Course Specifications for Postgraduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Health
TMH701 Foundations in Tropical Medicine & Health
COMPULSORY
This comprehensive module equips healthcare professionals with the advanced skills and knowledge essential for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tropical diseases prevalent in resource-limited settings. Gain a deep understanding of:
Core Concepts: Epidemiology, transmission, and clinical manifestations of tropical infectious diseases. Evidence-Based
Interventions: Current treatment guidelines and preventive strategies tailored for tropical environments.
Parasitology & Vector Biology: In-depth exploration of the life cycles, biology, and control of parasites and their vectors.
Classroom time: 3 days in Pretty Bay, Malta
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:Â
- Classify parasites and their vectors, demonstrating a foundational understanding of tropical infectious diseases, with an emphasis on parasite biology.
- Conduct clinical assessments in tropical medicine, employing mastery of relevant technical and experimental methodologies.
- Articulate the disease process, including the immunology of infection and the genetics of parasites, hosts, and vectors.
- Explain the epidemiology and control of infectious disease vectors, including primary control measures applicable in remote clinical settings.
- Describe the science behind tropical infectious diseases, including pharmacology, treatment options, available vaccines, and considerations for special populations.
- Integrate this advanced knowledge with their existing understanding of infectious disease processes from prior coursework.
- Develop strategic and creative solutions to both concrete and abstract problems in the field.
- Exercise sound judgment based on knowledge of social and ethical issues relevant to assessment and treatment in resource-limited environments.
- Synthesize information from advanced texts to facilitate further academic medical learning in infectious diseases and to address complex medical problems.
- Demonstrate operational capacity and medical management skills, utilizing creativity and improvisation in challenging situations.
- Collaborate effectively with other medical providers to deliver appropriate care to patients with infectious diseases.
- Formulate practical and theoretical responses to a range of medical problems, considering social and ethical implications.
- Critically evaluate their own medical learning and develop a plan to address areas for improvement, enhancing both individual and team competencies.
- Manage medical emergencies efficiently within an evidence-based framework, using reflection to continuously improve.
250 Hours
Online : 90%
Classroom :10% (3 days in Pretty Bay, Malta)
10 ECTS/ECVETs
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
 Examination consisting of 2 parts:
- 2-hour closed book multiple choice/short answer exam. This exam will cover the theoretical aspects of the module.
- 1-hour Parasitology/Entomology paper which will be based on images of parasites and arthropods.Â
ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING
Part 1 (2-hour closed book): 80%
Part 2 (1 hour Parasitology/Entomology): 20%
Grades are set from the EU grading scheme:
Scale          Grade Description
80-100%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Distinction
70-79%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merit
55-69%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pass
45-54%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Compensated Pass
0-34%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lower Fail
TMH702 Clinical Tropical Medicine & Health
COMPULSORY
The module builds on the topics taught during TMH701, providing clinical laboratory skills that are needed for the laboratory diagnosis of tropical medicine and infectious diseases.
Delegates will learn to use desktop microscopes, smartphone microscopes and with other laboratory diagnostic capabilities to identify infectious agents that lead to the assessment and treatment of the infectious casualty found in tropical climates.
Classroom time: 3 days in Pretty Bay, Malta
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
- Explain laboratory diagnosis of parasites and vectors as it pertains to the subject of tropical infectious diseases with the emphasis on the biology of the parasites and their vectors.
- Describe the disease process of parasites and infectious vectors and the immunology of infection and the genetics of the parasites, hosts and vectors.
- Discuss the epidemiology and control of vectors of infectious disease, including vector control measures needed in remote healthcare centres.
- Describe the pharmacology and treatment of infectious disease, efficacy of available vaccines, and the application tropical infectious diseases in special populations.
- Recall the process of infectious diseases that was learned during undergraduate course work.
- Develop strategic and creative options for researching solutions to construct applicable judgements based on knowledge of relevant social and ethical issues surrounding to assessment and treatments for the infectious casualty found in resource poor environments.
- Use advanced textbooks that will lead to further academic medical learning of infectious diseases and will research solutions to abstract medical problems.
- Demonstrate operational capacity and medical management skills using creativity and improvisation.
- Develop crew resource management with other medical team members to convey abstract and concrete medical solutions for the infectious patient.
