Program Specification for Master Degree Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Transcription

1 Cairo University Faculty of Medicine Program Specification for Master Degree Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program type: Single Program code: OEM 800 Department offering the program: Occupational and Environmental Medicine Total credit points: 150 Academic year: 2009/2010 Program Coordinator: Assistant coordinators: External Evaluator: I. Aim of Program Prof. Inas Mohamed Fawzy Gaballah Prof. Sahar Aly Farahat Assist. Prof. Sawsan Farouk Helal Assist. Prof. Neveen Abdel-Maksoud Mansour Dr. Bahiga Hafez Prof. of Industrial Medicine & Occupational Health Community and Industrial Medicine Department Faculty of Medicine Alexandria University The program aims at ensuring the acquisition of the basic knowledge in occupational and environmental exposures and related toxicities with appropriate background covering emerging diseases and common disasters and the possible ways of risk management. The program enables occupational physicians to provide specialized health care for exposed individuals independent of age or gender by facilitating the development and application of appropriate professional attitudes, communication and problem-solving skills. It also ensures the gaining of professional skills needed for research development in the field and for the implementation of environmental control programs serving the community. II. Intended learning outcomes of program (ILOs) A. Knowledge and Understanding: By the end of the program, the candidate should be able to: 1) Describe the theories and fundamentals of normal function and behaviour of human body needed in maintaining homeostasis and needed in the metabolism of different toxins related to the field of occupational and environmental medicine. 2) Identify the effects of adverse environmental conditions and physical hazards on the health of workers and their impacts on the in-door and ambient environments.

2 3) Discuss the scientific principles in the aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and differential diagnosis of occupational and environmental conditions and infectious occupational diseases and serious accidents. 4) Define the moral and legal principles of professional practices in the area of occupational and environmental medicine. 5) Demonstrate the basics and principles of quality in the professional practices in the field of occupational and environmental medicine. 6) Determine the basics and principles of ethics in scientific research. 7) Define the principles of management for occupational diseases and organ toxicity including pharmacological basis of drugs, non-invasive interventions, basic preemployment and periodic medical care, disability evaluation and proper job-related rehabilitation. 8) Describe the role of genetics in health and disease as well as the basic principles of genotoxicity and genetic counselling. 9) Identify the principles of health promotion, disease prevention, early detection, proper control as well as disease surveillance and screening for environmental and community health problems. 10) Define principles of risk management and the appropriate quality concepts and processes required for implementation of needed control programs. 11) Describe Egyptian health systems including organization & administration of health services as well as the legislations related to occupational diseases, injuries and workmen compensation to ensure good quality of life and workers well-being. B. Intellectual Skills: By the end of the program, the candidate should be able to: 1) Analyze the information obtained from occupational history, clinical examination as well as biological and environmental monitoring data into meaningful diagnostic formulation to be used for solving problems. 2) Solve specialized problems in the field of occupational and environmental medicine in the absence of some data using evidence-based knowledge and skills of deductive reasoning. 3) Integrate different basic biochemical and physiological facts with the occupational, environmental and toxicological clinical data for solving professional problems. 4) Design occupational medicine scientific research using the right scientific methodology through the formulation of thorough occupational questions pertinent to medicine and the collection, analysis and interpretation of medical and environmental data. 5) Assess the risk of professional practices in the area of occupational and environmental medicine using work-related strategies suitable for the control of injuries from accidental exposures. 6) Design proper control programs for the health promotion of employees and for the prevention of occupational health hazards thus avoiding negative impact of occupational exposures and ensuring optimum performance at work. 7) Provide professional decisions in various professional contexts through the proper interpretation of all necessary diagnostic tools.

