Measuring and Maximizing Impact of COVID-19 Contact Tracing from Coursera

This course aims to provide managers and developers of contact tracing programs guidance on the most important indicators of performance of a contact tracing program, and a tool that can be used to project the likely impact of improvements in specific indicators. Students who complete the course will be proficient in using the Contact Tracing Evaluation and Strategic Support Application (ConTESSA) to estimate the impact of their contact tracing program on transmission and strategizing about how to increase their program’s impact. A secondary audience for the course will be decision makers interested in knowing more about the characteristics of effective contact tracing programs, and strategies to improve.

The course is designed for individuals who are already leading contact tracing programs who have significant experience with epidemiology and public health. We strongly recommend completing this course on a laptop or a desktop rather than a phone as you’ll need to complete worksheets and open the course and the application simultaneously.

What's inside

Syllabus

Measuring indicators of impact in contact tracing

Interactive tool to estimate impact in contact tracing

Strategies to increase impact of contact tracing and review of underlying assumptions

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Designed for experienced public health professionals

Emphasizes the importance of metrics in contact tracing programs

Provides an interactive tool for estimating the impact of contact tracing interventions

Led by experts in the field of public health and epidemiology

Focuses on improving the outcomes of contact tracing programs

Reviews summary

Covid-19 contact tracing measurement

According to students, learners say this course on Measuring and Maximizing Impact of COVID-19 Contact Tracing shows you how to measure and maximize the impact of COVID-19 contact tracing through engaging assignments.The highly positive reviews say the course is well received and gives you a hands-on look at:

Using the ConTESSA tool
Calculating case numbers
Measuring death rates
Predicting the spread of COVID-19
Collecting statistics
Analyzing data to improve contact tracing practices

The difficult reviews mention exams and quizzes being difficult and that you need to use ConTESSA alongside the course or it will be difficult to complete. Overall, the course is well received and the learner consensus is mostly positive.

Provides hands-on experience in data analysis and using the ConTESSA app to improve contact tracing.

"This course was really helpful, i felt like I was in the classroom, so much to learn and think aboutThanks to the Johns Hopkins University"

"Very interesting to learn, a program that is very well prepared and well planned by John Hopkins, hopefully it can help more people in this COVID-19 pandemic."

"Very good course, with an advanced level of difficulty as said. Very interesting application for program performance. Need more practices to get its full potential."

The course material and quizzes are difficult and require a high level of math and epidemiology skills.

"This course is primarily a primer for the use of Contessa, including situations where its use would be practical or helpful."

"This course blew my mind! It gives more in-depth detail on contact tracing and how to take the most suitable approaches to reduce risk transmission."

"This was a great course the usage of the contessa tool was really good to get a deep understanding of the interactions between actions"

The course heavily relies on the use of the ConTESSA tool for data analysis and modeling. Some students found it difficult to use.

"The second module was reviewed too fast by the instructor and therefore made the second quiz needlessly difficult ..."

"I really got stuck on quiz 3, question 2 and 3. Seems like this was a problem with many other students."

"This course was really test your capabilities of measuring and maximizing the impact of COVID-19. Thanks for sharing such vital information and training."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Measuring and Maximizing Impact of COVID-19 Contact Tracing with these activities:

Resource Compilation

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Gather and organize relevant articles, guidelines, and tools for easy access and reference.

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Collect materials related to contact tracing best practices.
Create a central repository for resources.

Epidemiology Refresher

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Review key epidemiology concepts to strengthen your foundation for contact tracing.

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Revisit the basics of disease transmission.
Review outbreak investigation methods.

Contact Tracing Scenarios

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Engage in interactive scenarios to practice real-life contact tracing challenges.

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Conduct mock interviews with individuals who have tested positive.
Create contact lists and develop follow-up plans.
Manage multiple cases and prioritize contacts for follow-up.

Three other activities

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Discussion Group

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Engage in discussions with peers to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate on solutions.

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Join or start a discussion group focused on contact tracing.
Participate in regular discussions and contribute to knowledge sharing.

Contact Tracing Training Workshop

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Attend a workshop specifically designed to enhance your contact tracing skills and knowledge.

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Identify relevant workshops and register for attendance.
Actively participate in the workshop and engage with experts.

Impact Evaluation Plan

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Develop a comprehensive plan to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of your contact tracing program.

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Define evaluation objectives and metrics.
Identify data sources and collection methods.
Analyze data and interpret results.

Career center

Learners who complete Measuring and Maximizing Impact of COVID-19 Contact Tracing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Contact Tracer

Contact Tracers work to identify and track individuals who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for a contagious disease. They provide information on how to prevent the spread of the disease and monitor individuals for symptoms.

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Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses work with individuals, families, and communities to promote health and prevent disease. They provide a variety of services, including health education, immunizations, and screenings. The Measuring and Maximizing Impact of COVID-19 Contact Tracing course can be useful to a Public Health Nurse as it provides guidance on how to measure and maximize the impact of contact tracing programs. This can help Public Health Nurses ensure that their contact tracing programs are effective in preventing the spread of disease.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists study the distribution and patterns of health events and diseases in a population. They investigate how diseases spread and develop strategies to prevent and control them. The Measuring and Maximizing Impact of COVID-19 Contact Tracing course can be useful to an Epidemiologist as it provides guidance on key performance indicators for contact tracing programs and a tool to project the impact of improvements in specific indicators. This can help Epidemiologists evaluate the effectiveness of their contact tracing programs and identify areas for improvement.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They work with users to understand their needs, and then create software solutions that meet those needs.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make informed decisions. They use a variety of statistical and data mining techniques to identify trends and patterns in data.

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Health Educator

Health Educators develop and implement educational programs to promote health and prevent disease. They work with individuals, groups, and communities to provide information on a variety of health topics.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants help organizations improve their performance. They work with clients to identify problems, develop solutions, and implement change.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians apply statistical methods to solve problems in biology and medicine. They design and analyze studies, and interpret data to help researchers understand the causes and treatments of diseases.

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Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineers design and improve systems for producing and delivering goods and services. They work with businesses to improve their efficiency and productivity.

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Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts study the needs of organizations and develop solutions to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. They work with users to identify problems, and then design and implement systems to address those problems.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct research to advance knowledge in a particular field. They design and conduct experiments, and analyze data to test hypotheses.

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Health Informatics Specialist

Health Informatics Specialists use technology to improve the delivery of health care. They design and implement electronic health records systems, and develop tools to help clinicians and patients manage health information.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts develop and evaluate policies for government agencies and non-profit organizations. They research issues, analyze data, and make recommendations on how to improve policies.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects to achieve specific goals. They work with stakeholders to define project requirements, develop budgets, and track progress.

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Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use mathematical and analytical techniques to solve problems in a variety of industries. They work with businesses to improve their operations, and with government agencies to develop policies.

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