Tuesday 11 February 2025 (Online)
The science of syndemics describes the way diseases cluster in individuals and populations. This course will introduce key concepts, summarise current evidence, and show how a syndemics approach can help build solutions to some of NZ's most complex health issues.
The course will begin by introducing participants to key concepts in the field, followed by evidence updates on syndemic conditions including rheumatic fever, multimorbidity, Type 1 diabetes, COVID-19, and many more.
Syndemic diseases are challenging because they need integrated planning and delivery that is oriented to the realities of people’s lives rather than to health services. This interactive course will bring together participants and topic experts to consider how Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) can respond to its syndemics in a strategic and equity-focused way.
Topics covered
The first half of the day will introduce key concepts and provide an overview of the large body of evidence linking infectious diseases and chronic conditions. We will discuss specific examples of syndemic cycles that illustrate some of NZ’s most challenging health issues.
The second half of the day will be strongly solutions-focused, with panel and participant discussions. We will present new research findings on whānau-centred care and there will be opportunities to identify more integrated approaches to research, policy, and practice that can enable us to break harmful syndemic disease cycles.
By the end of the day, you should be able to:
- Define syndemics and identify the major pathways through which infectious and chronic diseases cluster and amplify one another
- Summarise recent evidence about common, high-impact syndemic diseases in Aotearoa NZ
- Identify key changes that are needed in research, policy, and practice to enable better solutions to syndemic diseases
- Identify examples in your own work where a syndemic framing can enable a more integrated approach to complex health challenges
Style of course
Online Symposium – Multi-speaker presentations and a panel discussion via zoom webinar.
Who should attend?
This course is aimed at participants working in a range of health practice, policy, and research roles. An important feature of the day will be identifying practical ways that policy and practice need to change and reconnect traditionally siloed approaches to infectious and chronic diseases.
Draft timetable
| Time | Content | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 8.30am | Registration | |
| 9:00am | Session 1 Introduction to syndemics | |
| Introduction to the day and key concepts, with an illustrative example | ||
| Karakia and opening | TBC | |
| Course outline and housekeeping | Amanda Kvalsvig | |
| Introduction: syndemics. What they are and why they matter | Michael Baker | |
| Typology of syndemic pathways | Jon Kennedy | |
| Covid-19: a classic syndemic disease | Amanda Kvalsvig | |
| Session 1 Q&A | ||
| 10:30am | Morning tea | |
| 11:00am | Session 2. Research update: syndemic diseases and responses in Aotearoa NZ | |
| Further specific examples of syndemics of importance to Aotearoa NZ, including why each one is a syndemic, why it is important to address, and proposed solutions | ||
| Rheumatic fever | Julie Bennett | |
| Helicobacter pylori infection | James Stanley / Andrea Teng | |
| Brief Break | ||
| Multimorbidity and infectious diseases | TBC | |
| Antibiotic treatment and Type 1 diabetes in childhood | Sharan Ram | |
| Session 2 Q&A | ||
| 12:30pm | Lunch break | |
| 1:30pm | Session 3. The changes that are needed in research, policy, and practice to address syndemic diseases | |
| Rethinking research, policy, and practice with key examples | ||
| Introduction to integrated approaches with an update on trends in the burden of infectious diseases in Aotearoa NZ | Jon Kennedy | |
| Research example: Integrated data approaches for syndemics research | James Stanley/ Andrea Teng | |
| Policy example: Integrated respiratory strategy for epidemic and pandemic infections | TBC | |
| Brief Break | ||
| Practice example: Whānau ora approach to syndemic diseases | TBC | |
| Session 3 Q&A | ||
| 3:00pm | Afternoon tea | |
| 3:30pm | Session 4. Next steps for Aotearoa New Zealand | |
| Group and panel discussions and closing summary | ||
| Breakout rooms | Primary care, policy, environments, research | |
| Panel discussion | TBC | |
| Closing summary and Karakia | Michael Baker | |
| 5:00pm | Finish |
Teaching staff
- Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago
- Michael Baker, University of Otago
- Jon Kennedy, University of Otago
- Julie Bennett, University of Otago
- James Stanley, University of Otago
- Andrea Teng, University of Otagp
- Sharan Ram, Massey University
Location
This one-day course will be held online via zoom.
Course cost and registration
Online full day course
$225 early bird, $300 after Thursday 19 December 2024.
A 50% discount is available to full-time students, those unwaged and University of Otago staff.
For more information please contact the course convenor
- Contact name
- Associate Professor Amanda Kvalsvig
- amanda.kvalsvig@otago.ac.nz