EPIDEMIOLOGY RESEARCH TRAINING IN VIETNAM: EVALUATION AT THE FIVE YEAR MARK

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EPIDEMIOLOGY RESEARCH TRAINING IN VIETNAM:
EVALUATION AT THE FIVE YEAR MARK

AYA GOTO¹⁾, NGUYEN QUANG VINH²⁾, NGUYEN THI TU VAN³⁾,
HIROHIDE YOKOKAWA¹⁾, SEIJI YASUMURA¹⁾ and NGUYEN THY KHUE⁴⁾

¹⁾Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, ²⁾Hanh Phuc Women and Children Hospital Project, Thuan An, Binh Duong, Vietnam, ³⁾Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, ⁴⁾Department of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

(Received October 9, 2009, accepted January 28, 2010)

Abstract: Recently, the importance of research capacity development has been rediscovered as a vital approach to help strengthen health systems for improved global health.　The University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City (UMP) in Vietnam in collaboration with the Department of Public Health at the Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine (PHFMU) developed an epidemiology training course for mid-career Vietnamese physicians.　We trained a total of 128 participants over four courses since 2004.　In order to balance basic and advanced course content for first-time and returning participants, we encouraged active participation of past graduates in teaching Course IV in 2009.　Not only did this provide further training opportunities for advanced learners, it also increased project ownership by Vietnamese participants. Although more rigorous evaluation is needed, we believe that this summary of our past activities presents a useful example for others undertaking similar initiatives.　To further upgrade the project in Vietnam, institutional support is required to nurture a strong scientific emphasis as well as self-sustainability in research capacity development.

Key words: Public health professional education, epidemiology, program evaluation, Vietnam

後藤あや，グエン·クワン·ビン，グエン·ティ·ツーバン，横川博英，安村誠司，グエン·ティ·フエ

Corresponding author:Aya Goto
E-mail:agoto@fmu.ac.jp
http://fmu.ac.jp/home/lib/F-igaku/
http://www.sasappa.co.jp/online/