HLN710 Epidemiology
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $2,976 |
| International unit fee | $4,236 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Philip Baker | p2.baker@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This is a foundational health unit addressing the essential epidemiological skills and principles that health professionals need to develop for effective public health and clinical practice. Epidemiology can assist in determining risk factors associated with diseases and what factors may protect against disease. Epidemiology also identifies the effectiveness of health interventions and quantifies potential harms. The skills of scientific assessment of the effectiveness of prevention strategies are necessary for service provision and policy development. In this unit, you will develop the ability to critically evaluate research and study designs using epidemiological techniques in structured peer discussion. This introductory unit develops the skills in effectively assessing and interpreting health data and the medical literature. The unit explains how to calculate key measures of disease occurrence and association and contemporary issues of major importance in health.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate epidemiological methods and designs and develop collaborative skills through peer learning
- Develop skills to accurately calculate and interprete of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease in the case-examples provided;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Describe the knowledge of the nature of causal inference within the framework of contemporary epidemiology;
- Apply knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods as a public health response.
Content
- The application of epidemiology and quantitative research methods in population and clinical health sciences
- Measurement of exposure and risk of disease
- Design of epidemiology studies
- Causality and association
- Methods of disease surveillance in the community
- Understanding and identifying risks of bias in epidemiological studies
- Epidemiological principles for health program evaluation.
Learning Approaches
The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures and tutorial discussions. Teaching methods include live-streamed on-campus lectures and tutorials offered on-campus and online using relevant digital technology, literature searches and self-directed learning. You will have the opportunity to participate in tutorials either on campus using the collaborative spaces (enrolled internally) or the same content reformated for the online environment (online enrolment). Learning to collaborate with professionals locally and remotely is an important skill for epidemiologists, researchers and other health professionals. In this unit, all students are required to participate in peer review with a discussion partner and reflect on learnings from this process.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback through your use of audience response technology to undertake interactive in-class polling to provide an assessment of your knowledge during the lecture and provide immediate feedback on the effect of teaching to your lecturer. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback on your independent work within the construction of the pedagogy of peer-learning. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff after completing the formative assessments. The peer-learning practised in lectures, and tutorials will develop skills for the second assessment.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessment pieces overall and these include both formative and summative items. The first is an invigilated examination to test your knowledge of epidemiological concepts and skills in calculation and interpretation of measures. Lectures and tutorial discussions will assist in working toward this assessment task. In the second assessment, you will be asked to first work independently and then to work with a peer on the development and conceptualisation of an analytical report. To maximise engagement with the task, you will work on crafting independently with the template provided, a substantial draft that is the basis of your discussion with a peer and uploads it in Week 10; then the revised report is submitted in Week 12. Tutorial activities will guide and inform the second piece of assessment. You will be required to describe the feedback provided and received and any resulting actions. The final item is a timed problem-solving task in Week 13. Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and tasks applied to support you in completing assessment pieces.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Exam
This assessment contains both multiple choice and short answer questions to test your knowledge and ability to calculate and interpret the measures of the occurrence of disease and measures of association between exposure and disease; application of specialised knowledge of the principles and methods underlying epidemiological study and strategies for disease prevention, disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Your ability to distinguish causality from simple association and your advanced understanding of the nature of causal inference will also be assessed. This is an invigilated exam.
Assessment: Analytical Report
The report simulates interdisciplinary and interprofessional practice in a government health agency where you are required to apply an appraisal tool to critically evaluate and synthesise an epidemiological study and then submit an analytical report detailing your response. You will be provided with a personalised template representative of a standard government and industry procedure to prepare and submit the report.
The authentic role is a professional in a government health agency working with other disciplines. The audience are peer students and a government health agency. The purpose is to show your ability to work interprofessionally in critiquing evidence-based literature and negotiating responses. The product is the analytical report. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and support to complete this task.
Process
You will be given a published research study to analyse and critique as well as a critical appraisal tool and guide. You will choose a partner to simulate the real-world discussion and negotiation and share your well-developed drafts to discuss concepts and principles.
The assessment requires the application of the appropriate epidemiological principles and negotiation skills to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using standard critical appraisal tool methodology.
You will sign up in Canvas with another student you have chosen to be your discussion partner.
