Course title: Issues in the Health of Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families

Transcription

1 Course title: Issues in the Health of Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families Weight: 1 credit Course description: This webinar is an introduction to military and Veteran health research. The course will provide a foundation for health-related issues associated with experiences unique to military populations. It will address health impacts during active service as well as the health of Veterans and their families. Specialists from across the country will contextualize these unique experiences associated with military employment, current and down-stream health, and will introduce theoretical considerations and methodological approaches in conducting applied health research among military populations. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the physical and mental health needs of current military personnel, Veterans and their families. Through empirical and clinical case studies, students will be expected to identify those needs and apply their new knowledge and understanding of military and Veterans health to the issues presented. PREREQUISITE: none EXCLUSION: none 2. Calendar description: Issues in the Health of Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families Students will be exposed to health issues associated with military experiences including Veterans and their families. As a weekly webinar, the course will include presentations from subject matter experts throughout Canada who will contextualize military mental and physical health needs and introduce theoretical and methodological approaches to conducting applied health research among this unique population. Three hour blocks; weekly for 12 weeks, fall; annual. 3. Expanded Course Description: Elective Course: EPID 833, Queen s University / MPA 583, Royal Military College of Canada a. Course Format The Webinar course will be offered via video camera (Video Teleconference VTC) across the country and will consist of twelve 3-hour lectures. Students can connect to the video or phone from anywhere in Canada via a web-link on the Moodle website ( Students on-campus (at RMCC or Queen s University) are encouraged to attend lectures in-person at RMCC, Currie Hall Room 200.

2 Twelve (12) subject matter experts from across Canada will introduce health related research and lead discussions relating to topics from the following, each covering mental and/or physical health: i) Military and Veteran Needs ii) Mental Health of Military and Veterans iii) Physical Health of Military and Veterans iv) Military and Veteran healthcare system in Canada v) Rehabilitation of Military and Veterans following injury vi) Ethical Issues when conducting health research in military and veteran populations vii) Methods to conducting health research in military and veteran populations b. Course Objectives Upon completion of the course, students will have been introduced to and have a fundamental understanding of: The military as a system, including its administration and policies; Military culture and deployments; Health of military populations in the CF, including Veterans and families, health outcomes of both military and non-military populations; Current health and research needs for military populations; Theories and methods behind conducting health research in military populations. c. Required Texts & Readings a) Shaping the Future: Military and Veteran Health Research, available online: b) Mandatory readings used for each weekly lecture are referenced here in Moodle: d. Evaluation (1) Webinar attendance and participation [25%] a) Students will be responsible for participating in weekly discussion groups where they will respond to one question each week, provided by the professor who is lecturing that week, and they will be responsible for responding to one of their classmate s posts. Discussion questions will be made available after the lectures on Tuesday and students will have until Friday at 6pm to participate in the discussion group (max. 100 words per posts). [25%] (2) Major Papers [75%] a) Mid-Term Paper: Students will be asked to write a paper on one of the topics covered during the first half of the semester (military or veteran needs/ mental health). [30%] b) End-Term Paper: Students will be asked to write a paper on one of the topics covered during the second half of the semester [45%]

3 Evaluation Submission date Value Mid-Term Paper End-Term Paper Participation in discussion group Due before class on week 6, 1000 words or approximately 5 pages. The topic will be chosen from the material presented during the first 6 weeks Due December 17 th at 5pm, 1800 words or approximately 7 pages. The topic will be chosen from the material presented during the last 6 weeks Students will be responsible for participating in weekly discussion groups where they will respond to one question each week, provided by the professor who is lecturing that week, and they will be responsible for responding to one of their classmate s posts (max.100 words/response). 30 % 45 % 25 % Total 100 % Evaluation criteria for the mid-term and end-term papers: Criteria Description Value Content and understanding of the question Structure of paper Written expression Pertinence of ideas related to the chosen subject, conviction, complex analysis, coherence, usage of academic references. Original title, clear and well-structured presentation of ideas (intro, body, conclusion), good continuity, bibliography. 70 % 20 % Clarity, orthography, grammar 10 % Total 100 % e. Academic Misconduct: According to the regulations set in place by the Royal Military College of Canada, where the webinar is physically hosted, academic misconduct is defined as cheating, plagiarism or other violations of academic ethics. Students must read through and fully understand the definition and academic consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct while a student at RMCC by reading the following document: Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Students found guilty of plagiarism will be given a mark of zero (0) on the paper and may be asked to withdraw from the course with academic

