SMEA20132U Arctic Health

Volume 2023/2024
Education

Master of Science in Medicine -  elective course

The course is a part of the overall course in Arctic issues offered by the University of Copenhagen, 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 in Medicine and other health science related study programmes, 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.

Finally, the course provides an insight into practical work in health care systems in Arctic areas with particular focus on Greenland, and will therefore also serve as a preparatory course for work in such areas.

The summer course in composed of a 2 weeks on-campus incl. exam in Copenhagen and a one-week E-learning module prior to the on-campus course.

 

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course the students should as medical expert, health advocate, communicator, manager/​administrator/​organiser and scholar/​researcher/​teacher be able to:

Knowledge

  • Describe the patterns of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Arctic populations
  • 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
  • Describe differences in health care systems between e.g. Scandinavian countries and Arctic areas from a practical view point

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
  • Describe practical issues related to working in health systems in Arctic areas


As professional, medical expert, health advocate, communicator, collaborator, manager/​administrator/​organiser and scholar/​researcher/​teacher be able to:

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 in health care systems in Arctic areas.
  • Be able to 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, and the students will need to search relevant scientific articles from databases.

For medical students: Must have completed a BSc in Medicine
For other students within health science related study programmes: Must have completed a BSc.

For both MSc students and health professionals, you must have an interest in or practical experience within the field of health and/or experience with work in the Arctic. This should be reflected in your application for admission
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 E-learning module, formal lectures, problem-related group work and a final project.
Open for MSc in Medicine students without pre-approval.
Open for other MSc students with pre-approval.
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
  • 50
  • Preparation
  • 52
  • E-Learning
  • 35
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Total
  • 138
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral defence
Type of assessment details
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
Several 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:

As medical expert, health advocate, communicator, manager/​administrator/​organiser and scholar/​researcher/​teacher

  • Describe the patterns of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Arctic populations
  • 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 Arctic regions
  • Describe living and social conditions among circumpolar populations
  • Understand the different concepts of communities in circumpolar areas
  • Describe differences in health care systems between e.g. Scandinavian countries and Arctic areas from a practical view point


Skills:

As medical expert, health advocate, communicator, manager/​administrator/​organiser and scholar/​researcher/​teacher:

  • List prevalent diseases and health conditions over time in Arctic populations and indicate differences from health conditions in western countries
  • List major factors and determinants for health and disease in Arctic populations
  • Describe health systems and list challenges to health care delivery in Arctic regions
  • Describe practical issues related to working in health systems in Arctic areas


Competencies:

As professional, medical expert, health advocate, communicator, collaborator, manager/​administrator/​organiser and scholar/​researcher/​teacher:

  • 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 Arctic areas
  • Be able to work in health care systems in Arctic areas.
  • Be able to 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