Objectives:

The course gives an outline of the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis globally and current interventions to control the disease.

Content:

This is an on-line course, teaching as well as exercises and exams.

Tuberculosis history and epidemiology, clinical characteristics, microbiological aspects, diagnostic considerations, chemotherapy, treatment and follow-up strategies, drug resistance and its impact on global tuberculosis burden, the preventive strategies, the impact of HIV on tuberculosis, the global tuberculosis control strategies, socioeconomic impact of tuberculosis.

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• describes important historical milestones in the management of TB
• explains and interprets the major transitions in TB epidemiology
• explains the basics of disease pathogenesis and natural course of infection 
• recognizes the symptoms and signs of the TB patient
• evaluates the role of the laboratory diagnosis in TB control
• describes the principles of chemotherapy for TB
• interprets how drug resistance may develop and how it is monitored and could be avoided
• describes how multidrug resistance influences the TB epidemic
• appraises how HIV influences the TB epidemic
• Recognizes the socioeconomic consequence of TB for the individuals
• appraises the role of preventive TB strategies in global TB control

Skills

The student:

• can identify important determinants of TB exposure, infection and disease
• can identify a presumptive TB patient
• can assess the significance and limitations of the various TB diagnostic methods
• can interpret the data from laboratory and treatment registers used in the TB control programmes to assess the performance of microscopy services, and recognize the early and late defaulters from treatment. can conduct a cohort report of a tuberculosis register

General competence

The student:

• knows how to control a disease in a public health approach, and to communicate this information.
• has competence to assess the epidemiological situation for TB globally and to apply the knowledge to improve the management of TB. The student understands the importance of national programs and other stakeholders and their roles in TB control.

• Proficiency in English at a level corresponding to TOEFL 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or IELTS band 6.0 is expected.
• Pre-reading: see Reading list
• Basic knowledge about microbiology, immunology and pathology

• International programmes and agreements, including tropEd and Erasmus+
• Master programme in Global Health.
• Master programmes in Health Sciences and Health Promotion.
• PhD programme at the University of Bergen.
• Medical students at the University of Bergen who finished their Bachelor and are in an elective term

All course work and communication will be given on-line. Student investment time: total 130 hours, divided into online lectures or videos 30 hrs, individual reading 50 hrs, and individual work 50 hrs

The course consists of on-line lectures and related individual reading (see reading list below). Important issues have related exercises based on clinical and epidemiological case scenarios, paper reviews, and short assignments given for individual work. Some assignments will be given where students work with tuberculosis registers used in the global tuberculosis control programmes. Online peer-discussion forums are developed, encouraged and monitored.

The lectures are often followed by quizzes with multiple-choice questions with immediate correct responses and explanation.

The learning units are as follows: (1) historical perspectives & epidemiology of TB, (2) how does TB develop in humans, (3) how does TB disease present in patients (4). What is the role of laboratory in the diagnosis and global TB management (5) What are the principals of TB treatment, emergence and impact of drug resistance on TB epidemic (6) Socioeconomic and cultural aspects of TB (7) Global TB management strategies.

Centre for International Health

E-mail: mailto:studie@igs.uib.nostudie@igs.uib.no

Tel: 55 58 85 69