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 | $1,190 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $2,592 |
| International unit fee | $3,876 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2020, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinators: | Philip Baker | p2.baker@qut.edu.au Kaeleen Dingle | k.dingle@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. 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;
- Develop skills in calculation and interpretation of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Develop knowledge of the nature of causal inference;
- Develop knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods.
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 lectures, tutorials (internal), Webinars as virtual tutorials with Collaborate (external), literature searches and self-directed learning. Learning to collaborate 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 feedback formative feedback through your use of audience response technology. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff following the completion of the formative assessments.
Assessment
Overview
.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Essay
Structured essay with an appraisal tool.
This assessment will assess your skills and knowledge in the epidemiological principles taught in the unit through the critical analysis of a published health research study. The assessment requires the application of the appropriate principles to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using a standard critical appraisal tool. The assessment requires each student to prepare a structured essay of a critical appraisal of an epidemiological study, words using the questions of the prescribed critical appraisal tool. Approximately 3,000 words (not to exceed 3,500 words).
Assessment: Quiz
This assessment will test your knowledge and ability to apply the concepts and principles of epidemiology to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation.
Assessment: Exam (Open book, online)
This assessment will 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 epidemiologic 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.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Prescribed text:
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2019) Gordis Epidemiology 6th Edition. Elsevier. Porta, M. (Ed.). (2014). A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford university press.
Recommended texts:
Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.0 (updated July 2019). Cochrane, 2019. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.
https://training.cochrane.org/handbook
Nordness, R. (2006). Epidemiology and Biostatistics Secrets: Questions you will be asked. Mosby Elesvier: Philadelphia.
Rosner, B. (2011). Fundamentals of Biostatistics (7th ed). Cengage Brain.
Additional references and published papers for this unit will be recommended or referred to r in some lectures and/or tutorials. 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.
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2020, Kelvin Grove, External
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinators: | Philip Baker | p2.baker@qut.edu.au Kaeleen Dingle | k.dingle@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. 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;
- Develop skills in calculation and interpretation of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Develop knowledge of the nature of causal inference;
- Develop knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods.
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 lectures, tutorials (internal), Webinars as virtual tutorials with Collaborate (external), literature searches and self-directed learning. Learning to collaborate 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 feedback formative feedback through your use of audience response technology. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff following the completion of the formative assessments.
Assessment
Overview
.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Essay
Structured essay with an appraisal tool.
This assessment will assess your skills and knowledge in the epidemiological principles taught in the unit through the critical analysis of a published health research study. The assessment requires the application of the appropriate principles to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using a standard critical appraisal tool. The assessment requires each student to prepare a structured essay of a critical appraisal of an epidemiological study, words using the questions of the prescribed critical appraisal tool. Approximately 3,000 words (not to exceed 3,500 words).
Assessment: Quiz
This assessment will test your knowledge and ability to apply the concepts and principles of epidemiology to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation.
Assessment: Exam (Open book, online)
This assessment will 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 epidemiologic 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.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Prescribed text:
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2019) Gordis Epidemiology 6th Edition. Elsevier. Porta, M. (Ed.). (2014). A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford university press.
Recommended texts:
Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Welch VA (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.0 (updated July 2019). Cochrane, 2019. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.
https://training.cochrane.org/handbook
Nordness, R. (2006). Epidemiology and Biostatistics Secrets: Questions you will be asked. Mosby Elesvier: Philadelphia.
Rosner, B. (2011). Fundamentals of Biostatistics (7th ed). Cengage Brain.
Additional references and published papers for this unit will be recommended or referred to r in some lectures and/or tutorials. 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.
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2020, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinators: | Philip Baker | p2.baker@qut.edu.au Kaeleen Dingle | k.dingle@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. 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;
- Develop skills in calculation and interpretation of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Develop knowledge of the nature of causal inference;
- Develop knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods.
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 online lectures and tutorials with Collaborate or Zoom, literature searches and self-directed learning. Learning to collaborate 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 feedback formative feedback through your use of audience response technology. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff following the completion of the formative assessments.
Assessment
Overview
.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Exam (Open book, online)
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.
Assessment: Essay
Structured essay using an appraisal tool to critically evaluate an epidemiological study.
This assessment will assess your skills and knowledge in the epidemiological principles taught in the unit through the critical analysis of a published health research study.
You will be given a research study to critique as well as a critical appraisal tool. You will choose a partner and share your initial drafts to discuss concepts and principles. After this you can choose to work together to submit a joint critique and receive the same mark.
The assessment requires the application of the appropriate principles to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using a standard critical appraisal tool.
Assessment: Take home exam
This 40 minute take home exam contains short answer to test your knowledge and ability to apply the concepts and principles of epidemiology to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, screening, prognosis and evaluation. You will have a 6 hour period during which to start the exam.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2019) Gordis Epidemiology 6th Edition. Elsevier.
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 6.0 (updated July 2019). Cochrane, 2019. 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
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.
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2020, Kelvin Grove, External
| Unit code: | HLN710 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinators: | Philip Baker | p2.baker@qut.edu.au Kaeleen Dingle | k.dingle@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. 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;
- Develop skills in calculation and interpretation of measures of the occurrence of disease and association between exposure and disease;
- Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to the critical analysis of health problems;
- Develop knowledge of the nature of causal inference;
- Develop knowledge of strategies for disease screening, surveillance, outbreak investigation and other control methods.
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 online lectures and tutorials with Collaborate or Zoom, literature searches and self-directed learning. Learning to collaborate 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 feedback formative feedback through your use of audience response technology. You will formally engage in Peer Discussion with another student, providing and receiving feedback. Feedback will also be available from the teaching staff following the completion of the formative assessments.
Assessment
Overview
.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Exam (Open book, online)
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.
Assessment: Essay
Structured essay using an appraisal tool to critically evaluate an epidemiological study.
This assessment will assess your skills and knowledge in the epidemiological principles taught in the unit through the critical analysis of a published health research study.
You will be given a research study to critique as well as a critical appraisal tool. You will choose a partner and share your initial drafts to discuss concepts and principles. After this you can choose to work together to submit a joint critique and receive the same mark.
The assessment requires the application of the appropriate principles to assess the trustworthiness (risks of bias) of published research of a public health intervention using a standard critical appraisal tool.
Assessment: Take home exam
This 40 minute take home exam contains short answer to test your knowledge and ability to apply the concepts and principles of epidemiology to disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, screening, prognosis and evaluation. You will have a 6 hour period during which to start the exam.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
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.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Celentano, D & Szklo, M. (2019) Gordis Epidemiology 6th Edition. Elsevier.
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 6.0 (updated July 2019). Cochrane, 2019. 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
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.