TM5515 - Epidemiology for Public Health
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Student Contribution Band: | Band 2 |
| Administered by: | College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences |
Available to all postgraduate students in the health sciences.
Epidemiology is the "study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems" (Last, 1988). This subject introduces students to the principles of epidemiology. Topics covered include:history, development and definition of epidemiology and its place in health research; identification of disease; measures of disease frequency; summary measures of population health; measures of association; study design; chance, bias and confounding; causation; data collection techniques; screening and surveillance; epidemiological disease concepts; and ethics.. Core theoretical material will be supplemented by guest lectures where possible. Theory is complemented by the use of applied examples and exercises to enhance understanding and facilitate development of practical skills. A variety of examples of published, epidemiological studies in scientific literature will be critically discussed during the subject to enhance the understanding of the introduced concepts and techniques. Being able to read and evaluate health literature is essential for health professionals, especially those in public health. Some computer literacy is assumed (e.g, Windows, Word and Excel).
Learning Outcomes
- critically evaluate health publications using epidemiological principles;
- demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the principles of epidemiology;
- critically evaluate the role of chance, bias and confounding, and the implications, in a given research situation;
- distinguish causation from association;
- recognise, describe and critically evaluate the major types of study designs and data collection techniques used in epidemiological study, and competently apply this knowledge to a research situation;
- identify, calculate and interpret appropriate measures of disease frequency; summary measures of population health; measures of association;
- define and apply the concepts of screening and surveillance;
- recognise, describe and evaluate the issues associated with ethics of health research.
Availabilities | |
| External, Study Period 1 | |
| Census Date 24-Mar-2016 | |
| Coordinator: | Ms Felicity Smith, Dr Hudson Birden |
| Lecturers: | Ms Felicity Smith, Dr Hudson Birden. |
| Method of Delivery: | Printed materials |
| Assessment: | other exams (40%); assignments (25%); (critical appraisal of article) (25%); workbook:(all material covered) (10%). |
| Special Assessment Requirements: | Students must pass exam to pass subject |
| Townsville, Block, Study Period 9 | |
| Census Date 06-Oct-2016 | |
| Face to face teaching 05-Sep-2016 to 16-Sep-2016 | |
| Coordinator: | Ms Felicity Smith, Dr Hudson Birden |
| Lecturers: | Ms Felicity Smith, Dr Hudson Birden. |
| Assessment: | other exams (40%); assignments (25%); (critical appraisal of article) (25%); (workbook:(all material covered) (10%). |
| Special Assessment Requirements: | Student must pass exam to pass subject |
Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.