will conduct a planned epidemiologic study which includes:

• Assessing information needs.
• Framing research question.
• Outlining the analysis plan.
• Preparing the data collection instrument.
• Collecting data.
• Analyzing data.
• Formulating conclusions.
• Proposing recommendations.
• Engaging stakeholders in next steps (for example, further research and public health recommendations)
Product/deliverable

To complete the project assignment, residents need to deliver products documenting their involvement in all aspects of research study:

• Study protocol
• Study manuscript

This assignment may also be done through more than one project (e.g. writing a protocol for a study that will be implemented by others or analyzing data in order to write a paper using data generated with a protocol written by others).

Criteria for Selected Research Topics

The selected topics must follow eligibility criteria provided by the Advisory committee, which is updated yearly.

1. Current Global burden
2. Evidence of risk of spread to or within Egypt
3. Follows ethical considerations
4. Provides new insights to the public health problem or a new management approach.
5. Proves no conflict of Interest
6. Follows guidance on dissemination of Information.
Requirements
• Focus of the study must be a public health topic of interest to the MoHP
• Protocol must conform to standard guidelines for a scientific research protocol
• Submitted protocol must specify question or objectives, justification, and methods (including sample size calculations, study design, data analysis plan, confidentiality measures, etc.); and must include budget, timeline, data collection instruments, and informed consent forms
• Use software to manage data
• Use analytic and laboratory methods that are appropriate for study design and sample size
• Address potential biases, confounding, and effect modification in the interpretation of results
• Final report must be in form of journal manuscript, with Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References, Tables, Graphs, and Acknowledgements
Recommended Timeframe

Prepare and submit proposal at the beginning of second year, conduct project during second year.

4. Oral and Poster presentation at scientific conference

The aim of the scientific communication assignment is to communicate effectively with other public health professionals.

Description of the assignment

Residents will communicate with the scientific community by:

• Writing an abstract to be submitted at an international conference, peer-reviewed journal or seminar.
Product/deliverable

To complete the scientific communication assignment, residents need to:

• Submit an abstract for each deliverable to be submitted in an international conference
• Prepare at least one 10-15 minutes oral presentation for a scientific conference
• Prepare, display & defend a poster presentation for a scientific conference
5. International assignments

Optional international assignments may be offered to residents who are on track with their acquisition of competencies and their field assignments. In some cases, international assignments offer opportunities for residents to acquire competencies or to conduct field assignments that would otherwise not be available at their training site.

Regulation for Accepting Abstracts
• Abstracts should be from completed studies that have been approved by the assigned mentor.
• Abstracts must be submitted one month before the event’s deadline to allow for thorough review and approvals.
• Abstracts must follow the conference or journal specific formatting and reference style.
• Abstracts must be genuine and not priorly submitted to other events.
• Abstracts should be submitted to the appropriate event based on theme and scope.