Via the Centre for Online and Blended Learning (COBL), University of Copenhagen:
The number of people living with cardiometabolic diseases is increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries. A new online course, created in collaboration between the University of Copenhagen and the Christian Medical College Vellore in India, explores how to tackle the alarming situation.
The free Coursera course, produced by COBL with CMC Vellore and the Global Health Section at UCPH, looks at why people in India and other low- and middle-income countries are often younger and leaner when they develop diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia — and how healthcare staff can strengthen awareness, prevention, and lifelong treatment where resources are limited.
Production began with a learning design workshop at CMC Vellore in June 2023. Most of the recording followed in November 2023, when the COBL team spent two weeks in Vellore, including field work in a Tamil Nadu village with nurses, health aides, patients, and families. Almost seven hours of interviews (including 2.5 hours in Tamil) and 15 hours of footage were edited into the course.
Learning design workshop at CMC Vellore in June 2023. Anne-Marie Mosbech (left), leading the PEP project at COBL; Divya Kumar (writing), technical project lead from CMC; and Vinod Joseph Abraham (blue shirt, standing), Professor of Community Health at CMC and main instructor on the course.
COBL media producer Jonas Nilaus Vilhelmsen and CMC technical project lead Divya Kumar on field recording in a village in Tamil Nadu, November 2023.
Recording a nurse and a health aide from CMC Vellore visiting a woman living with cardiometabolic disease in the village.
CMC health aide Priya P, ready for interview. The interview was conducted in Tamil with CMC nurse Jenifa as interpreter.
The course is part of the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP), funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, with complete editorial independence from the funder.
Join the free course on Coursera. More: Tackling cardiometabolic diseases – insights from India
Source: Centre for Online and Blended Learning, University of Copenhagen.