Seven years of the field epidemiology training programme (FETP) at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: an internal evaluation

Table 2 Evaluation indicators for the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP), National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 2001-2007

	Programme components
	Students	Curriculum	Faculty	Field work	Laboratory
Input	▪ 86 applicants, of which 79 (92%) nominated by states	▪ Course recognized by Medical Council of India (MCI)	▪ Faculty with ICMR staff status	▪ Posting within the public health service	▪ Institutional links with ICMR and other Government laboratories
		▪ 7 FETP-compatible core competencies^a	▪ Faculty -to- student ratio ranging from 0.40 to 0.12	▪ 75% of the time spent practicing in the field	▪ Laboratory resources
					▪ Equipment and supplies
Process	▪ All state-nominated candidates selected^b	▪ Curricular process documented and available on-line	▪ 1.3 supervision visits and 1.9 mini contact session/FETP course	▪ 76% to 100% fieldwork assignments rated at least “very useful” by graduates	▪ 66% graduates evaluating the laboratory component as insufficient
	▪ 82% to 96% of learning activities rated “very useful” or better by graduates				▪ 63% graduates rating laboratory curriculum “fair” or less
Output	▪ 69 graduates out of 80 students (86%)	▪ > 50% of graduates at least “proficient” for all competencies^c	▪ >50% of graduates rating supervisions as “good” or better	▪ 47 oral presentations	▪ 76/106 (72%) investigations with laboratory-confirmation
				▪ 110 posters
				▪ 29 publications

^aRevised in 2004.
^bSelection process based on written examination and on personal interview implemented since 2009 in view of the large number of applicants (50% of applicants selected).
^cSelf assessment during the on-line survey. However, all students had to demonstrate acquisition of the competency in order to graduate.

ISSN: 1478-4491