Both you and your partner undertake the critical analysis individually and then upload your own drafts into Canvas. Following the upload, you will then engage in a discussion using the structure of the assessment as your guide. Skills in peer discussion will be taught in lectures and tutorials, supported by written documentation in the assessment guide. It is a requirement of this assessment to engage in peer feedback.
Following the discussion, you have the opportunity to collaborate together and submit jointly or submit individually.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Problem-solving Task (Timed)
This problem-solving task involves reviewing brief epidemiological case studies and practical situations relating to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, screening, prognosis and evaluation. You will need to evaluate the problem presented in the case-study / situation, determine the appropriate strategy to solve the problem and then provide an appropriate epidemiological solution.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2024) Gordis Epidemiology 7th Edition. Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323877756
Recommended text(s)
Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.4 (updated August 2023). Cochrane, 2023. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.
Porta, M. (Ed.). (2014). A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
Rosner, B. (2016). Fundamentals of Biostatistics (8th ed). Cengage Brain.
Other
https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current
Additional references and published papers for this unit will be recommended or referred to in learning activities. Citation and copies of these papers will be available through the online teaching site or through the library search engine.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit except for those associated with substantial computer-based work. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.NS95 Master of Nursing
- Apply advanced knowledge and skills to manage and improve nursing practices across diverse and complex contexts to improve health outcomes and service provision.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse evidence to inform decision-making in advanced nursing and interprofessional care contexts.
Relates to: Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Design and develop ethically appropriate research and/or professional plans that respond to a gap in health care that informs best practice.
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU60 Graduate Diploma in Public Health
- Apply knowledge of public health principles to current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse and synthesise the specialised knowledge, theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral, written and technical communication and academic skills to professional practice
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of an advanced body of theoretical and practical knowledge and emerging challenges within the fields of occupational and environmental health/management
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Demonstrate advanced skills and abilities to describe, appraise and apply the major tools and systems of OHS and EH practice and research to identify and manage complex problems
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Work independently and in teams to interpret and communicate complex scientific, legal and psychosocial data and present it in a format that is easy to understand
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU86 Master of Public Health
- Apply advanced knowledge of public health principles to complex, current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse, synthesise and apply the specialised knowledge,theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral,written and technical communication and research literacy skills to professional practice in interprofessional teams
Relates to: Analytical Report
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Online
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
This is a foundational health unit addressing the essential epidemiological skills and principles that health professionals need to develop for effective public health and clinical practice. Epidemiology can assist in determining risk factors associated with diseases and what factors may protect against disease. Epidemiology also identifies the effectiveness of health interventions and quantifies potential harms. The skills of scientific assessment of the effectiveness of prevention strategies are necessary for service provision and policy development. In this unit, you will develop the ability to critically evaluate research and study designs using epidemiological techniques in structured peer discussion. This introductory unit develops the skills in effectively assessing and interpreting health data and the medical literature. The unit explains how to calculate key measures of disease occurrence and association and contemporary issues of major importance in health.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate epidemiological methods and designs and develop collaborative skills through peer learning
- Develop skills to accurately calculate and interprete of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease in the case-examples provided;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Describe the knowledge of the nature of causal inference within the framework of contemporary epidemiology;
- Apply knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods as a public health response.
Content
- The application of epidemiology and quantitative research methods in population and clinical health sciences
- Measurement of exposure and risk of disease
- Design of epidemiology studies
- Causality and association
- Methods of disease surveillance in the community
- Understanding and identifying risks of bias in epidemiological studies
- Epidemiological principles for health program evaluation.
