PUB HLTH 7075 - Introduction to Epidemiology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

The aim of this course is to give students a grounding in the basic concepts of epidemiology. Students will gain knowledge about: measuring and interpreting patterns of disease occurrence; routine sources of data, their strengths and limitations; study designs used in epidemiology and when to apply them; epidemiological models of causation; and will begin to critically appraise epidemiological literature with reference to issues of study design and interpretation of results.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 7075
    Course Introduction to Epidemiology
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 2 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assessment Assignment 40%, exam 60%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Peng Bi

    Course Coordinator: Professor Peng Bi
    Phone: +61 8 8313 3583
    Email: peng.bi@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 8, Hughes Building

    Learning & Teaching Team
    Phone: +61 8 8313 2128
    Email: postgrad_enq@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 7, 178 North Terrace
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Outline epidemiological measures of disease occurrence, calculate basic measures and describe patterns of disease occurrence;
    2 Correctly calculate and apply absolute and relative measures of risk;
    3 Demonstrate an understanding of routine sources of data used in descriptive epidemiology, and appreciate their strengths and limitations accordingly;
    4 Differentiate epidemiological study designs, recognise the most appropriate circumstances in which to use each design, and describe the measures of disease occurrence that can be generated using each design;
    5 Recognise potential threats to correctly interpreting results from epidemiological studies, and identify those most relevant to each study design;
    6 Distinguish the difference between association and causation, and appreciate relevant issues in inferring causation from observational designs;
    7 Demonstrated ability to review and critically appraise observational studies;
    8 Summarise the principles of screening and the conditions under which a screening program would be most appropriate and cost-effective.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 3, 7, 8
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 5, 7, 8
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1, 4, 7, 8
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 3, 8
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-8
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 4, 5, 7, 8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The textbook for the course is: Gordis L. Epidemiology. 4th edition. PA, USA: Elsevier Saunders, 2009. The reading material will be in the form of relevant chapters from a range of books, digital copies of literature (both recently published and seminal) and links to relevant websites.
    Recommended Resources
    There are many introductory epidemiology texts. Reading a text other than the set text can be helpful especially if a topic seems unclear or difficult – a different explanation and different examples can be illuminating. Recommended texts for this purpose are:

    Rothman K. Epidemiology: an introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.
    Hennekens C, Buring J. Epidemiology in Medicine. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1987.

    Many journals also specialise in epidemiological research. The International Journal of Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health are all favourite.
    Online Learning
    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. The announcements page of the MyUni site for this course will also display relevant notices from time to time.

    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.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures: Provide basic factual information and introduce and illustrate concepts.

    Tutorials: Provide an opportunity to develop understanding of lecture material and clarify concepts.

    Practicals: A forum for application of lecture material. They provide an interactive forum to apply concepts from lectures and clarify understanding.

    Assignments: Opportunity for independent application and exploration of key concepts.

    Exam: To assess the extent to which understanding has developed through the course and can be applied in novel scenarios.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    In general, 3-4 hours of independent study will be required each week, in addition to class time. This includes reading the set text, wider reading, preparing answers to tutorial questions, and making progress with assignments.

    The work on assignments will be greater as the due date approaches. Therefore, in weeks when an assignment is due, there will be a practical rather than a tutorial (with no preparation required for a practical).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week Topic Lecture
    Week 1 Disease Measurement Introduction to epidemiology
    Week 2 Study Design I Study design 1: cross-sectional studies
    Week 3 Outbreak Investigation Outbreak investigation
    Week 4 Risk Adjustment Adjusting risk
    Week 5 Study Design II Sohort Study
    Week 6 Study Design III Case-Control Study
    Week 7 Bias Bias and confounding, critical appraisal
    Week 8 Association Association and causation
    Week 9 Study Design IV Randomised controlled trails
    Week 10 Study Design V Systematice reviews and meta-analysis
    Week 11 Atrributable Risk Attributable risk
    Week 12 Screening Screening
    Specific Course Requirements
    N/A
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Small class teaching will be conducted in practicals and tutorials.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
    Assignment 1 Summative 20% 1, 2, 3, 6
    Assignment 2 Summative 20% 4-7
    Exam Summative 60% 1-8
    Assessment Related Requirements
    1) Students are required to attend, and expected to actively participate, in practicals and tutorials. A sign-in sheet will be provided for each practical and tutorial for students to sign.
    2) Students must submit or present all pieces of work to pass the course.
    Assessment Detail
    1) Students are expected to prepare for tutorials by attempting the tutorial questions before the scheduled session.
    2) Students are expected to actively participate in tutorials and practicals.
    3) Students must submit both assignments to be permitted to sit the exam.

    Students are required to submit two assignments (weighting 20% for each, with a total of two written assignments, 40%). Assignment 1 will be provided to students and posted on MyUni at the start of Week 2, and Assignment 2 will be posted on MyUni at the start of Week 8. Students will be asked to use core epidemiological concepts, to correctly conduct disease measurements, and to critically assess and interpret epidemiological research findings from health literature.

    A two-hour exam at the end of course (weighting 60%) will assess your learning on the content of all lectures, tutorials and practicals as indicated in Section 2.1.
    Submission
    1) Assignments must be placed through the slot in the locked box at Reception, Discipline of Public Health, Level 7, Number 178 North Terrace.

    2) No assignment will be accepted by mail, e-mail or fax without prior written agreement from the Course Co-ordinator.

    2) The appropriate cover sheet must be attached to each assignment (available on MyUni).

    3) Each student submitting an assignment must also sign and date the designated class list (for this specific course and assignment) which will be sited at Reception.

    4) Assignments must be submitted by 4 pm on the due date. The locked box will be emptied every day at this time.

    Note: You should retain a printed copy of the assignment submitted.

    Assignments that are received by the due date will be marked and returned within 2 weeks. Written feedback will be provided on assignments. Re-submission will not normally be considered.

    Late submission
    Marks will be deducted when an assignment for which no extension has been granted is handed in late.
    The procedure is as follows:
    - All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits;
    - For late assignments, marks will then be deducted from the mark awarded, at the rate of
    5 percentage points of the total possible per day.
    The Discipline reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

    Extensions
    Extension must be requested on the last working day before an assignment is due.
    Only the Course Co-ordinator may grant an extension. Extensions will only be granted on medical or genuine compassionate grounds. Documentary supporting evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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