Despite the growing number of refugees and survivors of torture, providers learn little during their training about caring for this population. We devised an introductory Internet-based course as an educational tool accessible to providers who want to learn about these victims. The course has 4 educational objectives: 1. To understand the scope and magnitude of human rights violations. 2. To recognize risk factors, symptoms and signs. 3. To learn how to approach this population. 4. To recognize the resources available for these individuals. The course covers 9 areas: definitions, history, asylum process, epidemiology, symptoms/signs, clinical approach, resources, education and prevention. The project has a pilot phase during which the course’s content and format will be tested and an implementation phase divided in two parts: incorporating changes from the pilot phase and placing the final course on the Internet. The first phase and the first part of the second phase are complete. The course was introduced to faculty members, community-based healthcare providers, residents, and medical and public health students during a series of conferences. Audiences agreed that the course would fulfill knowledge needed in today’s healthcare environment. We noted the importance of planning further development for areas such as epidemiology, education, and prevention for public health providers and symptoms, signs, and clinical approach for practitioners. The flexibility and easy access of Internet-based courses will benefit a significant number of victims of human rights violations because providers throughout the world can access knowledge otherwise not available by more formal ways of education.
Learning Objectives: Recognize the importance of internet-based courses as an educational tool Recognize the need to train healthcare providers about human rights violations
Keywords: Human Rights, Internet
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.