On 16 September, I posted a request on the above three discussion lists for
leads to sources of good computer simulations, ideally but not necessarily
in the public domain. As you may remember, I was looking for additional
teaching resources on outbreak investigation, infection control in
healthcare facilities, clinical and/or environmental microbiology (including
molecular methods in support of epidemiology), CQI, technology assessment,
policy analysis, and cost-effectiveness/cost-benefit assessment. I'd been
using CDC's Pharyngitis in Louisiana (which is a more sophisticated
simulation than their older DoEpi scenarios); had seen a review of
MicroVision- a Microbiology Laboratory on CD-ROM (see ASM News
1998;64(11):654); and a description of the multimedia program MicroII: Cases
in Medical Microbiology (see American Society for Microbiology Press
catalog); and knew of a few other non-simulation educational software
products (see my chapter, Medical Informatics and the Infection Control
Professional, in Olmsted RN (ed): APIC Infection Control and Applied
Epidemiology: Principles and Practice. St. Louis, Mosby-Year Book Inc.,
1996, pp. 34-1 to 34-9).
With thanks to those who replied, it's interesting that the number replying
to request a summary of resources identified equaled the number replying to
identify resources. In no particular order, here is a summary:
Paula Zemel, PHD, RD, LDN, Associate Professor of Public Health Nutrition at
the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, suggested:
> You might take a look at outbreak investigation exercises developed at U
>of Ill:
>
> http://sable.cvm.uiuc.edu
>
> This site includes several exercises concerning food safety, including one
>on outbreak investigation. at the end of the presentation, there are 4
> simulations
Chuck Treser, Sr. Lecturer & Assoc. Director Undergraduate Program Office at
the univ. of Washington Dept. of Environmental Health suggested checking:
> http://weber.u.washington.edu/~riskyb/desk.html
>It is intended for 10-12th grades
Rita Kelliher, MSPH, Director of Distance Learning Center at Association of
Schools of Public Health suggested:
>You may want to check with the Public Health Foundation (PHF). PHF,
>through a collaborative arrangement with CDC, distributes training
>materials developed through the Public Health Training Network/CDC.
>The PHF website is: http://www.phf.org
(Their Summer '99 catalogue lists print-based self-study courses, books,
slide sets, videos, but only two software products).
Conrad M. Otterness suggested:
>At CDCs site there is a program called DoEPI.
>It is rather interesting. Several modules covering outbreaks, nutritional
>investigation, and other stuff -- check it out.
>There is also a web site at I think that has links to these areas.
>Try... http://homepage.oanet.com/dalden/ehsoft.html
Expression of similar interest and request for summary of replies was
received from:
Chris Skelly, PhD, Senior Advisor (Environmental Health), Surveillance Team,
Public Health Group, Safety and Regulation Branch, Ministry of Health,
Wellington, New Zealand;
John Powles, University lecturer in public health medicine, Department of
Community Medicine, Institute of Public Health, Robinson Way, Cambridge;
Heath Forbes Heatlie B.Sc.. MSc, Health Information Research Fellow,
Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Staffordshire,
England.
Thanks again,
David.
David Birnbaum, PhD, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dept. of Health Care & Epidemiology
University of British Columbia, Canada
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