Course Coordinator: David Gonzalez
Phone: 8313 1631
Email: david.gonzalez@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Level 11, 178 North Terrace

Learning and Teaching Team
Phone: +61 8313 2128
Email: undergrad_enq@adelaide.edu.au

1	Locate, access and interpret the epidemiological information contained in reports and the health literature, including systematic reviews, using epidemiological terminology correctly and contextually.
2	Recognise the epidemiological principles underlying public health activities such as infectious disease management and the assessment  of health interventions
3	Demonstrate capacity to describe the process of health data collection and the principles measures used to describe health patterns, as  well as to review some sources of bias, such as confounding, selection and measurement error
4	Appraise the suitability of each epidemiological study design to address questions that typically arise in public health, present  persuasive arguments for the need for biostatistics in analysing and interpreting data, and elicit the strengths and limitations of  quantitative research in public health
5	Use appropriately the terminology of association and causality in epidemiology, as well as some of the principal statistical methods used to control for confounding
6	Synthesise health information from a variety of sources and report their findings clearly in an audience-appropriate manner

Each week there will be assigned chapters of books, reports and/or other relevant material to provide background to and complement the lectures and practical sessions. You will be expected to have read this material before class. Required readings are available via a reading list on MyUni.

For most of the activities in this course, two books will be the principal sources for consultation:

1.  Katz D, Wild D, Elmore E, Lucan S. Jekel's Epidemiology, biostatistics, preventive medicine, and public health. 4th edn.  Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2014.

2.  Gordis L. Epidemiology with student consult online access, 5th edition. Elsevier Health Sciences. UK. 2013.

These materials have free online access to University of Adelaide students, and the student can purchase for reading or printing from  the Library Search Service of the University of Adelaide.

Other essentials readings will be available in electronic format through MyUni.

We assume that you have access to student e-mail and that your address is the University of Adelaide student’s e-mail address that was assigned to you on enrolment. We will send our messages to your official University of Adelaide student e-mail address and   assume that you read your e-mail.

MyUni is the primary entry point to online learning at the University of Adelaide. MyUni will be used to provide students with access to course materials, announcements, and other features to assist your study.

For enquiries about online education services, access and other problems, contact the Online Education Helpdesk. Phone: 8313 3000 E-mail: servicedesk@adelaide.edu.au

In this course there are a number of teaching and learning modes. Lectures are intended to introduce concepts and illustrate their  use. Tutorials and Computing Practicals provide an interactive forum to apply concepts from lectures and clarify understanding. In the series of computer practicals Stata software and Microsoft Excel will be used to analyse data. A Quiz facilitates understanding of    fundamental concepts and allow for identification of areas requiring further study prior to undertaking other assessments.    Assignments provide an opportunity for application and exploration of key concepts, for wider reading and for synthesis of concepts  and literature. The exam provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learnt, drawing together concepts and  showing that they understand the interrelated nature of epidemiology, public health, and biostatistics.

Teaching in Epidemiology in Action begins with the assumption that students are active participants in the learning process, rather  than passive recipients of information. We assume that you are willing and able to prepare fully for classes, to participate in  discussions, and to carry out your tasks.

As a general rule, in any university course you will need to allow a minimum of three independent study hours for every hour  undertaken in formal class work contact. This means that you will have to set aside at least a further nine hours per week for reading  around topics, preparation for class activities, and work on assignments.

Topic	Lecture
Introduction to Epidemiology in Action	Epidemiology in action: Where do we come? Where are we  going?
Using and interpreting population data	Using secondary data for public health purposes
Investigating infectious diseases in the population	Endemic diseases and investigation of outbreaks-epidemics
Screening as a tool for public health practice	Diagnostic tests and evaluation of effective screening programs
Assessment of risk and determinants of health	Use of different epidemiological study designs for public health purposes
Sources of error in epidemiological research	Dealing with confounding, selection and measurement error
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses	Searching and interpreting systematic reviews and meta-analyses

In this course we will be performing calculations, using simple software to perform basic statistical analysis and interpreting computer- generated results. Thus, students need a solid background in maths, usually to year 11 secondary level, in combination with a good grasp of the material covered in Investigating Health and Disease in Populations II.

Small group discussions and group written tasks will be included as an important component of the activities in this course.

Assessment Task	Asessment Type	Weighting	Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
Participation	Summative	5%	1-6
Quizzes	Summative	10%	1-5
Essay 1	Summative	15%	1, 3, 6
Essay 2	Summative	25%	1 3-6
Exam	Summative	45%	1-6

Students must have attended a minimum of 75% of the practical/tutorials (9 of 12), submitted both essays and obtained a minimum  score of 50% in each, and sit the final exam in order to pass the course. A practical/tutorial which is not attended but for which the student submits a medical certificate will not be computed as missed.

Participation will be evaluated considering group or individual written tasks or questions performed during some of the  practical/tutorials and lectures. All activities will be computed together to represent 5% of a student’s overall mark. An activity which is not completed but for which the student submits a medical certificate will not be counted for marking.

There will be two Quizzes covering material of lectures and practicals. The first quiz will focus on the use and interpretation of  secondary data. The second quiz will emphasise the contents about association and causality in epidemiology.  The questions will be  multiple choice and short answers.

The Quizzes will be held online on the dates indicated in the Course Handbook. Alternative quiz times will only be arranged where  students cannot complete it for medical or genuine compassionate grounds and have documentary supporting evidence (such as a  medical certificate).

There will be two written assignments.  Essay 1 will focus on the reporting and interpreting secondary data (1500 words). Essay 2 will  emphasise on the evaluation of risk/protection variables and determinants of health (1500 words essay and a half page summary for a non-academic audience).

There will be a closed book Exam at the end of the course comprising a mix of short answer questions, extended sets of questions  around specific scenarios, some basic statistical calculations, and interpreting excerpts from published studies, abstracts and/or  reports.

Extensions
All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of submission.   Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds.  Supporting documentation must be  provided at the time a student requests an extension.  Without documentation, extensions will not be granted.  Late requests for  extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a  medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a  letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of  compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to verify the  student’s situation.  The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact  on the student.  Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

Late submission
Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits.  In the case of late assignments where no  extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted.  If an assignment that is 2  days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%.  If that same  assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.

The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates.
 
Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination  period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.

Resubmission
If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process  <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/grievance/process/>.  Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance.  This must be done within 10 business days of the  date of notification of the result.  Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and  will only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.