- Formulate practical and theoretical responses to abstract and concrete medical problems and makes judgements on social and ethical issues pertaining to the medical casualty.
- Evaluate their own medical learning and improve key competences for further medical learning and promote team training.
- Demonstrate responsibility for the reflective and efficient management of medical emergencies within agreed timeframes.
- Describe parasites and vectors as an introduction to the subject of tropical infectious diseases with the emphasis on the biology of the parasites and their vectors.
- Explain disease process and the immunology of infection and the genetics of parasites, hosts and vectors.
- Discuss epidemiology and control of vectors of infectious disease, including vector control measures needed with remote clinical practice.
- Explain the philosophy underpinning public health action, how it has evolved and how to apply it to health policies.
- Apply specific knowledge to global and influential issues in public health, like tobacco use, hypertension, climate change, conflicts and the changing nature of infectious diseases.
- Explain health inequities and their origins as well as apply measures to reduce them.
- Communicate to others the major threats to health and their distribution within populations, using examples from high, middle and low-income countries.
- Summarise concepts of the skills of the practice of medicine in remote and tropical environments.
- Demonstrate oral and written presentations of arguments.
250 Hours
Online : 90%
Classroom: 10%
10 ECTS/ECVETs
WRITTEN & PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS:
- 2 hour closed book / short answer examination (multiple choice questions): 60%
- 1 hour microscopy examination: 20%
- 1 hour diagnostic image interpretation examination: 20%
ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING
Examinations: 100%
Grades are set from the EU grading scheme:
Scale          Grade Description
80-100%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Distinction
70-79%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merit
55-69%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pass
45-54%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Compensated Pass
0-34%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lower Fail
TMH703 Clinical Tropical Medicine & Health in Practice
COMPULSORY
This module builds on previous knowledge and focuses on case management of diseases in resource-limited and remote environments. Focus is placed on discussions, group exercises, and instructor-led case studies that use knowledge of tropical medicine, clinical laboratory diagnosis and clinical assessments learned in earlier modules.
This will be supplemented with presentations from CoROM lecturers and subject matter experts that are based on case studies focusing on the top ten tropical diseases found globally.
Upon completion of this module/unit, learners will be able to:
- Analyze clinical presentations and diagnoses of infectious diseases specific to tropical environments.
- Devise practical treatment approaches that consider the constraints and resources available in those settings.
Integrate foundational knowledge of infectious disease processes acquired through online coursework. - Develop strategic and innovative solutions to both concrete and abstract problems encountered in tropical medicine.
- Exercise sound clinical judgment informed by relevant social and ethical considerations when assessing and treating infectious diseases in resource-limited settings.
- Assess and manage critical illnesses prevalent in tropical medicine and public health contexts.
- Demonstrate operational proficiency and medical management skills through creative and resourceful approaches.
- Collaborate effectively with medical team members using Crew Resource Management principles to develop and implement both theoretical and practical solutions for infectious disease patients.
- Formulate responses to complex medical challenges, considering social and ethical implications for the affected individual.
- Demonstrate the clinical skills necessary to understand, diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases commonly found in tropical and developing regions with limited resources.
- Discuss the disease process and immunology of infections involving parasites, hosts, and vectors.
- Analyze the epidemiology and control of infectious disease vectors, including appropriate control measures for remote clinical practice.
- Discuss the scientific basis of tropical diseases, encompassing pharmacology, treatment options, vaccines, and considerations for special populations.
- Explain the philosophical underpinnings of public health action, its evolution, and its application to health policies.
- Analyze health inequities, their origins, and measures to reduce them.
- Communicate effectively the major health threats and their distribution within populations, using examples from diverse income settings.
- Summarize the key skills and concepts essential for medical practice in remote and tropical environments.
250 Hours
Online : 80%
Classroom: 20%
This module is taught through online blended learning,including through webinars reviewing clinical cases of the top infectious and tropical diseases found globally. The reviewed case studies will incorporate learning from TMH701 and TMH702, including clinical assessments, laboratory investigations and the pharmacological management of the critical casualty.
10 ECTS/ECVETs
Summative: 3-hour closed book examination – Multiple choice/short answer questions.
