PUN466 Communicable Diseases
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: | PUN466 |
|---|---|
| Assumed Knowledge: | Year 12 Biology or equivalent is assumed knowledge. |
| 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 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PUN466 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Year 12 Biology or equivalent is assumed knowledge. |
| Coordinator: | Leisa-Maree Toms | leisamaree.toms@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Public health practice originated from the study and prevention of communicable diseases. Whilst public health practice has widened in scope, reducing the incidence of both existing and emerging communicable diseases (nationally and internationally) remains one of the greatest challenges to public health practitioners. Relevant activities undertaken by local/state health agencies include public health surveillance and outbreak investigation measures, immunisation programs, monitoring and enforcing infection control standards, and vector control programs.
A comprehensive overview of communicable diseases is provided at the start of this unit, followed by a focus on the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Explain communicable disease processes and principles, characteristics of communicable diseases relevant to environmental health (e.g. communicable diseases associated with food, water and transmitted by vectors), the incidence of communicable diseases internationally and nationally, public health surveillance methods, and outbreak investigation and management;
- Source, interpret and correctly apply communicable disease literature and data;
- Critically analyse outbreak investigations against recommended processes;
- Identify and recommend prevention and control strategies for communicable diseases including health promotion activities, infection control and immunisation;
- Identify disease carrying vectors (insects, rodents and other pests) and recommend appropriate control strategies in accordance with the legislative requirements;
- Assess higher risk personal appearance services to assess the infection control procedures against required standards.
Content
Topics included in this unit include: communicable disease processes and principles; epidemiological characteristics of key infectious diseases; principles and practice of epidemiology for communicable disease control and biostatistics; disease surveillance; outbreak investigation and management; immunisation; infection control; and vector control.
Learning Approaches
To maximise your engagement with the learning materials in this unit, a combination of face to face (for internal students) lecture and regular Canvas Collaborate sessions will be used. Lectures and Canvas Collaborate sessions will be recorded to enable flexibility in the location, time and mode of study, with respect to work and life commitments. This Unit is available in both external and internal modes and all taught sessions are recorded for asynchronous access.
Students are expected to undertake self-directed learning and should pace their studies in line with the schedule provided on the online platform. Links to a range of readings/resources that expand on the material in the study modules will be provided.
Active participation and discussion in the taught sessions is strongly encouraged to allow for the exchange of ideas between staff and students and to expand upon the theory and knowledge undertaken within the study modules.
Students have access to various resources, including the Student Success Group and Library. Class and individual consultations with the unit coordinator and formative and summative feedback during the course and on the assessments are offered to support learning.
The unit embeds opportunities to demonstrate and improve industry relevant digital capabilities, including locating relevant literature and navigating databases; sourcing, collating and critically analysing scholarly research related to EH; communicating with peers, colleagues, community members and senior managers through digital platforms; negotiating with internal systems to access, upload and download materials, etc.
Students will need to allocate on average 10 hours per week to successfully meet the learning outcomes in this Unit.
There are particular lectures which are designed to support students to develop practical skills and knowledge regarding communicable disease surveillance, assessing compliance with infection control standards, and developing and implementing vector control programs. These will be highlighted in the syllabus.
During orientation week, students who have limited background in biology, human anatomy and physiology in the context of disease causation and exposure pathways are required to work through a short module to ensure they have the foundational knowledge required to successfully complete this unit.
The unit hosts guest lecturers from academia and government that promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and diverse perspectives regarding communicable diseases.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit.
Assessment
Overview
Your assessment items are designed to measure your attainment of the learning outcomes stated above. The assessment items are intentionally practical in nature to enable you to connect theory with practice.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Report
Communicable Diseases report
You will prepare a report through the application of communicable disease principles and practices. This will cover areas of infection control and vectorborne diseases. Your report must detail and address relevant communicable disease principles and process, infection control guidelines, vectorborne disease data and relevant legislation as per the provided assessment tasksheet.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Examination
Your knowledge of communicable disease processes and principles; epidemiological characteristics of key infectious diseases; principles and practice of epidemiology for communicable disease control; disease surveillance; outbreak investigation and management; immunisation; infection control; and vector control.
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)
Webber, R. (2019) Communicable Diseases, 6th Edition: A Global Perspective CABI
Other
You will be required to access relevant legislation and other resources online, therefore internet access is essential.
Risk Assessment Statement
This unit may involve lab-based sessions. The safety precautions that must be observed while working in the laboratory will be outlined during the workshop. You are required to read the laboratory safety manual and sign the form indicating that you have read and understood the material contained in the manual.
Substantial computer-based work will be required. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks while 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.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: Report, Examination - Critically analyse and synthesise the specialised knowledge, theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Report - Promote efficient and equitable gains in population health through culturally-safe, evidence-based practice.
Relates to: Report
PU67 Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health
- Apply advanced knowledge of environmental health science, public health principles and policies, recent developments in global political and economic events to the management of the health of the environment.
Relates to: Report, Examination - Apply independent critical and creative thinking, problem solving, reflective decision-making and technical skills to evaluate and generate solutions to complex problems in the field.
Relates to: Report - Interpret and enact culturally safe communication styles and strategies to inform diverse audiences about complex knowledge and ideas.
Relates to: Examination
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: Report, Examination - 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: Report, Examination - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Report, Examination - Enact and apply ethical, culturally safe, socially inclusive principles with self, people, and organisations in diverse contexts.
Relates to: 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: Report, Examination - Critically analyse, synthesise and apply the specialised knowledge,theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Report - Engage professionally to advance efficient and equitable gains in population health through leadership and culturally-safe, evidence-based practice.
