Overview
CHHE 701 Community Child Health forms one of the requirements for the University of Otago's Postgraduate Diploma in Child Health (DCH), and is also available for other postgraduate health professionals as a stand-alone Certificate of Proficiency or a component of Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science.
The paper is available every semester and is worth 30 points.
Course delivery
This is a distance-taught paper covering community aspects of child health and child health services. The paper includes a written course book, recommended readings, and approximately 16 one-hour, web-based video-conference sessions.
The weekly online tutorials are from 5:30–6:30pm each Wednesday (except for 1 tutorial on a Thursday) for 16 weeks. There are both pre- and post-tutorial resources, located on Moodle in weekly module folders and in eReserve, to study in preparation for each tutorial.
Tutorial topics
1: Epidemiology of Childhood Disease
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Appreciating the role of epidemiology in determining the distribution of disease and determinants of disease
- Understanding the need to describe the occurrence of the disease in terms of incidence rates and prevalence
- Describing the distribution of a common childhood condition in terms of time, person and place and appreciating why care must be taken in comparing disease rates
- Understanding the basis of case control and cohort studies undertaken to determine aetiology and appreciating the importance of considering bias and confounding in the design and analysis of case control and cohort studies
2: Developmental Delay and Early Intervention
Dr Paul Trani teaches this module. Dr Trani is based in the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine and is a Paediatrician with the Southern District Health Board.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding and describing the roles of the professionals in a multidisciplinary child development team
- Understanding and describing the process of developmental surveillance and the indications for and process of a formal developmental assessment
- Understanding and describing the nature of early developmental intervention and the evidence that supports its effectiveness
3: Child Health Promotion
Dr Russell Wills teaches this module. Dr Wills is the former New Zealand's Children's Commissioner and works with the Hawke's Bay District Health Board as a community paediatrician.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- An understanding of the overarching concept of child health promotion, and knowing how examples of the different activities are involved in this process
- Understanding the working definition and knowing appropriate examples of child health screening and surveillance
- Have an understanding of the structure and rationale for the Well Child/Tamaraki Ora programme in New Zealand, including being able to describe the social, cultural and economic determinants of child health in New Zealand
4: Dental Issues in Paediatrics
This module is taught by staff in Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Oral Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Otago.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding and describing the epidemiology of dental health in children
- Knowing what services are available in New Zealand and how to access them
- Understanding and describing the management of dental trauma and be able to describe the indications for dental referral and the impact of dental health problems
5: Nutrition
Dr Jason Wister teaches this module. Dr Wister is a Paediatrician and Senior Lecturer, University of Otago and Sophie Nation, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding the importance of nutrition in clinical practice and having a good working know ledge of common nutritional problems in childhood
- Understand the benefits of breastfeeding and to be aware of the World Health Organisation's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (1981)
6: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Dr Paul Trani teaches this module. Dr Trani is based in the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, and is a Paediatrician with the Southern District Health Board.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Defining and describing the basic epidemiology of ADHD
- Understanding how to and carry out an appropriate preliminary clinical assessment Understand the role and management of possible comorbid conditions
- Know how to make an appropriate referral, including appropriate behavioural, educational, and pharmacological management
7: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dr Andrew Marshall teaches this module. Dr Marshall is based in Wellington and is a Paediatrician with the Capital Coast District Health Board.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Defining and describing the basic epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder
- Understanding and carrying out an appropriate preliminary clinical assessment and making an appropriate referral
- Understanding the role and management of possible comorbid conditions
- Understanding and describing appropriate behavioural, educational, and pharmacological management
8: Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy
Professor Barry Taylor teaches this module. Professor Taylor is the Dean, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding and describing the epidemiology of SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infancy) in New Zealand
- Understanding and be able to discuss possible aetiologies of this condition
- Understanding and being able to discuss current health promotion aimed at preventing SUDI in New Zealand
- Understanding the process that should be followed and being able to provide appropriate family support when SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) occurs in the community
9: Elimination Disorders
Dr Paul Trani teaches this module. Dr Trani is based in the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine and is a Paediatrician with the Southern District Health Board.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding and be able to describe the basic epidemiology of these conditions
- Being fluent in the clinical assessment and need for appropriate investigations of these children