Assessment Weighting:
Summative Examination: 100%
Grades are set from the EU grading scheme:
Scale          Grade Description
80-100%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Distinction
70-79%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merit
55-69%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pass
45-54%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Compensated Pass
0-34%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lower Fail
TMH704 dissertation
COMPULSORY
This capstone project culminates in an 8,000-word dissertation that synthesizes knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program.
Candidates are challenged to produce an integrative work that seamlessly blends theoretical understanding with practical application within the field of tropical medicine.
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
- Ability to act autonomously to plan and implement a project which enables you to create and interpret knowledge at the forefront of your discipline or area of professional practice.
- Critically synthesise techniques of research and inquiry relevant to your academic discipline or area of professional practice.
- Ability to design and deliver structured plans of applied tropical medicine practice to address an applied healthcare problem based upon theoretically informed choices about the research designs, techniques and procedures to be followed.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and application of techniques relevant to tropical and infectious diseases.
- Demonstrate self-direction, originality and creativity in the process of undertaking the tropical disease, including how you deal with complex situations found within the disease process.
- Formulate and analyse complex scholarly issues in found in tropical medicine, independently, systematically and critically.
- Communicate complex, professional & academic issues in tropical medicine to both professional & lay people in a clear and unambiguous manner.
- Analyse and critically evaluate contemporary theory and practice in tropical medicine and public health b.
- Contribute to production of professional and academic knowledge and improvement of practice in tropical medicine and infectious disease.
- Communicate complex health & healthcare knowledge effectively in English both orally and in writing to professional and academic audiences, using appropriate communication standards.
- Undertake a critical review of academic and applied literatures to inform an applied professional practice problem.
- Conduct applied research in a systematic, rigorous, critically reflective manner using appropriate primary and secondary data collection methods and quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques effectively.
- Report solutions and plans of action in a format that is appropriate to the intended audience
- Analyse and critically evaluate contemporary theory and practice in tropical medicine, infectious diseases and public health.
- Contribute to production of professional and academic knowledge and improvement of practice in tropical medicine.
- Communicate complex healthcare knowledge effectively in English both orally and in writing to professional and academic audiences, using appropriate communication standards.
- Organise effective independent work in tropical medicine, infectious disease and public health.
- Evaluate relevant literature and have an understanding of research and policy context for the particular project.
- Organise and conduct a project under supervision demonstrating a high level of understanding of the research process and clinical applications of tropical medicine assessment and management.
- Discuss findings and implications of findings for practice, research and education and disseminate widely.
750 Hours
Online : 100%
30 ECTS/ECVETs
Formative Summative: An 8,000-word dissertation (100%)
Assessment Weighting
Dissertation: 100%
Grades are set from the EU grading scheme:
Scale          Grade Description
80-100%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Distinction
70-79%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merit
55-69%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pass
45-54%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Compensated Pass
0-34%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lower Fail
Core Reading List
- Mixed Methods in Health Sciences Research: A Practical Primer (Mixed Methods Research Series) 1st Edition by Leslie Curry (Author), Marcella Nunez-Smith (Author)
- Qualitative Methods for Health Research FOURTH EDITION Judith Green -King’s College London, UK Nicki Thorogood -London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London
- How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine Author: Greenhalgh, Trisha ISBN: 1444334360, 978144433436 4th ed, 2010, Wiley-Blackwell/BMJ Books
- Research Methods: A Practical Guide For Candidates And Researchers 1st Edition. Tan, 2017.
Supplementary Reading List
Journals:
- Progress of health care is closely connected with innovation of research methodology. Knottnerus JA, Tugwell P. J Clin Epidemiol. 2018 Apr;96:vi-viii. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2018.02.017. PMID: 29526245
- Writing the proposal for a qualitative research methodology project. Sandelowski M, Barroso J. Qual Health Res. 2003 Jul;13(6):781-820. doi: 10.1177/1049732303013006003. PMID: 12891715
- Mixed methods research. Halcomb E, Hickman L. Nurs Stand. 2015 Apr 8;29(32):41-7. doi: 10.7748/ns.29.32.41.e8858. PMID: 25850508
- Stages for Undertaking a Systematic Review Donato H, Donato M. Acta Med Port. 2019 Mar 29;32(3):227-235. doi: 10.20344/amp.11923. Epub 2019 Mar 29. PMID: 3094679
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