Seven years of the field epidemiology training programme (FETP) at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: an internal evaluation
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RESEARCH
Open Access
Seven years of the field epidemiology training programme (FETP) at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: an internal evaluation The NIE FETP team (by alphabetical order) Tarun Bhatnagar1, Mohan D Gupte1, Yvan J Hutin1,2, Prabhdeep Kaur1, Vasanthapuram Kumaraswami1, Ponnaiah Manickam1, Manoj Murhekar1*, Vidya Ramachandran1 and Ramachandran Ramakrishnan1
Abstract Background: During 2001–2007, the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India admitted 80 trainees in its two-year Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP). We evaluated the first seven years of the programme to identify strengths and weaknesses. Methods: We identified core components of the programme and broke them down into input, process, output and outcome. We developed critical indicators to reflect the logic model. We reviewed documents including fieldwork reports, abstracts listed in proceedings and papers published in Medline-indexed journals. We conducted an anonymous online survey of the graduates to collect information on self-perceived competencies, learning activities, field assignments, supervision, curriculum, relevance to career goals, strengths and weaknesses. Results: Of the 80 students recruited during 2001–2007, 69 (86%) acquired seven core competencies (epidemiology, surveillance, outbreaks, research, human subjects protection, communication and management) and graduated through completion of at least six field assignments. The faculty-to-student ratio ranged between 0.4 and 0.12 (expected: 0.25). The curriculum was continuously adapted with all resources available on-line. Fieldwork led to the production of 158 scientific communications presented at international meetings and to 29 manuscripts accepted in indexed, peer-reviewed journals. The online survey showed that while most graduates acquired competencies, unmet needs persisted in laboratory sciences, data analysis tools and faculty-to-student ratio. Conclusions: NIE adapted the international FETP model to India. However, further efforts are required to scale up the programme and to develop career tracks for field epidemiologists in the country.
Introduction In 1951, the United States of America Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) launched the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) to recruit young professionals and train them in outbreak investigations and applied epidemiology [1]. Fifty years later, the programme had become a reference [2,3]. Later on, similar programmes started around the world under the name Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETP) and Public Health Schools without Walls (PHSWW) * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Chennai, TN 600077, India Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
[4,5]. FETPs retained the key elements of EIS in terms of learning-through-service during a two-year fellowship but also adapted themselves to fit into the national environments. International FETPs are now net
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