Learning Approaches
The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures and tutorial discussions. Teaching methods include live-streamed on-campus lectures and tutorials offered on-campus and online using relevant digital technology, literature searches and self-directed learning. You will have the opportunity to participate in tutorials either on campus using the collaborative spaces (enrolled internally) or the same content reformated for the online environment (online enrolment). Learning to collaborate with professionals locally and remotely is an important skill for epidemiologists, researchers and other health professionals. In this unit, all students are required to participate in peer review with a discussion partner and reflect on learnings from this process.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback through your use of audience response technology to undertake interactive in-class polling to provide an assessment of your knowledge during the lecture and provide immediate feedback on the effect of teaching to your lecturer. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback on your independent work within the construction of the pedagogy of peer-learning. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff after completing the formative assessments. The peer-learning practised in lectures, and tutorials will develop skills for the second assessment.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessment pieces overall and these include both formative and summative items. The first is an invigilated examination to test your knowledge of epidemiological concepts and skills in calculation and interpretation of measures. Lectures and tutorial discussions will assist in working toward this assessment task. In the second assessment, you will be asked to first work independently and then to work with a peer on the development and conceptualisation of an analytical report. To maximise engagement with the task, you will work on crafting independently with the template provided, a substantial draft that is the basis of your discussion with a peer and uploads it in Week 10; then the revised report is submitted in Week 12. Tutorial activities will guide and inform the second piece of assessment. You will be required to describe the feedback provided and received and any resulting actions. The final item is a timed problem-solving task in Week 13. Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and tasks applied to support you in completing assessment pieces.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Exam
This assessment contains both multiple choice and short answer questions to test your knowledge and ability to calculate and interpret the measures of the occurrence of disease and measures of association between exposure and disease; application of specialised knowledge of the principles and methods underlying epidemiological study and strategies for disease prevention, disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Your ability to distinguish causality from simple association and your advanced understanding of the nature of causal inference will also be assessed. This is an invigilated exam.
Assessment: Analytical Report
The report simulates interdisciplinary and interprofessional practice in a government health agency where you are required to apply an appraisal tool to critically evaluate and synthesise an epidemiological study and then submit an analytical report detailing your response. You will be provided with a personalised template representative of a standard government and industry procedure to prepare and submit the report.
The authentic role is a professional in a government health agency working with other disciplines. The audience are peer students and a government health agency. The purpose is to show your ability to work interprofessionally in critiquing evidence-based literature and negotiating responses. The product is the analytical report. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and support to complete this task.
Process
You will be given a published research study to analyse and critique as well as a critical appraisal tool and guide. You will choose a partner to simulate the real-world discussion and negotiation and share your well-developed drafts to discuss concepts and principles.
The assessment requires the application of the appropriate epidemiological principles and negotiation skills to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using standard critical appraisal tool methodology.
You will sign up in Canvas with another student you have chosen to be your discussion partner.
Both you and your partner undertake the critical analysis individually and then upload your own drafts into Canvas. Following the upload, you will then engage in a discussion using the structure of the assessment as your guide. Skills in peer discussion will be taught in lectures and tutorials, supported by written documentation in the assessment guide. It is a requirement of this assessment to engage in peer feedback.
Following the discussion, you have the opportunity to collaborate together and submit jointly or submit individually.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Problem-solving Task (Timed)
This problem-solving task involves reviewing brief epidemiological case studies and practical situations relating to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, screening, prognosis and evaluation. You will need to evaluate the problem presented in the case-study / situation, determine the appropriate strategy to solve the problem and then provide an appropriate epidemiological solution.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2024) Gordis Epidemiology 7th Edition. Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323877756
Recommended text(s)
Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.4 (updated August 2023). Cochrane, 2023. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.
Porta, M. (Ed.). (2014). A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
Rosner, B. (2016). Fundamentals of Biostatistics (8th ed). Cengage Brain.
Other
https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current
Additional references and published papers for this unit will be recommended or referred to in learning activities. Citation and copies of these papers will be available through the online teaching site or through the library search engine.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit except for those associated with substantial computer-based work. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.NS95 Master of Nursing
- Apply advanced knowledge and skills to manage and improve nursing practices across diverse and complex contexts to improve health outcomes and service provision.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse evidence to inform decision-making in advanced nursing and interprofessional care contexts.
Relates to: Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Design and develop ethically appropriate research and/or professional plans that respond to a gap in health care that informs best practice.