3 C. Professional Skills: By the end of the program, candidate should be able to: 1) Apply the basic current and recent professional skills while performing full physical examination appropriate to age and gender in acute and chronic clinical conditions related to environmental and occupational exposures as well as homicidal and suicidal intoxication. 2) Construct occupational and environmental medicine professional reports and management strategies both diagnostic and therapeutic for workers with acute and chronic organ toxicities. 3) Evaluate updating the existing epidemiologic and diagnostic methods and tools used in the area of occupational and environmental medicine. 4) Compose an initial plan of management for disability evaluation of diseased and/or injured workers, for suitable determination of job requirements, selection of workers and for the proper individualized job-related medical, vocational and nutritional management. D. General and Transferable Skills: By the end of the program, the candidate should be able to: 1) Interact effectively in all different ways with workers for the increase in awareness and the provision of health education. 2) Use the information technology to remain updated with the advances in knowledge so as to serve the professional practices. 3) Carry out self-assessment to identify the personal learning needs. 4) Manage resources effectively to obtain the knowledge and information. 5) Develop rules and indicators to monitor and evaluate performance of others at work in the field of occupational and environmental medicine. 6) Work in a team and group leading in the occupational field visits and environmental projects. 7) Manage time with efficiency. 8) Adopt the self and the continuous learning approaches. III. Academic Standards External References for Standards: a. Generic Academic Reference Standards for Post-Graduate Studies. National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation, NAQAAE, EGY. b. Department of Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

4 IV. Program Admission Requirements Potential students should hold an honor medical degree from an approved institution. No experience in occupational medicine is necessary, although to sit for exams, some relevant clinical experience is required. A written undertaking, that the following requirement can be met, is needed for foreign student. English language Students whose first language is not English require a minimum of IELTS 6.0, with a minimum of 5.0 in any one component, or TOEFL 525 paper-based or 263 computer-based with a score of 5 in the test of written English. Computer requirements Students are advised that they should have ready access to a personal computer with the following minimum specifications: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/W7; Soundcard/speakers and headphones and 24 x CD ROM drive; A 56 kbs or greater internet connection with Explorer or Netscape; A Quick-Time Player or Windows Media Player to run interactive exercises. Medical statistics Students are advised to have overview of basic scientific medical statistics (statistics I) to be able to proceed for advanced medical statistics (II) needed for research practice. V. Program Structure and Contents Program duration: Three academic years. Program structure: Total Credit points 150 First part: 1.5 years - Total credit points 52 - (Table 1) Compulsory courses (30 weeks) Basic Physiology Basic Epidemiology Basic Psychiatry Basics of Indust. dis/occ. Med./Pathology Internal Medicine Elective courses Scientific activities Residency training program Part 1 1 credit point 0.5 credit point 0.5 credit point 5 credit point 3 credit point 1 credit points 1 credit points 40 credit points Second part: 1.5 years - Total credit points 78 - (Table 2) Compulsory courses (30 weeks) Occupational and Environmental Medicine Elective courses Scientific activities Residency training program Part 2 14 credit points 1 credit points 3 credit points 60 credit points Master Thesis: completed during second part 20 credit points.

5 TABLE 1: First Part Courses Credit Points Code Title CPs Total ILOs COMPULSORY COURSES OEM.804 Basic Physiology 1 1 A 1, B 3, C 3, D 2 OEM.809 Basic Epidemiology A 9, A 10, B 5, C 3, D 2 OEM.817 Basic Psychiatry A 1, A 4, B 5, C 1, C 3, D 1 OEM.821.IMOD Basics of Industrial diseases, Occupational Medicine and Pathology 5 5 A 1, A 2, A 3, A 9, A 10, A 11, B 5, B 6, C 1, C 4, D 1, D 2, D 4, D 5, D 8, OEM.811 Internal Medicine 3 3 A 3, B 1, B 3, C 1, D 2, D 8, ELECTIVE COURSES (MEDC) choose 2 courses MEDC 1 Critical Reading 0.5 MEDC 2 Scientific writing 0.5 MEDC 3 Evidence-Based Medicine 0.5 MEDC 4 Medical statistics II 0.5 MEDC 5 Medical ethics 0.5 MEDC 6 Communication Skills 0.5 SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES 1 A 5, A 6, D 1, D 3, D 7, 1 st Part Scientific activities 1 1 A 3, A 5, A 7, A 8, B 1, B 2, B 4, B 7, C 3, C 4, D 2, D 5, D 6, D 8, RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM (Basic training) OEM.821.C1 Residency training program A 2, A 5, A 7, A 9, B 3, B 6, C 4, D 5, D 7

