The course is multidisciplinary and will equip the international audience of people living with chronic diseases, laypeople, clinicians, researchers and students to consider the impact of chronic disease on society. This course demonstrates how chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive lung disease and cancer are all linked by common causes. It also explains why these diseases must be treated together, rather than individually. They are all genetic, media, socioeconomic, psychological, financial, developmental, and economic. Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, is an unique university-based education and research center that focuses on chronic diseases through complex systems. Researchers from many fields (Science and Medicine as well as Architecture, Law, etc.) collaborate to find novel ways to address the problem of chronic diseases. Participants and contributors to this course are all members of Charles Perkins Centre. They will share the unique, interdisciplinary perspective this Centre offers.
This course will explain how complex systems can be used to reduce the impact of chronic diseases. These diseases are then described in detail. It also discusses the risk factors and environmental factors which have contributed to our current epidemic of diabetes, obesity and heart disease. The last module focuses on the solution and, more importantly, how to find them. There is no single solution, so there are many options.
It consists of five content modules and an additional module to help with assignments. The course takes approximately 6 weeks. The completion certificate is issued based on participation in 6 modules.
Here's what you will learn
The Charles Perkins Centre's recruitment of interdisciplinary teams in order to reduce the burden of chronic diseases
Complex Systems Approach to Solving Complex Problems
- What the fundamentals are and where it's headed in chronic disease research
These are the most significant risk factors and global incidences of chronic diseases.
These risk factors are a result of societal, biological, regulatory and other influences
Global solutions for chronic diseases: How can we help?