A1410 EMUTOM : A European Module on Undergraduate Teaching in Occupational Medicine

Tuesday, March 20, 2012: 15:15
Isla Mujeres 4 (Cancun Center)
Lutgart Braeckman, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Martin Valcke, Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Paul Smits, Occupational health, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Frank van Dijk, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jean-francois Gehanno, Occupational Medicine, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
Elena Ana Pauncu, Occupational Health Discipline, University Of Medicine And Pharmacy Victor Babes, Timisoara, Romania
Florina Popescu, Occupational Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes, Timisoara, Romania
Madia Hanna, Occupational Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes, Timisoara, Romania
Petar Bulat, Serbian Institute of Occupational Health, University Of Belgrade School Of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
Introduction
In order to cope appropriately with a variety of workers’ health topics, all health professionals should know about the two-ways relationship between work and health. So far, the teaching of occupational medicine shows substantial differences in content, quality and quantity across European countries and is complicated by limited staff and teaching time, coupled with a large number of medical students. Educational institutions are increasingly aware of the need to provide a common and updated training at medical undergraduate level.

Methods
In the framework of a project, financed by the European Education Agency’s LifeLongLearning Programme, a new study module is in development to extend awareness and competencies of health and work issues among medical students. On the basis of a needs-analysis and a questionnaire survey on the nature and extent of undergraduate occupational medicine teaching across Europe, the overall architecture and content of the module containing different course packages is designed.

Results
The learning objectives, teaching formats and assessment criteria have been specified. The course will be available in English and will use a blended learning model by including both traditional face-to-face teaching and self-directed learning materials online such as case studies, student assignments, and multimedia. The module will be delivered as a 5-day taught programme with a workload of 84 hours (3 European credits). A prototype module will be ready at the start of the new academic year (October 2011) and will run on test-basis during six months. After evaluation and feedback from students and teachers, an optimized module will be delivered.

Discussion
Through this joint developed module, we want to meet the needs for an attractive, improved and harmonized training in occupational medicine for medical students. The final result will be disseminated and shared free of charge with all interested parties.