SGLK17005U Summer course in Arctic Health

Volume 2017/2018
Education

MSc in Global Health - electives

MSc in Public Health Science - electives

The course is a part of the overall course in Arctic issues offered by the University of Copenhagen, 2017/18, but can also be taken as a separate  course. See more at arctic.ku.dk.

Content

This course will address human health in Arctic areas and is intended for MSc students, PhD students and health professionals who want an insight into health patterns and health conditions in Arctic areas.

Traditionally, health patterns of circumpolar populations are characterized by high rates of communicable (infectious) diseases and low rates of non-communicable (chronic) diseases such as e.g. coronary heart disease and diabetes. However, these health patterns are changing following the transition of Arctic societies from those of hunting societies to those of western societies, and the significant social transitions impacted upon Arctic communities over the past decades. Furthermore, climate changes affect Arctic populations to a larger extent than many other populations.

The course addresses health patterns in Arctic populations in light of these changes. The course will address living conditions and vital statistics for Arctic populations; determinants and risk factors for health, including genetic susceptibility, environment, social factors, diet and nutrition, smoking, alcohol and substance use; and consequences in terms of the particular patterns of diseases observed in these populations including genetic, infectious and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, injuries and violence, mental health and suicide, and maternal and child health. Special emphasis will be placed on new research results, in particular on the interplay between genes and environment. In addition, the course addresses health systems, challenges and solutions to delivering of health care to small populations in remote areas with limited health care facilities.

The summer course in composed of two modules: An e-learning module in June-July and a two week on-campus module in Copehagen from August 16-28, incl. exams. Students in the course can choose to participate in the 17th International Conference of Circumpolar Health in Copenhagen, August 12-15.

 

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course the students should be able to:

Knowledge

  • Describe the patterns of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Arctic populations including the North American North, Greenland, and Northern Scandinavia

  • Describe the influence of health determinants including changes in living conditions and climate changes on the health patterns of Arctic populations

  • Describe health systems and challenges to health care delivery in in Arctic regions

  • Describe living and social conditions among circumpolar populations

    Understand the different concepts of communities in circumpolar area

Skills

  • List prevalent diseases and health conditions over time in Arctic populations and indicate differences from health conditions in western countries

  • List major risk factors and determinants for health and disease in Arctic populations

  • Describe health systems and list challenges to health care delivery in Arctic regions

    Competencies

  • Discuss, analyze and critically examine data on health and disease from Arctic areas, and discuss and criticize previous and current priorities in health policies

  • Be able to work with and in health systems in Arctic areas, based on the acquired, above mentioned knowledge and skills regarding health patterns and systems in Artic areas

  • Be able to work and carry out research with and among circumpolar populations

  • Argue for a prediction of patterns of health and major diseases beyond 2017, based on emerging and actual changes in environment, demography and wealth, and envisage how health may be impacted in Arctic areas

The text book ‘Health Transitions in Arctic Populations’ by T. Kue Young and P. Bjerregaard (eds.), University of Toronto Press, will serve as basic literature. Specific parts of the book will be required to be read in advance. Additional literature will be uploaded from individual teachers.

For public health science students as elective course: Enrolled in BSc or MSc in Public Health Science
For nursing and midwifery students: Enrolled in a Proff. BSc
For medical students as elective course: Enrolled in a BSc or MSc in Medicine
For other academics: Enrolled in a BSc or MSc degree in area relevant to the Arctic
For health professional or other professionals: academic area relevant to the Arctic
Health professional or professional in academic area relevant to the Arctic
Practical experience within the field of health or experience with work in the Arctic
Teachers will be researchers and professionals working with/in the Arctic health systems. Teaching and learning is research-based, and will highlight areas, which the academic staff, their collaborators, and the health professionals, are actively engaged in. The teaching methods include formal lectures, problem-related group work and a final project.
Open for health professionals with tuition fee.
This course is part of the arctic coursework at UCPH. See more at arctic.ku.dk.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 60
  • E-Learning
  • 40
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Preparation
  • 81
  • Project work
  • 24
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral defence
Oral presentation and defense of final project
Aid
Without aids

No aids are allowed for the oral presentation

Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More internal examiners (Intern censur)
Exam period

Please see the dates in the exam plan

Re-exam

Please see the exam plan

Criteria for exam assesment

To pass the exam the student needs orally to present and defend a final group project made through the last week of the course. The student needs to demonstrate knowledge, skills and competencies according to below to the degree this is relevant to the subject of the group project:

Knowledge

  • Describe the patterns of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Arctic populations including the North American North, Greenland, and Northern Scandinavia

  • Describe the influence of health determinants including changes in living conditions and climate changes on the health patterns of Arctic populations

  • Describe health systems and challenges to health care delivery in in Arctic regions

  • Describe living and social conditions among circumpolar populations

    Understand the different concepts of communities in circumpolar area

Skills

  • List prevalent diseases and health conditions over time in Arctic populations and indicate differences from health conditions in western countries

  • List major risk factors and determinants for health and disease in Arctic populations

  • Describe health systems and list challenges to health care delivery in Arctic regions

    Competencies

  • Discuss, analyze and critically examine data on health and disease from Arctic areas, and discuss and criticize previous and current priorities in health policies

  • Be able to work with and in health systems in Arctic areas, based on the acquired, above mentioned knowledge and skills regarding health patterns and systems in Artic areas

  • Be able to work and carry out research with and among circumpolar populations

  • Argue for a prediction of patterns of health and major diseases beyond 2017, based on emerging and actual changes in environment, demography and wealth, and envisage how health may be impacted in Arctic areas