- Understanding and being able to describe appropriate management and describe the financial and social cost of these conditions
10: Immunisation
Professor Peter MacIntyre teaches this module. Professor MacIntyre is based in the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine and is a senior clinical epidemiologist.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Be familiar with the current immunisation schedule for New Zealand infants and children
- Understanding the nature of the vaccines and their efficacy and being aware of the reported adverse effects or "clinical reactions" associated with the vaccines
- Knowing about other vaccines which may be introduced in the future
- Having an appreciation and understanding of the arguments against immunisation, and be able to discuss these with interested parents
11: Health of Māori Children in New Zealand
Dr Liza Edmonds teaches this module. Dr Edmonds is based in the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine and is a Paediatrician with the Southern District Health Board. Her iwi affiliations are Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Whātua.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Appreciating the position of children in Māori society today and having an appreciation of the health status and health disparities of Māori children
- Developing an initial understanding of the determinants of health and well-being for Māori children and being aware of resource networks in the Māori community for Māori children
12: Child Abuse and Child Protection
Dr Kate Rowe teaches this module. Dr Rowe is a Developmental and Community Paediatrician ( FRACP ) with Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand. Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Being able to define different kinds of child abuse and neglect and understanding the basic epidemiology
- Understanding and being able to describe the features of the history, examination and investigations which lead to a diagnosis of child abuse and neglect
- Understanding and being able to describe appropriate management as a health professional and being able to describe the role of other professional agencies, and the laws that are important in the child protection process in New Zealand
- Understanding child abuse and neglect as part of the domestic violence spectrum
13: Care of Seriously Ill Children in the Community
Dr Emily Chung and Karyn Bycroft teach this module. Dr Chung is based at Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland and is a Paediatric Palliative Care Specialist. Karyn Bycroft works at Starship Children's Hospital and is a Paediatric Palliative Specialist Care Nurse Specialist.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding and being able to describe the basic epidemiology of serious childhood illnesses in New Zealand and the role of the hospital and community support agencies
- Understand and be able to describe the effect on families of a child with a chronic disability and being able to describe the palliative care services for children
- Understanding and being able to describe the grief process following the death of a child and how to assist appropriately with this
14: Adolescent Health
Dame Sue Bagshaw teaches this module. Dame Sue is the Director of 198 Youth Health, a youth specialty service based in Christchurch.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding the process and stages of adolescence , and the implications for the health and status of young people
- Understanding the specific issues for teenagers such as mental health, substance abuse, and sexuality
- Understanding and carrying out appropriate assessment of an adolescent using the HEADSS method, and make referrals as indicated
15: Unintentional Injury
Dr Rebbeca Lilley teaches this module. Dr Lilley is based in the Department of Women's and Children's Health, and is the Director of the Child and Youth Epidemiology Service, University of Otago.
In this module the material covered includes the following:
- Understanding and being able to describe the basic epidemiology of unintentional injury in children
- Understanding and being able to describe a range of options designed to prevent injury and being able to describe barriers to prevention
Assessment
Assignments
The assignments will contribute to 40% of the final mark.
There are two main assignments due throughout the paper. The word count is 1500 for each.
Assignment 1
Identify and critically review a journal article on an aspect of child or adolescent community health that is important to you and relevant to CHHE701 tutorials.
20 marks
Assignment 2
Outline key points in the diagnosis/assessment and management of one child health condition or issue.
20 marks
Diary of Community Visits
The Community Diary will contribute to 60% of the final mark.
Candidates will be expected to take part in community visits to gain an understanding of facilities catering to the health needs of children outside hospitals. The community diary exercise can be cross-credited to the Community Paediatrics component of the FRACP training course.
Students are required to describe eight child and/or family health, education, and social service providers, and where possible to observe a range of child-related community activities, including children’s primary health care. Provide a written report from each visit within a Community Diary.
60 marks
Examination
There is no longer an examination for CHHE 701.
Enrolment requirements
You must enrol by 15 January (semester 1) and 15 June (semester 2) each year.
Terms requirements
In order to gain terms for CHHE 701, you must complete/attend the following:
- Two assignments, submitted by the due dates
- A community diary, submitted by the due date
- 80 per cent Attendance at weekly tutorials or written reflections from the recorded tutorials to equal 80 per cent Attendance.
If you are unable to attend a tutorial, please advise the Course Convener and Distance Learning Co-ordinator. We understand the challenges of health professional roles and clinical duties may mean you cannot attend all sessions. Recordings will be available to view on Moodle after each tutorial. Written reflections to questions posed by the tutor will be required within 2 weeks of the tutorial.