Relates to: Report
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Online
| Unit code: | PUN466 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Year 12 Biology or equivalent is assumed knowledge. |
Overview
Public health practice originated from the study and prevention of communicable diseases. Whilst public health practice has widened in scope, reducing the incidence of both existing and emerging communicable diseases (nationally and internationally) remains one of the greatest challenges to public health practitioners. Relevant activities undertaken by local/state health agencies include public health surveillance and outbreak investigation measures, immunisation programs, monitoring and enforcing infection control standards, and vector control programs.
A comprehensive overview of communicable diseases is provided at the start of this unit, followed by a focus on the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Explain communicable disease processes and principles, characteristics of communicable diseases relevant to environmental health (e.g. communicable diseases associated with food, water and transmitted by vectors), the incidence of communicable diseases internationally and nationally, public health surveillance methods, and outbreak investigation and management;
- Source, interpret and correctly apply communicable disease literature and data;
- Critically analyse outbreak investigations against recommended processes;
- Identify and recommend prevention and control strategies for communicable diseases including health promotion activities, infection control and immunisation;
- Identify disease carrying vectors (insects, rodents and other pests) and recommend appropriate control strategies in accordance with the legislative requirements;
- Assess higher risk personal appearance services to assess the infection control procedures against required standards.
Content
Topics included in this unit include: communicable disease processes and principles; epidemiological characteristics of key infectious diseases; principles and practice of epidemiology for communicable disease control and biostatistics; disease surveillance; outbreak investigation and management; immunisation; infection control; and vector control.
Learning Approaches
To maximise your engagement with the learning materials in this unit, a combination of face to face (for internal students) lecture and regular Canvas Collaborate sessions will be used. Lectures and Canvas Collaborate sessions will be recorded to enable flexibility in the location, time and mode of study, with respect to work and life commitments. This Unit is available in both external and internal modes and all taught sessions are recorded for asynchronous access.
Students are expected to undertake self-directed learning and should pace their studies in line with the schedule provided on the online platform. Links to a range of readings/resources that expand on the material in the study modules will be provided.
Active participation and discussion in the taught sessions is strongly encouraged to allow for the exchange of ideas between staff and students and to expand upon the theory and knowledge undertaken within the study modules.
Students have access to various resources, including the Student Success Group and Library. Class and individual consultations with the unit coordinator and formative and summative feedback during the course and on the assessments are offered to support learning.
The unit embeds opportunities to demonstrate and improve industry relevant digital capabilities, including locating relevant literature and navigating databases; sourcing, collating and critically analysing scholarly research related to EH; communicating with peers, colleagues, community members and senior managers through digital platforms; negotiating with internal systems to access, upload and download materials, etc.
Students will need to allocate on average 10 hours per week to successfully meet the learning outcomes in this Unit.
There are particular lectures which are designed to support students to develop practical skills and knowledge regarding communicable disease surveillance, assessing compliance with infection control standards, and developing and implementing vector control programs. These will be highlighted in the syllabus.
During orientation week, students who have limited background in biology, human anatomy and physiology in the context of disease causation and exposure pathways are required to work through a short module to ensure they have the foundational knowledge required to successfully complete this unit.
The unit hosts guest lecturers from academia and government that promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and diverse perspectives regarding communicable diseases.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit.
Assessment
Overview
Your assessment items are designed to measure your attainment of the learning outcomes stated above. The assessment items are intentionally practical in nature to enable you to connect theory with practice.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Report
Communicable Diseases report
You will prepare a report through the application of communicable disease principles and practices. This will cover areas of infection control and vectorborne diseases. Your report must detail and address relevant communicable disease principles and process, infection control guidelines, vectorborne disease data and relevant legislation as per the provided assessment tasksheet.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Examination
Your knowledge of communicable disease processes and principles; epidemiological characteristics of key infectious diseases; principles and practice of epidemiology for communicable disease control; disease surveillance; outbreak investigation and management; immunisation; infection control; and vector control.
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)
Webber, R. (2019) Communicable Diseases, 6th Edition: A Global Perspective CABI
Other
You will be required to access relevant legislation and other resources online, therefore internet access is essential.
Risk Assessment Statement
This unit may involve lab-based sessions. The safety precautions that must be observed while working in the laboratory will be outlined during the workshop. You are required to read the laboratory safety manual and sign the form indicating that you have read and understood the material contained in the manual.
Substantial computer-based work will be required. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks while 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.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: Report, Examination - Critically analyse and synthesise the specialised knowledge, theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Report - Promote efficient and equitable gains in population health through culturally-safe, evidence-based practice.
Relates to: Report
PU67 Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health
- Apply advanced knowledge of environmental health science, public health principles and policies, recent developments in global political and economic events to the management of the health of the environment.
Relates to: Report, Examination - Apply independent critical and creative thinking, problem solving, reflective decision-making and technical skills to evaluate and generate solutions to complex problems in the field.
Relates to: Report - Interpret and enact culturally safe communication styles and strategies to inform diverse audiences about complex knowledge and ideas.
Relates to: Examination
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: Report, Examination - 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: Report, Examination - Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
Relates to: Report, Examination - Enact and apply ethical, culturally safe, socially inclusive principles with self, people, and organisations in diverse contexts.
Relates to: 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: Report, Examination - Critically analyse, synthesise and apply the specialised knowledge,theories and frameworks of public health practice
Relates to: Report - Engage professionally to advance efficient and equitable gains in population health through leadership and culturally-safe, evidence-based practice.
Relates to: Report