Self-study Course. Risk Communication: building capacity under the IHR General Overview 1 Contents: 1. Introduction 2 2. Participant profile 2 3. IT requirements 2 4. Course purpose 3 5. General objective 3 6. Learning objectives 3 7. Course content 4 8. Methodology 5 9. Structure of the course 5 10. Timeframe for the course 5 11. Testing and certification 5
1. Introduction. This online self-study course is free and open to anyone interested in risk for public health, especially professionals whose work involves participating in responses to public health emergencies. Under the IHR mandate, the countries of the Americas recognized the need to strengthen their risk capacity in preparation for a potential public health emergency or outbreak. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the countries developed this course to improve health emergency response efforts. Offered through the Virtual Campus of Public Health (VCPH) platform, this online course uses clear language, practical exercises and case studies incorporating lessons learned during outbreak responses to several public health emergencies. Since it is self-paced, participants have time to become familiar with basic risk concepts, principles and rules. Step-by-step, the course provides the foundation needed for planning a risk strategy to respond to any public health emergency. The only prerequisite for the course is enrollment in the VPHC and having a computer that meets the system requirements laid out below and Internet access. At the end of the course, participants receive a certificate from the Virtual Campus of Public Health of the PAHO/WHO. 2 2. Participant profile: The course is open to anyone interested in risk for public health. It was designed especially for and risk management professionals, particularly those whose work involves planning and/or participating in decision-making or activities related to public health emergency response efforts. 3. IT requirements: Participants will need a computer with the following mínimum specifications to complete the course: Minimum hardware requirements: PC with Internet access. Navigation and downloading quality and speed will depend on the connection bandwidth. At least 256 Mb of RAM. At least 1 GB free hard drive memory. Minimum processing speed: Pentium 500 MHz o higher
Minimum software requirements: Internet Explorer 9, Mozilla Firefox 3 or compatible browser with JavaScript and Adobe Flash Player. Monitor Resolution at least 1024x768 pixels (w x h). PDF document reader. 4. Purpose of the course: To strengthen capacity in the countries of the region to develop risk strategies for public health as part of the national risk management plans. 5. General objective: Within the capacity-building framework for implementation of the International Health Regulations, this self-paced course will help the English- and Spanish-speaking participants to acquire knowledge and skills for developing risk strategies for public health. 6. Learning objectives: Upon finishing the course, participants should be able to: Design risk strategies using a risk map to analyze the local context and systematically incorporating lessons learned. Understand the importance of risk perceptions and other relevant risk concepts and incorporate these in the design of effective strategies and in adjustments according to the local context. Identify monitoring and evaluation activities appropriate for the interventions and processes in the risk strategy. Understand the important steps for communicating effectively with the internal and external target audiences, including partners, stakeholders, the media, online social networks, health personnel and the public. 3 7. This self-study course is comprised of four modules that provide information needed to design a risk strategy that institutions can use to respond to a public health crisis or emergency situation that arises in any community, town, or country. As part of the learning activities, the participant will follow a scenario of an outbreak that evolves over the course of the four modules. This scenario will help participants become familiar with basic risk concepts and will challenge them to use these concepts to make decisions in simulation exercises.
In addition, the course will present case studies, information on various topics and issues, assigned and recommended readings, as well as other learning resources, to help participants reflect on and analyze the competencies learned in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. Module 1. Transparency and early announcement of a potential risk Module 2. Coordinating with the public Module 3. Effective with the public and surveillance Module 4. Developing risk capacity and a risk strategy Objectives and content by module: Objective: Understand the basic factors used to decide which information to make public and which to withhold during a public health emergency. International Health Regulations (IHR) Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN) Early announcement and transparency during public health events. Objectives: Assess the importance of integrating risk into the national risk management strategy planning and response processes. Understand the theoretical and conceptual foundations of risk perceptions in the context of a public health emergency. Understand how to strengthen internal and inter-agency coordination during a response to a public health emergency. Trust Risk perception Internal and inter-agency coordination Objectives: Understand the basics of effective with the public and the news media during public health emergencies. Understand why active listening is essential for communicating effectively with the public and responding appropriately to public perceptions, concerns and complaints. Identify optimal tools for effective with the public and the news media. Communication surveillance Effective with the public and the news media. Objective: Integrate risk into the process of planning and responding to public health emergencies. The risk team The phases of the risk strategy Incorporating lessons learned and best practices. 4
8. Methodology: In this self-study course, the participant can learn at his/her own pace. All course materials are available online and are accessible upon demand. There are no time limits or deadlines for completion. Although links to supplemental resources are provided, there are no professors or facilitators. The course provides a variety of resources and learning activities aimed at promoting an in-depth understanding of the content and enabling participants to make appropriate decisions in a simulated crisis situation. Participants will be required to earn a passing score in the simulation exercise as well as on the final exam for each module before continuing onto the subsequent module. 9. Course outline In each of the four modules, participants will encounter the following learning activities and materials: 1. A real or simulated scenario 2. Readings and information to familiarize them with basic concepts and terms related to risk for public health. 3. In-depth information on the topics emphasized in each module, including recommended and assigned readings and case studies. 4. Verification of the self-study process through a simulation exercise and a final exam on the concepts covered in each module. 5 10. Estimated time requirement: Each module should take about 10 hours to complete. The estimated time requirement to finish the entire course is approximately 40 hours. It is recommended that participants devote at least 7 hours per week to the course. 11. Evaluation and certification: Each module has a final exam to help participants evaluate their own progress. Participants must obtain a score of at least 70 points on the exam prior to moving onto the next module. Throughout the course, participants can check their progress on the simulation exercises and exams in each module by going to the "Progress" section. After passing the exams at the end of all four modules with scores of 70 points or higher, participants will receive an online certificate from the PAHO/WHO Virtual Campus of Public Health.