To enhance European capacity to recognise and respond effectively and in a coordinated fashion to infectious disease emergencies (whether natural, accidental or deliberate in origin) by (1) Using ETIDE partners (experts in infectious diseases, infection control, microbiology, risk communication, psychology, and education and training) to develop a common European curriculum for the first-line management of infectious disease emergencies, targeted at front-line health professionals (emergency medicine physicians, nurses and paramedics, and laboratorians). (2) Using the same experts to develop a course to train the trainers of front line health professionals in EU member states, candidate countries and EEA/EFTA countries in the recognition and first-line management of infectious disease emergencies. The course will cover recognition, diagnosis and management of unusual illness, diagnosis and management of relevant high threat pathogens e.g. anthrax, smallpox, SARS, and influenza; major infectious disease incident management; infection control, laboratory diagnostics, communication, and teaching, assessment, audit and evaluation skills, and will be a mix of didactic, practical and simulation-based teaching. It will include an interdisciplinary foundation module, separate specialist modules for clinicians and laboratorians, and an interdisciplinary module on simulation planning and evaluation.
(3) Using this course to train the first cadre of trainers from EU member states, candidate countries and EEA/EFTA countries on-site in INMI, Rome, giving them the knowledge base and skills needed to train and assess the competence of front-line health professionals in their own countries to respond safely effectively to infectious disease emergencies.
(4) Making the course materials available to other recognised institutions/organisations at minimal or no cost as an e-learning programme
(5) Using the first cadre of trained trainers as the basis for a sustainable network of certificated EU trainers of emergency care professionals in the recognition and management of infectious disease emergencies, which will link with other established European and international networks and complement the work of other organisations, including WHO.
1. To develop a common European core curriculum in English for emergency care clinicians, nurses and other HCW and laboratorians on the management of infectious disease emergencies, covering
(a) specific high threat pathogens
(b) biosafety including sampling handling and transport
(c) infection control and transmission prevention
(d) laboratory diagnosis
(e) major incident planning and response, including psychological aspects, risk assessment & management, communication, & surge capacity
2. To use ETIDE experts to develop a train-the-trainers course, and the necessary training materials, in English, for emergency care clinicians, nurses and other HCW, and laboratorians in infectious disease emergency management (IDEM), consisting of:
an interdisciplinary foundation module;
a specialised IDEM training module for emergency care clinicians
a specialised IDEM training module for nurses and other HCW
a specialised IDEM training module for laboratorians
an interdisciplinary training module on simulations, including scenario planning and evaluation and a basic, walk-through, simulation.
3. To define selection criteria for ‘trainee' trainers, and to identify up to five appropriate ‘trainee' trainers from each EU member state, candidate country or EEA/EFTA country, through the Commission and its networks, leading health care institutions, and national public health authorities. 4. To use ETIDE partners and relevant European experts to train the first cadre of selected ‘trainee' trainers onsite at INMI, Rome, which has comprehensive, safe, & secure facilities for the emergency high containment and clinical & laboratory management of infections caused by high threat pathogens. Trainee trainers will be expected to undertake self-directed learning & self-assessment using pre-prepared material prior to the course, so that at the start of the course all have an equivalent background knowledge base. Teachers and trainees will evaluate the course & course materials; trainees will be formally assessed pre & post course. Successful trainees will be eligible to become part of the network of certificated European IDEM trainers.
5. To use the first cadre of trained trainers as the basis for a sustainable network of certificated EU trainers of emergency care professionals in the recognition and management of infectious disease emergencies, which will link with established European and international networks and complement the work of other organisations eg WHO
6. To develop and maintain an ETIDE website, which will be used to support and sustain the nucleus ETIDE network, and to disseminate the materials developed for the course widely in the public health community, by making them available to appropriate institutions or individuals at minimal/ no cost.
All ETIDE partners and experts will contribute to the common curriculum and the interdisciplinary foundation module. The lead partner will develop outlines for both, and each partner/expert will be assigned an area for further development. After a group coordinating meeting, ETIDE partners and experts will, led by the lead partner, write the curriculum and develop the materials (eg slide sets with teaching notes, practical activities with equipment lists and teaching points, a reference ‘ library') for the interdisciplinary module, with assistance, direction and administrative support from the coordination team and specialty board, and with input from professional educators. Topic areas, time schedules, and styles will be clearly defined by the lead partner. Progress will be monitored by e-mail and teleconference. The coordination team will collate the output, incorporate editorial comments and produce a final version of the curriculum and the foundation module for agreement by ETIDE partners and the specialty board.
The development of the three specialist training modules and the interdisciplinary scenario training module will each be overseen and coordinated by the relevant lead partner, supported and assisted by the coordination team, in communication with, and with input from, ETIDE national officials, professional educators, and, if necessary, co-opted experts. The lead partner will also ensure that each prototype module is piloted, evaluated, and amended if necessary before use in the training course. Contributors will communicate regularly via e-mail and teleconferences will be used for decision processes eg course content, choice of teaching methodology, and style. The speciality board will ensure consistency between modules, and all ETIDE partners and the specialty board will agree the finalised modules. These modules will also contain a mix of didactic teaching and practical activities.
Courses in their own countries in the 3-6 months after they complete the course.
