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Addressing Violence Through Patient Care

Learn about the vital role that health workers play in violence prevention and peace-building in clinical environments.

5,042 enrolled on this course

Case 1: The bomb at the hospital
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Digital upgrade

    Free

Understand the methods and importance of medical peace work

On this course you will learn about some of the key concepts and challenges in the field of medical peace work, particularly the importance of violence prevention and peace practice for healthcare professionals.

You will cover aspects of theory, field work and advocacy focusing on working with domestic violence, refugee healthcare and healing torture victims. In each case you will consider the specific challenges of treating these victims of violence and the role you play in helping them.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 9 seconds As health professionals we care for the life, health and well-being of our patients. Violence, weapons and war cause enormous suffering and misery and endanger what is important for us. As health care professionals often meet both the victims and perpetrators of violence, we have a unique role in preventing violence and building more peaceful societies. My name is Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy, and I am Adi Vyas. This MOOC has been made by the University of Bergen in collaboration with the European Medical Peace Work partnership. Together we’ll introduce you to the key concepts, opportunities and dilemmas in medical peace work.

Skip to 0 minutes and 57 seconds Domestic violence affects the health and well-being of many of our patients. In the first week we will learn how health professionals can assist victims of domestic violence, and how domestic violence can be prevented. In the second week we discuss some of the barriers to healthcare for refugees and asylum seekers, and how they may be overcome.

Skip to 1 minute and 25 seconds In the third week, we will focus on the needs of a particularly vulnerable group, those who have been victims of torture. How can health professionals recognize the signs and symptoms of torture and what can they do for these patients? So, join us, as we explore these important global health issues, through the lens of public health and peace practice.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Domestic violence

    • Welcome to the Course

      Medical Peace Work is a wide and varied field of practice, and this course will introduce you to some of its key concepts and dilemmas.

    • Introduction to domestic violence

      What is domestic violence and how many patients experience it?

    • Risk groups, signs & symptoms

      How can you recognize signs, symptoms and risk groups of domestic violence, and how identify patients in need?

    • Issues around disclosure

      How can you support the disclosure of domestic violence?

    • Danger assessment and safety planning

      How can you assess if the patient is in danger and how support a safety planning?

    • Follow-up and referral

      How can you follow-up such patients and refer them to available specialised agencies?

    • Basic Concepts in Medical Peacework

      This course is about peace and health, and in particular about peace work done by health professionals. Let’s have a look at a few basic concepts which we will use in this course.

    • What did we learn this week?

      What did you learn about the role of health workers in the identification and response to domestic violence?

  • Week 2

    Refugee health

    • The refugee health team

      This week you meet Sarah and join her through her first week working with the refugee health team.

    • Monday

      Briefing with head of Department and Infectious diseases outpatient clinic

    • Tuesday

      Infectious diseases ward and mental health care

    • Wednesday

      Internal Medicine

    • Thursday

      Pediatric outpatient clinic and Asylum seekers reception camp

    • Friday

      Debriefing with team

    • What did we learn this week?

      Let's review what we have learnt this week, and how it is linked to the basic concepts of Medical Peace Work.

  • Week 3

    Healing torture victims

    • Introduction to healing torture victims

      This module follows the story of a young woman from Uganda who is a victim of torture. You may find her experience and some of the pictures upsetting.

    • Basic concepts of Healing torture victims

      A brief description of torture, its definition, and a torture victims' first contact with primary care.

    • Initial consultations

      Peace has three consultations with the GP, which gradually delve into her past.

    • Delving deeper

      Peace experiences a flashback, and we learn the real story of her past.

    • Long-term care

      Here you will see what happened next in Peace's story.

    • What did we learn this week?

      Let's review what we have learnt this week, and how it is linked to the basic concepts of Medical Peace Work.

    • Course Conclusion

      Course summary

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe how conflict, violence, and peace are related to health
  • Assess and respond to signs of domestic violence or torture in clinical practice
  • Design healthcare for refugees and in conflict areas

Who is the course for?

This course has been created for people with some experience in healthcare. It is particularly relevant to clinical healthcare professionals working in medicine, nursing, and allied health.

Who will you learn with?

Professor of Public Health at the University of Bergen. Research interests: sexual and reproductive health; interpersonal violence. Teaching: Public Health, Medical Peace work, Epidemiology

Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the City of Bergen, Norway. Specialty: Community medicine. Doctorate: Occupational medicine. Master's degree: Peace and conflict transformation. Coordinator of MPW3.

Who developed the course?

University of Bergen

The University of Bergen (UiB) offers first-class education and cutting-edge research at our location in the city centre of Bergen, Norway.

What's included?

University of Bergen are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible
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