New eLearning Series on Contact Tracing Available Now

Through funding from TEPHINET, the Australian Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (MAE) program (housed within the Australian National University) and the Training and Development Unit at the Public Health Agency of Canada have developed a new, three-module learning series on contact tracing. This series aims to provide public health professionals with essential skills and competencies associated with designing and implementing contact tracing programs.

These modules (see below for a description of, and links to, each module) are designed to be completed as a learning series. However, they may also be completed as standalone lessons.

Accessing the Modules

This eLearning series is hosted on the GOARN Knowledge Platform. You will need to create an account on the GOARN Knowledge Platform (or sign into an existing account) in order to access the modules.

To log into your account or create a new one, please visit https://extranet.who.int/goarn/user.

The links to each module are included below. After logging into your account, click on the titles below to access the modules in English. For the Spanish version, click on the Spanish flag icon on the top of the screen from the English version page.

Module 1: Introduction to Contact Tracing 

This module provides a high-level overview of what contact tracing is, when it is an appropriate tool to help control an infectious disease outbreak, and how to plan for and implement a contact tracing protocol. Serving as a refresher on how contact tracing can help reduce disease transmission, this module is relevant for both novice and experienced contact tracers.

Module 2: Social Determinants, Culture and Contact Tracing

This module provides a general introduction to the importance of recognizing social determinants and culture in the design and implementation of contact tracing activities. This module aims to build awareness and enable the participant to apply learnings to real-world contexts through working examples from a variety of infectious diseases where contact tracing is a core public health intervention to mitigate transmission. This module is relevant for both novice and experienced contact tracers.

Module 3: Mental Health and Well-being for Contact Tracers

This module provides a general overview of the mental health and psychosocial impacts of contact tracing for individuals being treated for an infectious disease and individuals who have been exposed to an infectious disease, as well as the public health professionals (or trained volunteers) who perform case investigations, notify contacts of exposure, or follow-up with contacts in the context of a public health intervention. The module builds awareness of the mental health and well-being aspects of contact tracing that should be considered during contact tracing activities and provides practical tools and solutions to keep mental health and well-being at the forefront.