4 penalty. 4. Impact (if any) on other programs This course is not expected to overlap with other classes offered by the Masters in Community Health and Epidemiology at Queen s University or the Masters in Public Administration at Royal Military College of Canada. This course will augment student knowledge and understanding of the unique experiences associated with employment in the military and how this translates into different health outcomes as compared to civilian populations. This course will enhance the students understanding of why military populations have different quality of life indicators and rates of morbidity and mortality. 5. Schedule: This is an annual course that is offered one semester per year as a 3-hour weekly webinar. This webinar is presented via video teleconference at the Royal Military College of Canada and available over the internet at the following site: 6. Lecture Series Date of Webinar Week Theme Lecture Title Lecturer THE NEEDS OF MILITARY, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES 10-Sep 1 Military Needs/Veterans Needs 17-Sep 2 The Canadian Healthcare System and How it Impacts Military Personnel and Veterans Military Health System: Structure and Gaps Part 1: An assessment of Health needs among service members Military Health System: Structure and Gaps Part 2: An assessment of Health needs among Veterans TBD Dr. Stéphanie Bélanger, Assistant Professor, Royal Military College of Canada, Associate Director, CIMVHR & Dr. Alice Aiken, Associate Professor, Queen s University, Director, CIMVHR. Dr. Brenda Gamble, Assistant Professor Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ontario Institute of Technology 24-Sep 3 Mental Health and Resilience in Military Populations Canadian Forces Mental Health - A Unique Population LCol S.M. Bailey, SSO Social Work & MH Trg

5 THE HEALTH OF VETERANS, SERVING MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES 01-Oct 4 Family Needs Military Family Research: Challenges Facing Military Families 08-Oct 5 Physical Health Battle Field Care: testing a unique population (TBC) Battlefield Care: Testing a Unique Population Dr. Sanela Dursun Director Research Personnel and Family Support, DGMPRA & Dr. Alla Skomorovsky, Defence Scientist, DGMPRA, DRDC Lt.-Col. Markus Besemann 15-Oct 6 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - tackling the research challenges. Dr. Jacqueline Hebert, Associate Research Chair in Clinical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine; Associate Professor, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta HEALTH RISKS IN HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS 22-Oct 7 Physical Health - Radiological Exposure The impact of radiation exposure on human health, and in particular the hazards of radiation to military personnel and civilians in conflict zones Dr. William Mackillop, Professor, Department of Oncology and Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen`s University 29-Oct 8 Physical Health- Environmental Health Risks Factors influencing the health effects of industrial chemical contaminants to which military personnel might be exposed during deployments Dr. Ken Reimer, Director, Environmental Sciences Group Royal Military College of Canada & Dr. Iris Koch, Adjunct Professor, Royal Military College of Canada

6 05-Nov 9 Mental Health Culture Military Culture and Operational Stress Injuries Dr. Allan English Adjunct Professor, History Queen s University THE COST OF WAR: REHABILITATION AND HEALING 12-Nov 10 Assessing Health of Veterans 19-Nov 11 The Experience of Contemporary Peacekeepers Healing from Trauma Profile of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans in Transition to Civilian Life Sub-titles: 1. Health, Disability and Determinants of Health 2.Income and Employment The Experience of Contemporary Peacekeepers Healing from Trauma 1. By Dr. Jim Thompson MD, Medical Advisor, Research Directorate, Veterans Affairs Canada; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University. 2. By Mary Beth MacLean MA (economics), Health Economist, Research Directorate, Veterans Affairs Canada. Dr. Susan Ray, Associate Professor, Health Sciences University of Western Ontario NO CLASS THIS WEEK 4 th Annual Military and Veteran Health Research Forum Edmonton, Alberta November 25 th 27 th 03-Dec 12 REHAB transitioning from military to civilian life TBD Dr. Tim Black Associate Professor - Department of Educational Psychology, and Leadership Studies, University of Victoria & Dr. Daniel Cox Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology, University of British Columbia 7. Staffing

7 The course will be coordinated by Dr. Stéphanie Bélanger (RMCC and Queen s adjunct), Dr. Alice Aiken (Queen s Rehabilitation and RMCC adjunct), Lauren Hanlon (TA and Communications CIMVHR). Individual sessions will be conducted by faculty from Canadian universities affiliated with the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) and by health experts affiliated with Veterans Affairs Canada; Canadian Forces Health Services Group; and the Director General of Military Personnel Research and Analysis. 8. Resources The Webinar will be offered nationwide via video teleconference. Students may attend virtually (by accessing Moodle) from anywhere in Canada. However, it is recommended that students belonging to the Royal Military College of Canada attend the on-campus site in Currie Building, room Enrolment Enrolment can be done through RMCC (MPA 583) and Queen s University (EPID 833) as well as at all universities affiliated with CIMVHR across Canada. For members outside the Queen s/rmc community, please contact your Registrar s office. 10. Points of contact Associate Professor Stéphanie Bélanger, PhD, Stephanie.belanger@rmc.ca; , ext Lauren Hanlon, lauren.hanlon@queensu.ca;