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

    HST5120
  • Year

    2019
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Lauren Edna BLOOMFIELD

Description

This unit is designed to introduce students to the nature and role of epidemiology, key epidemiological concepts, and the types of design strategies used in epidemiological research.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate contemporary epidemiological research literature for relevance, accuracy, bias and scope.
  2. Apply appropriate descriptive epidemiological methods to assess defined elements of population health.
  3. Interpret health statistics and epidemiological research to guide population health planning, disease management and decision-making.

Unit Content

  1. Definition and history of epidemiology; basic epidemiological measures; sources of health information in Australia.
  2. Socioeconomic and occupational factors and differentials in health status; Aboriginal health differentials.
  3. Measures of association - relative risks and odd ratios, attributable risk; casual and non-causal association.
  4. Demography and epidemiology.
  5. Measuring health - mortality, sickness and disease, disability and risk factors; classification of diseases; basic analysis of health data.
  6. Epidemiological research design - descriptive, case-control, cohort and intervention studies; issues in design and analysis of epidemiological studies; bias, confounding and effect modification; reliability and validity; sensitivity and specificity and positive predictive value.
  7. Epidemiology in practice - investigating a disease outbreak, occupational epidemiology; presentation of epidemiological data; role in public health policy.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On line lectures, tutorials and epidemiological exercises.

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
PosterInterpretative epidemiology - applying evidence to make public health recommendations20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PosterInterpretative epidemiology - applying evidence to make public health recommendations20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination50%

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.

HST5120|2|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

    HST5120
  • Year

    2019
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Lauren Edna BLOOMFIELD

Description

This unit is designed to introduce students to the nature and role of epidemiology, key epidemiological concepts, and the types of design strategies used in epidemiological research.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate contemporary epidemiological research literature for relevance, accuracy, bias and scope.
  2. Apply appropriate descriptive epidemiological methods to assess defined elements of population health.
  3. Interpret health statistics and epidemiological research to guide population health planning, disease management and decision-making.

Unit Content

  1. Definition and history of epidemiology; basic epidemiological measures; sources of health information in Australia.
  2. Socioeconomic and occupational factors and differentials in health status; Aboriginal health differentials.
  3. Measures of association - relative risks and odd ratios, attributable risk; casual and non-causal association.
  4. Demography and epidemiology.
  5. Measuring health - mortality, sickness and disease, disability and risk factors; classification of diseases; basic analysis of health data.
  6. Epidemiological research design - descriptive, case-control, cohort and intervention studies; issues in design and analysis of epidemiological studies; bias, confounding and effect modification; reliability and validity; sensitivity and specificity and positive predictive value.
  7. Epidemiology in practice - investigating a disease outbreak, occupational epidemiology; presentation of epidemiological data; role in public health policy.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On line lectures, tutorials and epidemiological exercises.

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
PosterInterpretative epidemiology - applying evidence to make public health recommendations20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PosterInterpretative epidemiology - applying evidence to make public health recommendations20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination50%

Core Reading(s)

  • Celentano, D., Szklo, M., & Gordis, L. (2019). Gordis epidemiology (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1079273274

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.

HST5120|2|2