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU60 Graduate Diploma in Public Health
- Apply knowledge of public health principles to current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse and synthesise the specialised knowledge, theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral, written and technical communication and academic skills to professional practice
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of an advanced body of theoretical and practical knowledge and emerging challenges within the fields of occupational and environmental health/management
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Demonstrate advanced skills and abilities to describe, appraise and apply the major tools and systems of OHS and EH practice and research to identify and manage complex problems
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Work independently and in teams to interpret and communicate complex scientific, legal and psychosocial data and present it in a format that is easy to understand
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU86 Master of Public Health
- Apply advanced knowledge of public health principles to complex, current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse, synthesise and apply the specialised knowledge,theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral,written and technical communication and research literacy skills to professional practice in interprofessional teams
Relates to: Analytical Report
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Philip Baker | p2.baker@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This is a foundational health unit addressing the essential epidemiological skills and principles that health professionals need to develop for effective public health and clinical practice. Epidemiology can assist in determining risk factors associated with diseases and what factors may protect against disease. Epidemiology also identifies the effectiveness of health interventions and quantifies potential harms. The skills of scientific assessment of the effectiveness of prevention strategies are necessary for service provision and policy development. In this unit, you will develop the ability to critically evaluate research and study designs using epidemiological techniques in structured peer discussion. This introductory unit develops the skills in effectively assessing and interpreting health data and the medical literature. The unit explains how to calculate key measures of disease occurrence and association and contemporary issues of major importance in health.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate epidemiological methods and designs and develop collaborative skills through peer learning
- Develop skills to accurately calculate and interprete of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease in the case-examples provided;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Describe the knowledge of the nature of causal inference within the framework of contemporary epidemiology;
- Apply knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods as a public health response.
Content
- The application of epidemiology and quantitative research methods in population and clinical health sciences
- Measurement of exposure and risk of disease
- Design of epidemiology studies
- Causality and association
- Methods of disease surveillance in the community
- Understanding and identifying risks of bias in epidemiological studies
- Epidemiological principles for health program evaluation.
Learning Approaches
The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures and tutorial discussions. Teaching methods include live-streamed on-campus lectures and tutorials offered on-campus and online using relevant digital technology, literature searches and self-directed learning. You will have the opportunity to participate in tutorials either on campus using the collaborative spaces (enrolled internally) or the same content reformated for the online environment (online enrolment). Learning to collaborate with professionals locally and remotely is an important skill for epidemiologists, researchers and other health professionals. In this unit, all students are required to participate in peer review with a discussion partner and reflect on learnings from this process.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback through your use of audience response technology to undertake interactive in-class polling to provide an assessment of your knowledge during the lecture and provide immediate feedback on the effect of teaching to your lecturer. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback on your independent work within the construction of the pedagogy of peer-learning. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff after completing the formative assessments. The peer-learning practised in lectures, and tutorials will develop skills for the second assessment.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessment pieces overall and these include both formative and summative items. The first is an invigilated examination to test your knowledge of epidemiological concepts and skills in calculation and interpretation of measures. Lectures and tutorial discussions will assist in working toward this assessment task. In the second assessment, you will be asked to first work independently and then to work with a peer on the development and conceptualisation of an analytical report. To maximise engagement with the task, you will work on crafting independently with the template provided, a substantial draft that is the basis of your discussion with a peer and uploads it in Week 10; then the revised report is submitted in Week 12. Tutorial activities will guide and inform the second piece of assessment. You will be required to describe the feedback provided and received and any resulting actions. The final item is a timed problem-solving task in Week 13. Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and tasks applied to support you in completing assessment pieces.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Exam
This assessment contains both multiple choice and short answer questions to test your knowledge and ability to calculate and interpret the measures of the occurrence of disease and measures of association between exposure and disease; application of specialised knowledge of the principles and methods underlying epidemiological study and strategies for disease prevention, disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Your ability to distinguish causality from simple association and your advanced understanding of the nature of causal inference will also be assessed. This is an invigilated exam.
Assessment: Analytical Report
The report simulates interdisciplinary and interprofessional practice in a government health agency where you are required to apply an appraisal tool to critically evaluate and synthesise an epidemiological study and then submit an analytical report detailing your response. You will be provided with a personalised template representative of a standard government and industry procedure to prepare and submit the report.
The authentic role is a professional in a government health agency working with other disciplines. The audience are peer students and a government health agency. The purpose is to show your ability to work interprofessionally in critiquing evidence-based literature and negotiating responses. The product is the analytical report. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and support to complete this task.
Process
You will be given a published research study to analyse and critique as well as a critical appraisal tool and guide. You will choose a partner to simulate the real-world discussion and negotiation and share your well-developed drafts to discuss concepts and principles.
The assessment requires the application of the appropriate epidemiological principles and negotiation skills to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using standard critical appraisal tool methodology.
You will sign up in Canvas with another student you have chosen to be your discussion partner.
Both you and your partner undertake the critical analysis individually and then upload your own drafts into Canvas. Following the upload, you will then engage in a discussion using the structure of the assessment as your guide. Skills in peer discussion will be taught in lectures and tutorials, supported by written documentation in the assessment guide. It is a requirement of this assessment to engage in peer feedback.
