Assessor Resource

PUADEFPH014A
Investigate and control outbreak of disease

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


The application of this unit in the workplace includes initiating an investigation within an organisation including gathering data through interview, and inspecting, sampling and analysing that information to draw conclusions to classify the disease. It also includes identifying and implementing immediate and long-term control measures to prevent the re-occurrence of disease outbreak.

This function may be performed in collaboration with other health service personnel and may be initiated and led by a medical officer.

This unit of competency is applicable to preventive medicine technical officers. This function is limited to the performance of tasks in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

This unit covers the competency required to investigate and control outbreak of disease within the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.

Pre-requisite Unit/s

Nil



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

gather data using a minimum of three data collection methods outlined in the performance criteria

classify the path of disease using calculated attack rates, endemic curve diagrams and assessed risk factors as the basis for analysis

determine control measures applicable to the disease and the circumstances of the outbreak.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over a minimum of two investigation scenarios.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in a simulated situation or scenario.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

simulated situation or scenario of outbreak of disease with all supporting information

equipment required to perform measurement, testing and on site inspection.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing

communicate professionally with members of the organisation and health services

conduct full range of investigational activities

document investigation findings and produce detailed written reports

establish and maintain administrative systems

establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work

interpret the significance of medical, health and other data obtained from a variety of sources

interview cases to determine demographic, medically relevant information and risk factor data

lead, plan, assign and review the work of personnel assisting with the investigation

maintain confidentiality

prioritise tasking

respond to organisational inquiries and provide information within area of own expertise

work independently in the absence of supervision

Required Knowledge

administrative systems

aetiology of infectious diseases, including microbiology

best use of available resources

biological, ecologic and social factors that promote the spread of a disease

causes of manpower wastage

chronic and communicable diseases, including bioterrorism agents, their transmission, prevention and control methods

control measures for disease transmission

current disease surveillance methods

documentation processes relevant to own workplace

epidemiologic investigative principles, practices and procedures

epidemiology of disease

water quality assurance measures

food storage and distribution standards including the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach to food control

legal rights and responsibilities

organisational policies and procedures

planning and control systems

risk management principles

role and capabilities of other health care providers including environmental health team

team leadership management principles

time management strategies to set priorities

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Data may include

Circumstances which allegedly implicate a particular source

Copies of menus (for at least three days prior to the onset of symptoms for the first case)

Distribution of the disease by:

time (onset time and epidemic curve)

place (potential places where the implicated meal was served such as cafeterias, restaurants and picnics)

person (distribution of the disease by age, gender and food items eaten)

Illness in any person prior to the event or whether anyone vomited in a public place

Information regarding events leading up to, during or after a disease outbreak, including:

action on first reported case

environmental protection activities

epidemiology of presenting disease

food sources

group activities

hygiene procedures

operating environment

referral action

response to treatment by health personnel

secondary infections

subsequent environmental protection activities

water sources

Measurement results

Names and phone numbers of any contact person or organisers or contact details for all exposed persons

Sample test results (microbiological)

Symptoms and severity i.e. if any cases have been hospitalised, duration

Whether any personnel were ill prior to the outbreak or worked while symptomatic

Relevant personnel may include

Activity commander

Environmental health officer

Health planning personnel

Medical personnel

Pathology specialist

Factors affecting the complexity of the investigation may include

Availability of personnel

Availability of resources

Continued prevalence of disease

Operational constraints

Time lapse since first reported case

Wellness of personnel affected by the disease

Initial control measures may include

Diverting to the use of alternative sources of food and water

Early referral for treatment

Exclusion of suspected personnel from duties (e.g. food handlers)

Quarantine of water, food, personnel

Restriction of personnel to designated areas

Screening of personnel for illness

Shutting down food, water production facilities

Common factors in the outbreak of disease may include

Activity

Attendance at facilities

Food history (72 hours)

General health history

Hygiene practices

Movement

Onset of symptoms

Report to medical facility

Routine

In-confidence may include

Adherence to Privacy Act

Information disclosed to an appropriate person consistent with the responsibility of this position

Interview area with privacy

Legal and ethical requirements

Secure location for written records

Site information may include

Compliance records

Environmental swabs

Measurements

Qualitative and quantitative data gathered through interview

Policies and procedures

Quality records

Samples

Site layout diagram

Site occupant status (such as numbers, activity, health, attendance, qualifications)

