How to Use This Course

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Introduction
Availability
Instructions
Instructional Format
Learning Objectives

en Español
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Introduction

The goal of Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) is to increase the primary care provider’s knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to help in evaluation and treating of potentially exposed patients. This CSEM focuses on arsenic toxicity.

Availability

Two versions of the Arsenic Toxicity CSEM are available.

The HTML version https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/arsenic/cover-page.html provides content through the Internet.
The downloadable PDF [1.43 MB] version provides content in an electronic, printable format, especially for those who may lack adequate Internet service.
The HTML version offers interactive exercises and prescriptive feedback to the user.

Instructions

To make the most effective use of this course:

Take the Initial Check to assess your current knowledge about arsenic toxicity.
Read the title, learning objectives, text, and key points in each section.
Complete the progress check exercises at the end of each section and check your answers.
Complete and submit your assessment and posttest response online if you wish to obtain continuing education credit. Continuing education certificates can be printed immediately upon completion.

Instructional Format

This course is designed to help you learn efficiently. Topics are clearly labeled so that you can skip sections or quickly scan sections you are already familiar with. This labeling will also allow you to use this training material as a handy reference. To help you identify and absorb important content quickly, each section is structured as follows:

instructional format
Section Element	Purpose
Title	Serves as a “focus question” that you should be able to answer after completing the section
Learning Objectives	Describes specific content addressed in each section and focuses your attention on important points
Text	Provides the information you need to answer the focus question(s) and achieve the learning objectives
Key Points	Highlights important issues and helps you review.
Progress Check	Enables you to test yourself to determine whether you have mastered the learning objectives
Answers	Provide feedback to ensure you understand the content and can locate information in the text

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Arsenic Toxicity CSEM, you will be able to:

Learning objectives
Content Area	Objectives
Overview	Describe arsenic.
Exposure Pathways	Identify where in the United States arsenic is found today. Identify the major routes of exposure to arsenic.
Who Is at Risk	Identify the populations most heavily exposed to arsenic.
Standards and Regulations	Describe U.S. standards for arsenic exposure.
Biological Fate	Describe what happens when arsenic enters the body.
Physiologic Effects	Describe the ways arsenic induces illness. Describe the health effects associated with arsenic exposure.
Clinical Assessment	Identify the primary focuses of the patient history (including the exposure history). Describe the most typical physical findings on patient examination. Describe the tests you would order for patients exposed to arsenic.
Treatment and Management	Identify primary strategies for treating arsenic associated diseases.
Patient Education and Counseling	Describe instructions for patient self-care.