6 TABLE 2: Second Part Courses Credit Points Code Title CPs Total ILOs COMPULSORY COURSES OEM.821 ELECTIVE COURSES Occupational and Environmental Medicine OEM.821.Ta. Occupational medicine OEM.821.Tb. Environmental medicine OEM.821.Tc. Toxicology A 2, A 3, A 4, A 5, A 7, A 8, B 1, B 2, B 3, B 6, C 2, C 3, C 4, D 2, D 4, D 5, D 8, OEM.821.OHC Occupational Hazards Control 1 A 1, A 4, A 9, B 6, C 1, C 2, D 2, D 3 OEM.821.FR Fitness and Rehabilitation 1 1 A 6, B 5, C 3, C 4, D 2, D 3, OEM.821.AEK Advanced Ergonomics/Kinesiology 1 A 6, B 5, C 3, C 4, D 2, D 3, SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES 2nd Part Scientific activities 3 3 A 3, A 5, A 7, A 8, B 1, B 2, B 4, B 7, C 3, C 4, D 2, D 5, D 6, D 8 RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM OEM.821.C2 Residency training program A 9, B 1, B 3, B 7, C 1, C 3, C 4, D 1, D 5, D 6, D 7, MASTER THESIS Master Thesis A 6, A 9, A 11, B 1, B 3, B 4, B 7, C 3, D 1, D 4, D 5, D 6, D 8, PRACTICAL TRAINING PROGRAM First phase (Basic Training) According to the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Bylaws for Post Graduate Programs (July 2009), all the candidates should have a basic clinical training in one of the internal medicine departments including some time in the intensive care unit or the toxicology centre for one academic year. During this period, the candidates should attend the compulsory courses and should complete the elective courses. Second phase (Specialized Training) All candidates should complete the specialized practical training program in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Department for duration of two academic years to acquire the needed credit points. During this period the candidates should attend clinical rounds and share in the scientific activities. NB: The details of the training program are provided in separate document. The third phase of residency training (advanced training) is part of the MD degree

7 OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVRIONMENTAL MEDICINE MASTER DEGREE PROGRAM MATRIX Courses A Knowledge and Understanding B Intellectual Skills C Professional Skills D General and Transferable Skills Code Name OEM.804 Physiology x x x x OEM.809 Epidemiology x x x x x OEM.817 Psychiatry x x x x x x OEM.821.IMOD Ind/Occ/Path x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x OEM.811 Medicine x x x x x x OEM.821 Occ/Env Med. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x MEDC.01 Critical Read. x x x x x MEDC.02 Scient. Writing x x x x x MEDC.03 EBM x x x x x MEDC.04 Statistics II x x x x x MEDC.05 Medical ethics x x x x x MEDC.06 Communicat. x x x x x OEM.821.OHC Occ. Haz. Con x x x x x x x x OEM.821.FR Fitness/Rehab x x x x x x OEM.821.AEK Ergon/Kinesiol x x x x x x 1 st Part Sci. Activities x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 2 nd Part Sci. Activities x x x x x x x x x x x x x x OEM.821.C1 Clin. Training x x x x x x x x x OEM.821.C2 Clin. Training x x x x x x x x x x x Master Thesis x x x x x x x x x x x x x

8 MASTER THESIS All master degree candidates should prepare a thesis in one of the following fields: occupational and environmental medicine clinical toxicology occupational hazards control and risk management fitness and rehabilitation or kinesiology and ergonomics. The department and the ethical committees must approve the protocol of the research. The master thesis is a specialized research in the field of occupational and environmental medicine that includes a review part and a research part. The thesis is supervised by one or more of the senior staff members from the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Department and may include staff members from other specialties according to the necessities of research. The research is undertaken over a period of 6 months followed by a power point presentation and then evaluation and approval by a committee of three professors comprising one of the supervising staff members together with an internal evaluator from the same department and an external evaluator from a scientific institution other than the faculty of medicine, Cairo University. SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES The students should participate in the scientific activities of the departments such as: Journal club. Seminars (including recent topics and controversial issues). Students are expected to participate in the discussions. Scientific meetings arranged by the department. Each activity is monitored and given credit points registered in a special section in the residency-training logbook. The student should collect the required points before allowed to sit for final exam. VI. Regulations for Progression and Completion After collecting the required credit points for the courses, first phase of practical training, and scientific activities, the candidate will be legible to sit for the first part examination. In case the student fails to pass the examination, he may proceed in the practical training and can resubmit for the next examination. After passing the first part, the student submits a protocol for the Master Thesis at the beginning of the second part. Before applying for the final examination, he/she should finish the thesis and obtain an approval, complete the second phase of the training program, and obtain the required credit points. The candidate will then receive the degree after passing the final examination. The Master degree must be obtained within a maximum of 6 years following the registration date. VII. Assessment A: Assessment Tools Supervision and Monitoring of Training Program According to the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Bylaws for Practical Training Programs, the staff members carry out continuous assessment during the program. A practical training program logbook will be kept for each candidate to document all the practical activities in addition to the participation in different scientific activities. The head of department provides permission for the candidates to attend the final examination upon completion of the training program and gathering of credit points needed.