Equipment may include

Adhesive tape

Cotton swabs (sterile)

Dial thermometers

Forceps (sterile)

Ice, wet or dry

Microbiological lab test request form samples

Pencils

Phosphate buffered solution

Questionnaires for use in collecting information from patients

Rubber bands

Sample bottles (sterile)

Sample spoons (sterile)

Sharp knife

Characteristics of the disease may include

Expected duration

Incubation period

Route of infection

Signs and symptoms

Time to onset

Risk factors may include

Occupation:

child care worker

food handler

health care worker

Possible source:

contact with other cases

environmental

food

institutional

occupational

water

Travel:

interstate

intrastate

overseas

Compliance factors may include

Compliance with:

HACCP

hygiene procedures

organisational policies and procedures

preventive maintenance

quality control measures

routine testing program

Clean up procedures may include

Discarding contaminated water

Discarding foodstuff

Safely removing suspect or contaminated items

Sanitising an area

Monitoring procedures may include

External auditing

Internal auditing

Periodic/random inspections

Quality control checks

Disease control measures may include

Controlling or modifying the host response to exposure:

immunising susceptible hosts

modifying behaviour or using a barrier (such as education)

using prophylactic chemotherapy

Controlling the source of the pathogen:

inactivating or neutralising the pathogen

removing persons from exposure

removing source of contamination

Interrupting the transmission of disease:

controlling mosquito or vector transmission using skin repellents

improving personal sanitation (such as washing hands before eating)

sterilising or disinfecting environmental sources of transmission

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Relevant personnel within affected organisation are liaised with to gain consent for investigation and to inform them of the process to be undertaken 
Factors affecting the complexityof the investigation are determined and addressed to facilitate commencement of investigation activities 
Persons assisting with the investigation are tasked and provided with appropriate guidance to enable them to assist independently 
Verification of outbreak is confirmed by comparison of reported cases with the usual incidence of cases experienced 
If possible, presumptive diagnosis is obtained from medical officer to focus investigation effort 
Initial control measures are instigated to limit the spread of disease and to provide early treatment to those displaying symptoms of the disease 
Interviews are conducted with both affected and non-affected personnel to identify the common factors in the outbreak of disease including the potential source/s of disease 
Information gathered is treated as in-confidence and is only disclosed to persons needing to know who are assisting in the investigation 
Questionnaires are administered to both affected and non-affected personnel to elicit further information of the common factors in the outbreak of disease 
On site inspections are conducted of places found to be common to those affected by the disease to gather site information to assist with the identification of the disease source/s 
Equipment is used during on site inspection in accordance with organisational policies and procedures 
Data from all sources is collated to enable comparison and analysis 
Data assessed as being not related to the disease outbreak is removed to enable accurate analysis 
Characteristics of the disease are assessed to determine the route of disease and likely targets 
Disease attack rate is determined to establish the cumulative incidence rate of disease over the period of the outbreak 
Data is used to develop an endemic curve diagram to show the spread of infection over time and to identify the likely incidents of exposure to the disease 
Attack rate data and likely incidence of exposure are used as a basis for identifying risk factors present in disease outbreak to focus the scope of further investigation 
Further data is gathered, based on the identified risk factors, and is integrated into analysis 
Information gathered during on site inspection, such as sample testing results, is compared with analysis findings to classify the disease source, route and target 
Finding from the analysis are documented and communicated to relevant personnel to enable appropriate notification to occur and to inform the development of control measures 
Compliance factors are reviewed to identify the systemic issues which may have contributed to the disease outbreak and which require corrective action 
Clean up procedures are determined to allow facilities and/or the environment connected with the source of disease to return to normal activity as soon as possible 
Monitoring procedures are determined to confirm compliance with initial clean up and adherence with organisational policies and procedures aimed at preventing the spread of disease 
Disease control measures are determined to provide both immediate and long term control of disease including prevention and early detection 
Investigation findings and disease control measures are compiled into a disease outbreak report and issued to relevant personnel for review and implementation 
Those directly and indirectly involved in the disease outbreak are debriefed to clarify the investigation outcomes and to provide an opportunity for learning on the prevention of disease 
Disease control measures are integrated with the wider environmental health support plan to apply lessons learned in the disease outbreak to other operating areas and groups 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUADEFPH014A - Investigate and control outbreak of disease
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Assessment Record Sheet

PUADEFPH014A - Investigate and control outbreak of disease

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