Unit Code: PCP818

Unit Name: Essential NCD Interventions for Primary Health Care

Description: The purpose of this course is to provide; This course entails the WHO package of essential NCD interventions for primary health care in low resource settings, and how these strategies are used in addressing the burden of Non-communicable disease (NCDs) in Fiji and Pacific region. It will review and discuss the different intervention strategies within the Pacific NCD framework and targets and how these can be implemented locally in the different countries within the region. PCP818 will also discuss the components of NCDs intervention strategies and plans with the different populations and high risk approaches in prioritizing health issues. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases are the four main NCDs contributing to the global burden of diseases. Countries around the world including the Pacific Island countries have acknowledged that the burden of NCDs constitutes one of the major challenges for development in this century. It is a vicious cycle whereby NCDs and their risk factors worsen poverty, while poverty contributes to rising rates of NCDs. Current burden is high in Pacific Island countries and areas placing an enormous burden on individuals, families and communities as well as national health systems. As such Pacific Islands Forum Leaders declared the Pacific being in a NCD crisis in 2011. The political declaration of the high level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs urged relevant international organisations to continue to provide technical assistance and capacity building in the areas of NCD prevention and control. NCDs diseases are preventable. The World Health Organization estimated that up to eighty per cent of diseases could be prevented by eliminating four shared risk factors of tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. Exposure to these risk factors could be minimized through collective multisectoral and health systems action by governments and key stakeholders. The aim of this course is to synthesize and apply knowledge, generate skills and execute practices for participants introducing the Package of Essential NCD interventions for primary care based on integrated high-risk factor approach. During this process participants will also learn about why it is important to combine primary prevention in population with individual prevention and management of NCDs, what are the most efficient measures and how exactly it can be done in health care facilities. It bridges the knowledge gap and strengthens capacities on NCD prevention and control for those who work in the NCD area. Course Assessment: A logbook for the PEN clinical attachment activities will filled by the students during their clinical attachment at the selected health facilities and to ensure that the clinical skills and competencies are attained in this course. This will be filled by the students who would be guided by under the supervision of the MOH clinical supervisors and their progress monitored by the Primary care team at the DPHPC. Successful completion of the logbook together with the endorsements of their supervisors and the course convener carries 20% of the total assessment. The learning activities incorporates the principles of NCD framework, the social determinants of health in primary care delivery in community and workplace settings. These are in the areas of prevention and control with health promotion concepts towards positive behavioural changes while understanding the NCD burden through motivational interview and patient counselling. In Semester I, students are expected to write an assignment (20%) of at least 5,000 words on a topic of their choice. Students will also be expected to sit a quiz (10%). In Semester II, students will be expected to apply their clinical knowledge and skills during their attachments. Logbooks (10%) will be issued to students for assessment of their competencies. A clinical examination is mandatory for clinicians in the form of a VIVA (20%) and OSPE for non-clinical students (20%). Students will sit a 3-hours written examination (40%) at the end of Semester II. Students are expected to pass at least 65% of the total course assessment in order to proceed to Masters level. Attendance: Students are expected to attend at least 80% of the total classes.

Learning Target Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate and conduct the delivery of the essential NCD interventions package/PEN model at primary care settings and apply the NCD surveillance/WHO monitoring framework 2. Analyse and competently interpret the results of blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids and be able to calculate and interpret the 10 years cardiovascular risk percent for NCD patients using the WHO/ISH Risk Prediction charts as per the PEN Management Protocol 1 3. Conduct advocacy and motivational interview on SNAPSS with NCD health promotion messages as per PEN Management Protocol 2 4. Execute and practice counselling on NCD patients as per WHO/PEN Management Protocol 2 and discuss Protocol 3 and 4 with essential tools and NCD advocacy information. 5. Synthesize and apply PEN model strategies and approaches including PEN Model Protocol 2, PEN Model Oceania Charts, the clinical competencies through clinical attachment and/or observations at various selected health facilities/ special clinics in primary care settings

Prerequisite: PCP810 and PCP819

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 40

Offered In: Semester 1,2