Following the discussion, you have the opportunity to collaborate together and submit jointly or submit individually.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Problem-solving Task (Timed)
This problem-solving task involves reviewing brief epidemiological case studies and practical situations relating to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, screening, prognosis and evaluation. You will need to evaluate the problem presented in the case-study / situation, determine the appropriate strategy to solve the problem and then provide an appropriate epidemiological solution.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2024) Gordis Epidemiology 7th Edition. Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323877756
Recommended text(s)
Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.4 (updated August 2023). Cochrane, 2023. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.
Porta, M. (Ed.). (2014). A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
Rosner, B. (2016). Fundamentals of Biostatistics (8th ed). Cengage Brain.
Other
https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current
Additional references and published papers for this unit will be recommended or referred to in learning activities. Citation and copies of these papers will be available through the online teaching site or through the library search engine.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit except for those associated with substantial computer-based work. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.NS95 Master of Nursing
- Apply advanced knowledge and skills to manage and improve nursing practices across diverse and complex contexts to improve health outcomes and service provision.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse evidence to inform decision-making in advanced nursing and interprofessional care contexts.
Relates to: Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Design and develop ethically appropriate research and/or professional plans that respond to a gap in health care that informs best practice.
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU60 Graduate Diploma in Public Health
- Apply knowledge of public health principles to current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse and synthesise the specialised knowledge, theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral, written and technical communication and academic skills to professional practice
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of an advanced body of theoretical and practical knowledge and emerging challenges within the fields of occupational and environmental health/management
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Demonstrate advanced skills and abilities to describe, appraise and apply the major tools and systems of OHS and EH practice and research to identify and manage complex problems
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Work independently and in teams to interpret and communicate complex scientific, legal and psychosocial data and present it in a format that is easy to understand
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU86 Master of Public Health
- Apply advanced knowledge of public health principles to complex, current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse, synthesise and apply the specialised knowledge,theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral,written and technical communication and research literacy skills to professional practice in interprofessional teams
Relates to: Analytical Report
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Online
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
Overview
This is a foundational health unit addressing the essential epidemiological skills and principles that health professionals need to develop for effective public health and clinical practice. Epidemiology can assist in determining risk factors associated with diseases and what factors may protect against disease. Epidemiology also identifies the effectiveness of health interventions and quantifies potential harms. The skills of scientific assessment of the effectiveness of prevention strategies are necessary for service provision and policy development. In this unit, you will develop the ability to critically evaluate research and study designs using epidemiological techniques in structured peer discussion. This introductory unit develops the skills in effectively assessing and interpreting health data and the medical literature. The unit explains how to calculate key measures of disease occurrence and association and contemporary issues of major importance in health.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate epidemiological methods and designs and develop collaborative skills through peer learning
- Develop skills to accurately calculate and interprete of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease in the case-examples provided;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Describe the knowledge of the nature of causal inference within the framework of contemporary epidemiology;
- Apply knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods as a public health response.
Content
- The application of epidemiology and quantitative research methods in population and clinical health sciences
- Measurement of exposure and risk of disease
- Design of epidemiology studies
- Causality and association
- Methods of disease surveillance in the community
- Understanding and identifying risks of bias in epidemiological studies
- Epidemiological principles for health program evaluation.
Learning Approaches
The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures and tutorial discussions. Teaching methods include live-streamed on-campus lectures and tutorials offered on-campus and online using relevant digital technology, literature searches and self-directed learning. You will have the opportunity to participate in tutorials either on campus using the collaborative spaces (enrolled internally) or the same content reformated for the online environment (online enrolment). Learning to collaborate with professionals locally and remotely is an important skill for epidemiologists, researchers and other health professionals. In this unit, all students are required to participate in peer review with a discussion partner and reflect on learnings from this process.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback through your use of audience response technology to undertake interactive in-class polling to provide an assessment of your knowledge during the lecture and provide immediate feedback on the effect of teaching to your lecturer. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback on your independent work within the construction of the pedagogy of peer-learning. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff after completing the formative assessments. The peer-learning practised in lectures, and tutorials will develop skills for the second assessment.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessment pieces overall and these include both formative and summative items. The first is an invigilated examination to test your knowledge of epidemiological concepts and skills in calculation and interpretation of measures. Lectures and tutorial discussions will assist in working toward this assessment task. In the second assessment, you will be asked to first work independently and then to work with a peer on the development and conceptualisation of an analytical report. To maximise engagement with the task, you will work on crafting independently with the template provided, a substantial draft that is the basis of your discussion with a peer and uploads it in Week 10; then the revised report is submitted in Week 12. Tutorial activities will guide and inform the second piece of assessment. You will be required to describe the feedback provided and received and any resulting actions. The final item is a timed problem-solving task in Week 13. Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and tasks applied to support you in completing assessment pieces.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Exam
This assessment contains both multiple choice and short answer questions to test your knowledge and ability to calculate and interpret the measures of the occurrence of disease and measures of association between exposure and disease; application of specialised knowledge of the principles and methods underlying epidemiological study and strategies for disease prevention, disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Your ability to distinguish causality from simple association and your advanced understanding of the nature of causal inference will also be assessed. This is an invigilated exam.
