PUB326 Introduction to 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: | PUB326 |
|---|---|
| Antirequisite(s): | HLN710 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Successful completion of 96 credit points is assumed knowledge. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,104 |
| International unit fee | $4,488 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PUB326 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Successful completion of 96 credit points is assumed knowledge. |
| Anti-requisite: | HLN710 |
| Coordinator: | Kaeleen Dingle | k.dingle@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Epidemiology is the quantitative language of public health. It enables us to understand the incidence and prevalence of disease, and causative and preventative factors. It is an important skill for all health professionals and is essential for those working in public health. This unit will cover calculating, interpreting and communicating epidemiological data to the general public and health professional audiences. Critical appraisal skills are applied to identify the strengths and weaknesses of research articles, and assess the validity and usefulness of the research findings. By applying the concepts learned in this unit to current public health problems and issues, you will contextualise the practice of epidemiology as it relates to real life and recognise its role in informing health promotion, public health programs and policies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Calculate and interpret basic epidemiological measures of disease, focused on rates and proportions
- Communicate the measures of association and health impact to professional and general audiences
- Evaluate the major types of epidemiological studies and analyse the major strengths and limitations of each study design
- Critically appraise health evidence published in epidemiological studies, as it relates to real life from diverse perspectives, including Indigenous perspectives
Content
Major topics addressed in this unit include:
- scope and uses of epidemiology;
- mechanism of disease transmission;
- measuring the frequency of disease (prevalence and incidence) including morbidity and mortality;
- calculation of relative (relative risks, rate ratio, risk ratio, odds ratio) and absolute measures (attributable risk, risk difference, rate difference, NNT/NNH) of association and impact;
- common epidemiological research designs and sampling methods;
- introduction to causal reasoning in public health research;
- sources of error and bias in epidemiological studies;
- introduction to methods of disease screening programs in different population groups, including Indigenous communities
- communicating epidemiological data to general and professional audiences
- using software for epidemiological calculations and visualisations
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
- online modules (including pre-recorded lectures)
- tutorials (available for online and on-campus students)
- online readings and learning materials
- real-world case studies and research studies
- hands-on practical experiences using software packages
- practical experience in the calculation, application and interpretation of epidemiological measures
In order to maximise your learning experience in this unit, advanced preparation in advance of tutorial sessions and active participation is expected of you.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will gain peer and tutor feedback on the activities and practical exercises conducted in tutorials. Through the online quizzes you will self-assess your understanding to prepare yourself for the following assessments. You will also receive written feedback on your second assessment, which will prepare you for your final assessment.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessments in this unit:
1. Online quizzes - This will draw on your developing skills in the fundamental principles of epidemiology, including the interpretation of descriptive and analytical key epidemiological data.
2. Problem Solving Task - This will connect your learning about epidemiological measures with your skills in interpreting and communicating public health data.
3. Critical Appraisal - This will develop your knowledge and skills in the evaluation and critique of published epidemiological primary research articles.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Online quiz
You will complete a quiz in two parts (A in Week 2 and B in Week 5) that require calculation and interpretation of key epidemiological measures. You will be required to include a glossary of key epidemiological terms.
Assessment: Problem solving task
As an emerging healthcare professional, you will be provided with a relevant section of a report or study that could include data tables or visualisations. Responding to a series of questions you will interpret and calculate key epidemiological measures. Using this information, you will communicate the health impact to both a professional and general audience.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Critical Appraisal
As an emerging healthcare professional, you will critically appraise and summarise the evidence reported in two research articles. You will answer a series of questions that analyse each study's strengths and limitations, assess the internal and external validity of the study, and critique the study conclusions. Public health professionals need to critically appraise and synthesise research evidence to create a strong body of evidence to improve the health and well-being of diverse populations.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
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
You will need access to the prescribed text.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., & Kjellström, T. (2006). Basic epidemiology (2nd ed.). Geneva: World Health Organisation (also available as an ebook)
Reference book(s)
Webb, P., Bain, C., Page, A., Kirk, A, & Sleigh, A. (2020). Essential epidemiology. An introduction for students and health professionals. (4th edition). Cambridge University Press.
Carneiro, I. (2017). Introduction to epidemiology (3rd edition). Open University Press.
Risk Assessment Statement
No risks beyond the ordinary would be anticipated in association with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PU51 Bachelor of Health Information Management
- Critically evaluate and apply theoretical and technical perspectives on health information management (HIM), applicable to professional practice to solve routine and emergent problems. [Knowledge, Practice]
Relates to: Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal - Initiate effective approaches for engaging in critical thinking, decision making and problem solving that reflect diverse perspectives and culturally safe and responsive practice, encompassing evidence-based HIM solutions. [Practice, Values/Disposition
Relates to: Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal - Employ digital capabilities in accessing, evaluating, utilising and communicating digital health information across a range of stakeholders, and intra- and inter-professional contexts that demonstrate independence, accountability, creativity and initiative as a HIM professional. [Practice, Values/Disposition]
Relates to: Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal
PU52 Bachelor of Public Health
- Apply public health principles and evidence to improve population health outcomes.
Relates to: ULO1, Online quiz, Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal - Critically analyse scholarly literature and effectively conduct research to inform evidence based public health practice.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Critical Appraisal - Communicate with professional, non-professional and community audiences about public health using diverse technologies.
