The EPIET programme

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The EPIET programme
Viviane Bremer, EPIET Chief Coordinator
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Training programmes based at ECDC

• Two pathways
• European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology
  Training (EPIET)
• European Public Health Microbiology Training
  (EUPHEM)
• Two tracks
• EU-track Training in different country than
  country of origin
• MS-track Training in own country

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EPIET staff

• Scientific Coordinators 5.5 FTE
• Viviane Bremer, chief coordinator, ECDC (100)
• Marion Muehlen, ECDC (100)
• Alicia Barrasa, Madrid (100)
• Biagio Pedalino, Paris (100)
• Ioannis Karagiannis, Berlin (100)
• Helen Maguire, London (50)
• Support from PAE
• Katharina Alpers, Berlin (100)
• Manuel Dehnert as statistician
• Administration
• 2.3 FTE logistical support

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EPIET programme

• Programme started 1996
• Funded by ECDC/EU Member States
• Objectives
• Strengthen CD surveillance control in EU
• Develop a European network of intervention
  epidemiologists
• Training fellows and externals together
• Training of trainers
• Sustaining and strengthening a network of
  training sites
• Develop a response capacity inside beyond EU
• surveillance
• outbreak investigations
• applied research

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Training objectives for the fellows

• Investigate outbreaks
• Plan, implement, or evaluate a surveillance
  system
• Develop a research project on a relevant public
  health issue
• Gain acquaintance with laboratory techniques
• Present and publish the results of their work to
  the scientific community
• Teach epidemiology to public health professionals

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Training format

• Theoretical training
• An introductory course (3 weeks), open to
  external participants
• Seven one-week training modules rotating in EU
  Member States
• Learning by doing practical training
• 23 months
• At a European public health institute
• national
• regional
• On site supervision by senior epidemiologists and
  EPIET coordinators

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Time frame per cohort
Cohort 15
Sept 09
Sept 11
Cohort 16
Sept 10
Sept 12
Cohort 17
Sept 13
Sept 11

• 18 fellows in EPIET EU Track
• 4 fellows in EUPHEM
• 10 fellows in MS track

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Selection process EU-track

• 1st stage
• Check eligibility (ECDC)
• MS rank 2 best candidates
• ECDC Selection Panel goes through all
  applications and selects eligible candidates
• 2nd stage
• Candidates choose preferred training sites
• Face to face interview with ECDC selection panel
• 3rd stage
• Training site market
• Interviews with training sites
• 4th stage
• Final selection meeting between panel and host
  site representatives and placement of candidates

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Selection MS-track

• Criteria for MS
• Number of EPIET alumni in the active public
  health workforce of the MS
• None 2 points 1 or 2 1 point 3 or more 0
  points
• MS with acknowledged EPIET or national FETP
  training site within the past 4 cohorts
• No training site 2 points training site 1
  fellow trained 1 point site with 2 fellows
  trained 0 points
• Number of fellows from the MS who graduated from
  an EPIET/FETP programme in the past
• None 2 points 1-4 1 point 5 or more 0
  points
• Criteria for fellows
• Same as EU-track
• Selection done by MS

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Practical Training current training sites

• Host sites increased from 15 to 30 between 2002
  and 2010
• 13 regional sites

Helsinki
Stockholm
Oslo
ECDC
Copenhagen
Belfast
Glasgow
Bilthoven
Dublin
Cardiff
Berlin
Warsaw
Gloucester
Brussels
Hannover
London (3x)
Dillenburg
Paris (2x)
Landau
Budapest
Martinique
Stuttgart
Munich
Vienna
Lyon
Ljubljana
Marseille
Rome
Madrid
Lisbon
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Introductory course

• Lectures from field epidemiologists
• Introduction to microbiology
• Interactive case studies based on real
  investigations
• Development of a study protocol based on real PH
  issue
• Surveillance exercise
• Communication exercises

Since 2004 in Menorca
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Modules

• Compulsory
• Introductory course
• Computer tools in outbreak investigations
• Vaccinology
• Multivariable analysis
• Sampling techniques
• Project review (2x)
• Optional
• Time Series Analysis
• Rapid assessment of complex emergency situations
• In addition
• Introduction to the laboratories (organized
  locally)

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Choice of modules

• Skills assessment form at start of training
• Discussed with host site supervisor and EPIET
  coordinators
• Depending on
• Previous skills
• Local training opportunities
• Future needs

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Tracks and associated programmes
Supervision
ECDC
In Other MS
ECDC
On Site
On Site
On Site
Financed by ECDC
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What is the role of coordinators?

• Overall responsible for training
• Organise training modules / courses
• Revise teaching content in agreement with EPIET
  Traning Site Forum
• Training sites
• Identify and appraise new training sites
• Regularly evaluate existing training sites
• Supervisors
• Identify training needs for supervisors
• Advise supervisors on questions
• Fellows
• Review all work of fellows
• Make sure that training goes smoothly
• Supervise international missions
• Ensure smooth administrative processes

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Supervision of fellows

• Supervision on site
• At least 1 senior epidemiologist
• On average 4 hours/week
• Draft protocols/reports/manuscripts sent to all
  coordinators
• Viadesk as virtual office/Extranet as of 1st
  April 2011
• Final work uploaded on virtual office

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Scientific Conference

• ESCAIDE
• co-organized by ECDC, EPIET, EAN, TEPHINET-Euro
• Slots for EPIET fellows
• EPIET fellows, alumni, FETPs Europe, supervisors
  and colleagues from training sites
• EPIET Fellows prepared by project review module
• TEPHINET conference
• Global conference biannually
• EIS International night

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Output of EPIET 1995-2010

• Cohort 1-15
• 176 fellows trained in EPIET
• 63 fellows trained in EPIET-associated programmes
• 177/185 (96) graduated (diploma)
• Network of trainers
• Facilitation at modules
• EPIET training site forum

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Challenges

• Size of cohorts
• Number of modules
• Number of facilitators needed
• Logistics
• Quality of teaching
• MS-track
• In sites that may not be ideal
• Requires intensive support
• Protected time for fellows

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Thank you!