Assessment: Analytical Report
The report simulates interdisciplinary and interprofessional practice in a government health agency where you are required to apply an appraisal tool to critically evaluate and synthesise an epidemiological study and then submit an analytical report detailing your response. You will be provided with a personalised template representative of a standard government and industry procedure to prepare and submit the report.
The authentic role is a professional in a government health agency working with other disciplines. The audience are peer students and a government health agency. The purpose is to show your ability to work interprofessionally in critiquing evidence-based literature and negotiating responses. The product is the analytical report. Embedded support for learning is the peer and tutor feedback on drafts and support to complete this task.
Process
You will be given a published research study to analyse and critique as well as a critical appraisal tool and guide. You will choose a partner to simulate the real-world discussion and negotiation and share your well-developed drafts to discuss concepts and principles.
The assessment requires the application of the appropriate epidemiological principles and negotiation skills to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using standard critical appraisal tool methodology.
You will sign up in Canvas with another student you have chosen to be your discussion partner.
Both you and your partner undertake the critical analysis individually and then upload your own drafts into Canvas. Following the upload, you will then engage in a discussion using the structure of the assessment as your guide. Skills in peer discussion will be taught in lectures and tutorials, supported by written documentation in the assessment guide. It is a requirement of this assessment to engage in peer feedback.
Following the discussion, you have the opportunity to collaborate together and submit jointly or submit individually.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Problem-solving Task (Timed)
This problem-solving task involves reviewing brief epidemiological case studies and practical situations relating to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, screening, prognosis and evaluation. You will need to evaluate the problem presented in the case-study / situation, determine the appropriate strategy to solve the problem and then provide an appropriate epidemiological solution.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2024) Gordis Epidemiology 7th Edition. Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323877756
Recommended text(s)
Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.4 (updated August 2023). Cochrane, 2023. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.
Porta, M. (Ed.). (2014). A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
Rosner, B. (2016). Fundamentals of Biostatistics (8th ed). Cengage Brain.
Other
https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current
Additional references and published papers for this unit will be recommended or referred to in learning activities. Citation and copies of these papers will be available through the online teaching site or through the library search engine.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit except for those associated with substantial computer-based work. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.NS95 Master of Nursing
- Apply advanced knowledge and skills to manage and improve nursing practices across diverse and complex contexts to improve health outcomes and service provision.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse evidence to inform decision-making in advanced nursing and interprofessional care contexts.
Relates to: Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Design and develop ethically appropriate research and/or professional plans that respond to a gap in health care that informs best practice.
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU60 Graduate Diploma in Public Health
- Apply knowledge of public health principles to current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse and synthesise the specialised knowledge, theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral, written and technical communication and academic skills to professional practice
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of an advanced body of theoretical and practical knowledge and emerging challenges within the fields of occupational and environmental health/management
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Demonstrate advanced skills and abilities to describe, appraise and apply the major tools and systems of OHS and EH practice and research to identify and manage complex problems
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Work independently and in teams to interpret and communicate complex scientific, legal and psychosocial data and present it in a format that is easy to understand
Relates to: Analytical Report
PU86 Master of Public Health
- Apply advanced knowledge of public health principles to complex, current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report, Problem-solving Task (Timed) - Critically analyse, synthesise and apply the specialised knowledge,theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Exam , Analytical Report - Apply advanced oral,written and technical communication and research literacy skills to professional practice in interprofessional teams
Relates to: Analytical Report