Relates to: ULO2, Problem solving task
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Online
| Unit code: | PUB326 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Successful completion of 96 credit points is assumed knowledge. |
| Anti-requisite: | HLN710 |
Overview
Epidemiology is the quantitative language of public health. It enables us to understand the incidence and prevalence of disease, and causative and preventative factors. It is an important skill for all health professionals and is essential for those working in public health. This unit will cover calculating, interpreting and communicating epidemiological data to the general public and health professional audiences. Critical appraisal skills are applied to identify the strengths and weaknesses of research articles, and assess the validity and usefulness of the research findings. By applying the concepts learned in this unit to current public health problems and issues, you will contextualise the practice of epidemiology as it relates to real life and recognise its role in informing health promotion, public health programs and policies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Calculate and interpret basic epidemiological measures of disease, focused on rates and proportions
- Communicate the measures of association and health impact to professional and general audiences
- Evaluate the major types of epidemiological studies and analyse the major strengths and limitations of each study design
- Critically appraise health evidence published in epidemiological studies, as it relates to real life from diverse perspectives, including Indigenous perspectives
Content
Major topics addressed in this unit include:
- scope and uses of epidemiology;
- mechanism of disease transmission;
- measuring the frequency of disease (prevalence and incidence) including morbidity and mortality;
- calculation of relative (relative risks, rate ratio, risk ratio, odds ratio) and absolute measures (attributable risk, risk difference, rate difference, NNT/NNH) of association and impact;
- common epidemiological research designs and sampling methods;
- introduction to causal reasoning in public health research;
- sources of error and bias in epidemiological studies;
- introduction to methods of disease screening programs in different population groups, including Indigenous communities
- communicating epidemiological data to general and professional audiences
- using software for epidemiological calculations and visualisations
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
- online modules (including pre-recorded lectures)
- tutorials (available for online and on-campus students)
- online readings and learning materials
- real-world case studies and research studies
- hands-on practical experiences using software packages
- practical experience in the calculation, application and interpretation of epidemiological measures
In order to maximise your learning experience in this unit, advanced preparation in advance of tutorial sessions and active participation is expected of you.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will gain peer and tutor feedback on the activities and practical exercises conducted in tutorials. Through the online quizzes you will self-assess your understanding to prepare yourself for the following assessments. You will also receive written feedback on your second assessment, which will prepare you for your final assessment.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessments in this unit:
1. Online quizzes - This will draw on your developing skills in the fundamental principles of epidemiology, including the interpretation of descriptive and analytical key epidemiological data.
2. Problem Solving Task - This will connect your learning about epidemiological measures with your skills in interpreting and communicating public health data.
3. Critical Appraisal - This will develop your knowledge and skills in the evaluation and critique of published epidemiological primary research articles.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Online quiz
You will complete a quiz in two parts (A in Week 2 and B in Week 5) that require calculation and interpretation of key epidemiological measures. You will be required to include a glossary of key epidemiological terms.
Assessment: Problem solving task
As an emerging healthcare professional, you will be provided with a relevant section of a report or study that could include data tables or visualisations. Responding to a series of questions you will interpret and calculate key epidemiological measures. Using this information, you will communicate the health impact to both a professional and general audience.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Critical Appraisal
As an emerging healthcare professional, you will critically appraise and summarise the evidence reported in two research articles. You will answer a series of questions that analyse each study's strengths and limitations, assess the internal and external validity of the study, and critique the study conclusions. Public health professionals need to critically appraise and synthesise research evidence to create a strong body of evidence to improve the health and well-being of diverse populations.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
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
You will need access to the prescribed text.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., & Kjellström, T. (2006). Basic epidemiology (2nd ed.). Geneva: World Health Organisation (also available as an ebook)
Reference book(s)
Webb, P., Bain, C., Page, A., Kirk, A, & Sleigh, A. (2020). Essential epidemiology. An introduction for students and health professionals. (4th edition). Cambridge University Press.
Carneiro, I. (2017). Introduction to epidemiology (3rd edition). Open University Press.
Risk Assessment Statement
No risks beyond the ordinary would be anticipated in association with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PU51 Bachelor of Health Information Management
- Critically evaluate and apply theoretical and technical perspectives on health information management (HIM), applicable to professional practice to solve routine and emergent problems. [Knowledge, Practice]
Relates to: Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal - Initiate effective approaches for engaging in critical thinking, decision making and problem solving that reflect diverse perspectives and culturally safe and responsive practice, encompassing evidence-based HIM solutions. [Practice, Values/Disposition
Relates to: Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal - Employ digital capabilities in accessing, evaluating, utilising and communicating digital health information across a range of stakeholders, and intra- and inter-professional contexts that demonstrate independence, accountability, creativity and initiative as a HIM professional. [Practice, Values/Disposition]
Relates to: Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal
PU52 Bachelor of Public Health
- Apply public health principles and evidence to improve population health outcomes.
Relates to: ULO1, Online quiz, Problem solving task, Critical Appraisal - Critically analyse scholarly literature and effectively conduct research to inform evidence based public health practice.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Critical Appraisal - Communicate with professional, non-professional and community audiences about public health using diverse technologies.
Relates to: ULO2, Problem solving task