Disease Screening in Public Health

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/screening

Introduction

# Course Review: Disease Screening in Public Health **Introduction** In the realm of public health, staying ahead of the curve is not just advisable but essential. The Coursera course titled **Disease Screening in Public Health** offers a comprehensive exploration into the critical role that screening plays in managing chronic and degenerative diseases, particularly against the backdrop of an ageing global population. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the course empowers public health professionals with the knowledge necessary to evaluate, implement, and assess screening programs effectively. **Overview and Objectives** The course delves into both the promises and pitfalls of disease screening— a topic of increasing relevance given the rise of chronic diseases that often present long before symptoms occur. Chronic conditions, with their extended incubation periods, present unique challenges and opportunities for early intervention. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of careful evaluation and strategic planning when considering screening as part of public health initiatives. **Syllabus Breakdown** The learning journey is segmented into several modules, each led by seasoned experts in the field. Here's a detailed look through the course structure: 1. **Introduction to Key Concepts in Screening** The course kicks off with insights from notable figures such as Dr. Fred Paccaud, Dr. Antoine Flahault, and Dr. Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant. Participants are introduced to screening definitions, disease natural history, and screening characteristics, followed by a quiz to reinforce learning. 2. **Screening Metrics** Dr. Idris Guessous guides learners through various screening metrics, laying bare essential concepts relating to robustness, validity, and the impact of screening programs. Another quiz wraps up the module, ensuring comprehension. 3. **Screening in Pregnancy and Newborns** Led by Professor Murielle Bochud, this module focuses on early-life screenings, emphasizing the critical importance of prenatal and perinatal assessments. 4. **Screening for Cardiometabolic Conditions** Through case studies presented by Dr. Arnaud Chiolero, the module examines various cardiometabolic diseases. Discussions about disease burden, screening benefits and harms, and policy recommendations provide a pragmatic understanding. 5. **Cancer Screening** A pivotal module on cancer screening, presented by experts including Elisabetta Rapiti and Professor Antoine Flahault, reviews the most significant cancer types, which is vital considering their long incubation periods and the potential for improved prognoses with early detection. 6. **Public Mental Health and Screening in Ageing** This module confronts the realities of mental health in the ageing population. Experts explore neuropsychiatric conditions, providing critical insights into screening practices that ensure inclusivity and comprehensive care. 7. **Screening in Low and Middle-Income Countries and Migrants** Addressing the globalization of non-communicable diseases, this module, led by experts like Professor Pascal Bovet, highlights the unique challenges and strategies for effective screening in diverse socioeconomic contexts. 8. **Evaluation, Planning, Implementation and the Future of Screening Programs** The course culminates with a thorough examination of how to evaluate and implement screening initiatives effectively, alongside a forward-looking discussion about potential innovations in the field. **Pros and Cons** ### Pros: - **Expert Involvement**: The course draws on an impressive array of expert educators from leading institutions, ensuring that participants receive top-tier knowledge. - **Comprehensive Content**: It covers a broad spectrum of topics, making it suitable for both new public health professionals and seasoned practitioners looking to refresh their knowledge. - **Interactive Learning**: The integration of quizzes reinforces understanding and enables self-assessment throughout the course. ### Cons: - **Time Commitment**: While comprehensive, the course may require a significant time investment which could be challenging for busy professionals. - **Technical Jargon**: Some participants may find certain medical and statistical concepts challenging without prior background in public health or epidemiology. **Recommendation** **Disease Screening in Public Health** on Coursera is highly recommended for public health professionals, epidemiologists, healthcare policymakers, and students interested in expanding their understanding of disease prevention strategies. The course not only enhances theoretical knowledge but also translates these concepts into practical applications, ultimately enabling participants to contribute meaningfully to public health outcomes. By equipping learners with the tools to evaluate and implement effective screening programs, this course instills a sense of preparedness to tackle the evolving challenges of global health. Join now to be part of tomorrow’s public health landscape!

Syllabus

Introduction to Key Concepts in Screening

This module will provide a brief welcome by Dr. Fred Paccaud and Dr. Antoine Flahault. An overview of screening and an introduction on how the course is organized and evaluated will be provided by Dr. Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant. Dr. Idris Guessous, a Senior Lecturer in the Population Epidemiology Unit in the Department of Community Medicine, Primary Care and Emergency Medicine (Geneva), and in the Department of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine (PMU Lausanne) & Division of Chronic Diseases at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (Lausanne) will provide lectures on definitions of screening. Natural history of diseases and the characteristics of subclinical conditions allowing early diagnosis will be presented. A quiz on the key concepts for screening will complete this module.

The second module, provided by Dr. Idris Guessous, will address the metrics of screening with concepts related to robustness, validity and impact. A quiz on screening metrics will complete this module.

This module on screening in the prenatal (pregnancy) and perinatal (newborn) stage of life is given by Professor Murielle Bochud, MD, PhD, head of the Institute of social and preventive medicine in Lausanne, Switzerland. A quiz will complete this module.

Senior lecturer Arnaud Chiolero, MD, PhD, from the Division of Chronic Diseases at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine in Lausanne will be presenting three case studies related to the increasingly prevalent condition of cardiometabolic disease. Three different diseases will be explored in terms of burden of disease, benefits and harms, evidence and issues followed by recommendations about whether screening should be implemented. A quiz will complete this module.

Cancer is a classical field for screening because of both the improvement of the prognosis for most cancers and the usually long incubation period. This part of the MOOC will present current data, evidence and policies regarding the most important cancer sites that include colorectum, prostate, lung, cervix, breast and skin. This module is given by several experts including Elisabetta Rapiti from the Geneva Cancer Registry at the Institute of Global Health in Geneva; Professor Antoine Flahault, who is the Head of the Institute of Global Health in Geneva; and Jean-Luc Buillard who is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Chronic Diseases at the Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine in Lausanne. A quiz will complete this module.

This module explores the topics of public mental health and screening in the ageing population for neuropsychiatric conditions and physical impairments such as hearing loss. This module is given by several experts including Emiliano Albanese, assistant professor in public mental health in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Geneva and the Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in mental health at the University of Geneva; Professor Christophe Bula who is the head of the geriatric and geriatric rehabilitation service at the Vaudois University Hospital Centre; Professor Armin von Gunten who is the head of the university service for geriatric psychiatry at the Vaudois University Hospital Service. A quiz will complete this module.

The globalization of non-communicable diseases is a major challenge in low and middle income countries (LMIC). At the same time, migration is occurring between these countries and high income countries. Screening for cardiovascular diseases and for cancer in low and middle income countries will be presented and discussed. In addition, the special consideration of screening of migrants from these countries will be addressed. This module is given by: Professor Pascal Bovet from the Division of Chronic Diseases at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine in Lausanne; Dr. Catherine Sauvaget from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France; and Professor Patrick Bodenmann from the Polimedical University Clinic and head of the Centre for Vulnerable Populations. A quiz will complete this module.

In this final module, important aspects of for the evaluation, planning and decision making about the implementation or stopping of screening programs will be presented. This material is given by Senior lecturer Jean-Luc Bulliard who is an epidemiologist in the Division of Chronic Diseases at the Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine in Lausanne. The conclusion of the module will be a series of interviews with experts on the future of disease screening in public health conducted by Dr. Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant, a visiting professor at the Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine at Lausanne. A quiz will close this module.