QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR THE EVALUATION
OF TROPICAL DISEASE CONTROL
A course organized from 16 to 27 March 1998
by the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES)
and the department of Public Health, Erasmus University Rotterdam.
BACKGROUND
Decision making on how money can be spent most effectively for the control
of tropical diseases should be supported by a systematic comparison of the
available control options. Mathematical, quantitative models are developed
to organize the available evidence in a coherent framework and permit
estimation of short term and long term effects.
PROGRAMME
- The public health burden of disease in different parts of the
world and ways to reduce it
- Different types of quantitative models for the evaluation of
tropical disease control and their application
- Different measures of duration and quality of life and how to
use each one appropriately
- Interpretation of the information generated by mathematical
models, including an understanding of their limitations
- Ways in which interventions can affect disease transmission
and disease occur-rence both on the short term and on the long term
- Measuring the costs incurred by the individual and the
community as a consequence of disease
- Modelling approaches for specific diseases such as Leprosy,
Schistosomiasis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Lymfatic
Filariasis.
- Students will learn to work with the user-friendly software
ONCHOSIM, a computer simulation programme for the
transmission and control of Onchocerciasis.
TARGET GROUP
This course is designed for those who are involved in the planning,
management or evaluation of tropical disease control programmes and those
who do research in this area, whether in their own country or in an
international context, and who are interested in the systematic reasoning
which the use of disease control models stimulates. For students wishing to
develop mathematical models themselves, this course should be considered as
a first introduction to the subject. Participants are assumed to be
familiar with basic concepts of epidemiology and biostatistics. A general
familiarity with computers is an advantage.
FACULTY
Prof. Dik Habbema, Drs. Willem-Jan Meerding, Drs. Bram Meima, Dr. Gerrit
van Oortmarssen, Dr. Anton Plaisier, Dr. Johan Velema (course
co-ordinator), Dr. Sake de Vlas and Drs. Carina van Vliet, who are all
staff members of the Center for Decision Sciences for Tropical Disease
Control, department of Public Health, Erasmus University Rotterdam. In
addition, guest lecturers from other institutions will contribute to the
course.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information please visit our website: www.eur.nl/fgg/nihes or
contact: The Admissions Co-ordinator, the Netherlands Institute for Health
Sciences, Erasmus University Medical School, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR
Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Phone: + 31 10 408 82 88, Fax: + 31 10 436
59 33, e-mail: NIHES at nihes.fgg.eur.nl
Dr. Johan P. Velema
Programme Coordinator
Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences
P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, Netherlands
phone: +31-10-408-7992 fax: +31-10-436-5933
