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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

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Jacques de Villiers OOSTHUIZEN

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

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

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Jacques de Villiers OOSTHUIZEN

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

Core Reading(s)

  • Penny Webb, C. B., & Page, A. (2017). Essential epidemiology : an introduction for students and health professionals (Third edition.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Somerville, M., Kumaran, K., & Anderson, R. (2012). Public Health and Epidemiology at a Glance. New York: Wiley.

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