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  2. Epidemiology [HST1109]

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Epidemiology

  • Unit Code

    HST1109

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit provides an introduction to the epidemiological concepts necessary for studying the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Communicate findings of research to appropriate audiences.
  2. Critically assess and appraise epidemiological evidence in order to quantify population health risks.
  3. Describe epidemiological study methods.
  4. Describe the diversity and scope of epidemiology.
  5. Describe the nature of epidemiological surveillance and methods of health screening.
  6. Explain the characteristics of the main epidemiological research designs,including their strengths and weaknesses and capacity to generate new hypotheses.
  7. Identify fundamental epidemiological concepts, particularly the measurement of disease, the calculation and estimation of risk, potential errors of measurement, epidemiological associations, causality, and statistical inference.

Unit Content

  1. Causality.
  2. Disease measures of association and healthrisk estimation.
  3. Epidemiological study design.
  4. Fundamentalepidemiological concepts.
  5. Interpretation of the epidemiological literature.
  6. Sources of error and bias.
  7. Surveillance and screening.
  8. The nature and role of epidemiology.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit combines lectures, case-study discussions and student group tutorialssupported by on-line resources.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline test30%
AssignmentEpidemiological study designs30%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline test30%
AssignmentEpidemiological study designs30%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • ^ Somerville, M., Kumaran, K., & Anderson, R. (2012). Public Health and Epidemiology at a Glance. New York: Wiley.
  • Rothman, K. J. (2002). Epidemiology: an introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Beaglehole, R., Bonita, R., & Kjellstrom, T. (2000). Basic Epidemiology (2nd ed.). Geneva: World Health Organization.
  • Coggon, D., Rose, G., & Barker, D. J. P. (2003). Epidemiology for the uninitiated (5th ed.). London: BMJ Publishing Group.
  • Gordis, L. (2000). Epidemiology (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
  • Greenberg, R. S., Daniels, S. R., Flanders, W. D., Eley, J. W., & Boring, J. R. (2001). Medical epidemiology (3rd ed.). New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill.
  • Last, J. M. (Ed.). (2001). A dictionary of epidemiology (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Macera, C. A. Shaffer, R.A., & Shaffer, P. M. (2013). Introduction to epidemiology: distribution and determinants of disease in humans. Clifton Park, NY: Cengage Learning, Inc.
  • Webb, P. & Bain, C. (2011). Essential Epidemiology (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press
  • Van Den Broeck, J. & Brestoff, J. R. (2013). Epidemiology: Principles and Practical Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.eblib.com
  • Webber, R. (2005). Communicable disease epidemiology and control: a global perspective. Cambridge, MA.
  • Morton, R. F., Hebel, J., & McCarter, R. (2001). A study guide to epidemiology and biostatistics (5th ed.). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.
  • Moon, G., Gould, M., Brown, T., Duncan, C., Iggulden, P., Jones, K., et al. (Eds.). (2000). Epidemiology: an introduction. Buckingham, England: Open University Press.
  • McDonald, C. (2000). Epidemiology of work related diseases (2nd ed.). London: BMJ Publishing Group.

Journal References

  • Medical Journal of Australia
  • American Journal of Epidemiology
  • American Journal of Public Health
  • Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (formerly Community Health Studies and Australian Journal of Public Health)
  • Health Promotion Journal of Australia
  • Epidemiology
  • International Journal of Epidemiology

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

HST1109|1|1

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Epidemiology

  • Unit Code

    HST1109

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit provides an introduction to the epidemiological concepts necessary for studying the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Communicate findings of research to appropriate audiences.
  2. Critically assess and appraise epidemiological evidence in order to quantify population health risks.
  3. Describe epidemiological study methods.
  4. Describe the diversity and scope of epidemiology.
  5. Describe the nature of epidemiological surveillance and methods of health screening.
  6. Explain the characteristics of the main epidemiological research designs,including their strengths and weaknesses and capacity to generate new hypotheses.
  7. Identify fundamental epidemiological concepts, particularly the measurement of disease, the calculation and estimation of risk, potential errors of measurement, epidemiological associations, causality, and statistical inference.

Unit Content

  1. Causality.
  2. Disease measures of association and healthrisk estimation.
  3. Epidemiological study design.
  4. Fundamentalepidemiological concepts.
  5. Interpretation of the epidemiological literature.
  6. Sources of error and bias.
  7. Surveillance and screening.
  8. The nature and role of epidemiology.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit combines lectures, case-study discussions and student group tutorialssupported by on-line resources.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline test30%
AssignmentEpidemiological study designs30%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline test30%
AssignmentEpidemiological study designs30%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • ^ Somerville, M., Kumaran, K., & Anderson, R. (2012). Public Health and Epidemiology at a Glance. New York: Wiley.
  • Rothman, K. J. (2002). Epidemiology: an introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Beaglehole, R., Bonita, R., & Kjellstrom, T. (2000). Basic Epidemiology (2nd ed.). Geneva: World Health Organization.
  • Coggon, D., Rose, G., & Barker, D. J. P. (2003). Epidemiology for the uninitiated (5th ed.). London: BMJ Publishing Group.
  • Gordis, L. (2000). Epidemiology (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company.
  • Greenberg, R. S., Daniels, S. R., Flanders, W. D., Eley, J. W., & Boring, J. R. (2001). Medical epidemiology (3rd ed.). New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill.
  • Last, J. M. (Ed.). (2001). A dictionary of epidemiology (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Macera, C. A. Shaffer, R.A., & Shaffer, P. M. (2013). Introduction to epidemiology: distribution and determinants of disease in humans. Clifton Park, NY: Cengage Learning, Inc.
  • Webb, P. & Bain, C. (2011). Essential Epidemiology (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press
  • Van Den Broeck, J. & Brestoff, J. R. (2013). Epidemiology: Principles and Practical Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.eblib.com
  • Webber, R. (2005). Communicable disease epidemiology and control: a global perspective. Cambridge, MA.
  • Morton, R. F., Hebel, J., & McCarter, R. (2001). A study guide to epidemiology and biostatistics (5th ed.). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.
  • Moon, G., Gould, M., Brown, T., Duncan, C., Iggulden, P., Jones, K., et al. (Eds.). (2000). Epidemiology: an introduction. Buckingham, England: Open University Press.
  • McDonald, C. (2000). Epidemiology of work related diseases (2nd ed.). London: BMJ Publishing Group.

Journal References

  • International Journal of Epidemiology
  • American Journal of Epidemiology
  • American Journal of Public Health
  • Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (formerly Community Health Studies and Australian Journal of Public Health)
  • Health Promotion Journal of Australia
  • Epidemiology
  • Medical Journal of Australia

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

HST1109|1|2