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

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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

Practical impact measurement for contact tracing

According to students, this course provides a highly practical and insightful guide for measuring and maximizing the impact of COVID-19 contact tracing programs. Learners frequently praise the course's focus on actionable strategies and its core tool, the ConTESSA application, which many describe as a game-changer for evaluation. While a few older reviews noted some initial challenges with ConTESSA's usability or content timeliness, recent feedback indicates the tool is now often found intuitive and powerful, and the content remains highly relevant. The course assumes prior experience in epidemiology and public health, making it ideal for working professionals and program managers seeking to enhance their skills.

While an older review cited dated content, newer reviews found it relevant.

"While the topic is important, I found the course material somewhat dated given the rapid evolution of the pandemic response."

"Excellent and timely content. As a public health professional, I found the strategies to maximize impact very valuable."

"Very relevant for current public health challenges. The course provides a good overview of how to measure impact."

Best suited for professionals with existing epidemiology and public health experience.

"It assumes prior knowledge, which is good because it doesn't waste time on basics."

"It's definitely for professionals already in the field, not for beginners."

"The course assumed a strong epidemiological background, which suited me, but might be challenging for others."

Provides immediately applicable strategies and indicators for program improvement.

"This course was incredibly insightful and practical for anyone working in public health."

"As a public health professional, I found the strategies to maximize impact very valuable. It really highlights important performance indicators."

"I found the interactive exercises helpful and very relevant for current public health challenges."

A powerful, interactive application key to estimating program impact.

"The ConTESSA tool is a game-changer for evaluating contact tracing programs. I appreciated the clear explanations and real-world applicability."

"The tool is fantastic and the theoretical background is well presented. This course is a must for anyone managing these programs."

"The ConTESSA tool is highly intuitive once you get the hang of it and very powerful."

Mixed feedback on the ConTESSA tool's ease of use and technical support.

"The ConTESSA application itself could have been explained more thoroughly. It's a powerful tool, but the instructions were sometimes vague."

"The ConTESSA tool also seemed a bit clunky on my Mac, making it hard to use sometimes. Not as impactful as I hoped."

"I felt the ConTESSA tool's compatibility issues on non-Windows systems were a minor annoyance."

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Contact Tracer

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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