9 Formal Assessment According the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Bylaws for Post Graduate Programs (July 2009). Students should be assessed at the end of first part and of the second part. 1. First Part Final Exam: Basics of Industrial diseases, Occupational Medicine and Pathology: A three-hour written exam includes long and short essay questions and multiple choice and problem solving questions as well as an oral exam. Basic Physiology, Epidemiology and Psychiatry: A two-hour 3-paper written exam includes long and short essay questions and multiple choice questions as well as oral exams. General Internal Medicine: A three-hour written exam includes long and short essay questions and multiple choice questions together with a clinical exam and an oral exam. 2. Second Part Final Exam Part 2: Occupational, Environmental Medicine and Toxicology: Two-day written exams include long and short essay questions and multiple choice and problem solving questions as well as clinical, practical and oral examinations. Elective Course: A one-hour written exam taking place as a part of the second day written exam including short essay questions and MCQs and problem solving questions. B: Assessment Schedule: 1. First Part Final Exam: The written exam will be held in April/October (three days): Day one: Industrial Diseases/Occupational Medicine/Pathology (3 hours) Day two: Physiology, Epidemiology and Psychiatry (2 hours) Day three: Internal Medicine (3 hours) This will be followed by the clinical and oral exams in separate days 2. Second Part Final Exam: The written exam will be held in May/ November (two days): Day one: Occupational and Environmental Medicine (3 hours) Day two: Clinical Toxicology (2hours) and Elective course (1hour) This will be followed by the clinical and oral exams in separate days C: Weighing Of Assessment (Marks allocated to courses): (50 marks for each credit point) Courses Marks Code Title Written Oral Clinical Total FIRST PART OEM.804 Basic Physiology OEM.809 Basic Epidemiology OEM.817 Basic Psychiatry OEM.821.IMOD Industrial dis/occupational Med/Path OEM.811 Internal Medicine Total First Part 450

10 Courses Marks Code Title Written Oral Clinical Total SECOND PART OEM.821 Occupational/Environmental Med 150 c p OEM.821.OHC Occupational Hazards Control OEM.821.FR Fitness and Rehabilitation OEM.821.AEK Ergonomics and Kinesiology Total Second Part 750 * C: clinical exam; P: practical exam Remarks - It is mandatory to pass all the papers of written exams separately. - The passing mark in any written exam is 60%. VIII. Evaluation of Program Intended Learning Outcomes Evaluator Tool Sample 1. Senior Students Questionnaire at the end of All the PG students the program 2. Alumni The faculty is currently Not yet determined developing an Alumni office for postgraduates 3. Stakeholders A meeting will be arranged during annual conference of the department Available representatives from: National medical insurance Medical syndicate 4. External Evaluators Review program and courses Attending the final exam 5. Quality Assurance Unit Annual program reviewer Ministry of health Once before implementation Bi-annual report Date of approval by department: July 2010 Program coordinator: Assistant Coordinator: Prof. Inas M.F. Gaballah Prof. Sahar A. Farahat Assist. Prof. Sawsan F. Helal Assist. Prof. Neveen A. Mansour Program Coordinator Prof Inas M.F. Gaballah Head of Department Prof Mona Sobhy Siha `