The knowledge base for public health
Public health skills are built on a knowledge base which is detailed in the MFPH Part A syllabus, including:
- Basic and clinical sciences including research method, epidemiological and statistical method, health needs assessment and evaluative technique
- Disease causation and prevention including health promotion, screening, communicable disease and environmental hazard control and social politics
- Organisation and delivery of health care, including health intelligence
- Knowledge of the law as it affects the population's health
- Leadership and management skills including change management and health economics
This knowledge base has been mapped to the nine key areas of public health practice and every learning outcome has a clearly identified knowledge base (other than those which define attitudes and behaviours).
Trainees may attend a formal academic course or prepare for the examination under their own direction.
The Part A MFPH is held twice yearly, in January and June. Trainees would normally be expected to sit this exam at the earliest opportunity depending on the length of their academic course.