Master of Medicine in Public Health Medicine

Purpose

The aim of this qualification is to meet the needs for formal examination certification, as well as to set standards, nationally, for such a qualification (equivalent qualifications may be offered by the country's 8 medical schools).

Rationale

This qualification forms part of the credentialing process, for medical practitioners, as specialists in public health medicine. The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) stipulates training requirements, including a minimum period of experiential learning. It is usual for the examination to be taken and passed prior to the completion of the required period of supervised learning specified by the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), MBBCh (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), or equivalent qualification acceptable to the Health Professions Council of South Africa for registration as a medical practitioner in South Africa.

N/A

1. Diagnose cases of commonly occurring preventable diseases, in order to make an insightful community diagnosis.
2. Be able to describe the aetiology and epidemiology of commonly occurring health-related conditions.
3. Be able to carry out a rapid epidemiological assessment, including the investigation of a disease outbreak.
4. Be able to design, implement, and report on the results of an epidemiological study.
5. Be able to formulate and prioritise appropriate public health research questions.
6. Be able to interpret one's own data, as well as the data and findings of other investigators, including publications in the scientific literature.
7. Be able to motivate for adequate funding and resources required to carry out these activities.
8. Be able to describe the burden of a disease or group of diseases, in economic and medical terms for the individual, for the community, and for society.
9. Be able to distinguish between impairment and disability, and to describe the nature of a disability for workers' compensation purposes.
10. Be able to describe health services provided in terms of inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes.
11. Be able to describe the nature and patterns of service provision and utilisation in terms of efficacy, efficiency, equity, acceptability, accessibility, and appropriateness (with respect to needs and affordability).
12. Be able to evaluate a health system.
13. Be familiar with the investigation of, and treatment for, uncomplicated commonly occurring occupational and communicable diseases, in order to be able to achieve the overall learning outcome with greater insight.
14. Be able to lead, communicate, advocate, plan and manage for a health promoting intervention at all levels of societal organisation.
15. Be able to design, conduct and report on an intervention study.
16. Be able to evaluate the processes and the results of health promoting interventions, and to modify the processes accordingly as required.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome

1. Describe, explain, quantify and prioritise the health risks facing individuals, communities and society, at home, at work, at leisure and in transit.
2. Explain, quantify and prioritise the health and health service needs of individuals, communities and society: at home, at work, at leisure and in transit.
3. Explain, quantify and analyse the nature, pattern and quality of health services provided for, and demanded by, individuals, communities and society, including recommendations for an appropriate, acceptable and affordable level of service provision that is effective, efficient and equitable.
4. Design and implement quality assured, effective, efficient, equitable, affordable and acceptable interventions to reduce, eliminate or ameliorate the health risks faced by individuals and communities at work, at home, at leisure and in transit.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment to ensure the purpose of the Degree is achieved.

Certification, by the head of the candidate's training department, that at least 94 weeks of learning will have taken place (excluding leave and sick leave), in an approved training post, prior to the date of the first written examination paper.

Certification, by the head of the candidate's training department, that the candidate has either passed an internal practical examination, or has satisfied the head of department as to his/her practical abilities, prior to the date of the first written examination paper.

Short (10-20 page) report: a rapid epidemiological assessment or a critical literature review or a critical report of a small qualitative research project. Pass mark: 50%.

Three, written, 3-hour closed book examination papers, each potentially covering the entire syllabus, but collectively demonstrating a reasonable balance between the different sections. Overall pass mark: 50% with a sub-minimum requirement of 40% on any individual paper.

i) "Multiple choice"/annotate the diagram/sketch a diagram" style of questions.

ii) Short answer questions, answer 10 out of 15.

iii) Essay questions, answer all 4 questions to demonstrate integrative skills.

Submission of a dissertation (Max 70 pages) reporting on the results of an analytical, quantitative, epidemiological study carried out and interpreted by the candidate. This must be submitted at least 3 months before the oral assessment.

An oral examination in two parts of 30 minutes each. In the first part the candidate will be expected to defend the dissertation before a panel of 3 examiners. In the second part the candidate will be expected to demonstrate oral communication skills by conducting a discourse on any topic relevant to public health medicine before a panel of the same 3 examiners. The two parts may be conducted in either order.

The overall pass mark for 16.5 and 16.6 together is 50%.