EPIDEMIOLOGY FOR PRACTICE
PHE2EFP
2018
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Epidemiology is a foundation science for many areas of practice across the health sector; it provides a framework for analysing potential solutions to health problems, big and small, by emphasising the sound use of numbers and a way of thought. In other words, epidemiology is concerned with not just counting but also with thinking about what is worth counting and how best to count it. The purpose of this subject is to help students interpret the mass of epidemiological literature and the various types of health data that they might come across as health practitioners. It seeks to achieve this by providing opportunities for learning how to conceptualise, measure and discuss patterns of disease and risk in populations using appropriate statistics and research designs. The subject is taught online.
SchoolLa Trobe Rural Health School
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorSteve Begg
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
PrerequisitesN/A
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Essential epidemiology: an introduction for students and health professionals. | Prescribed | Webb, P & Bain, C & Page, A 2017 | 3RD EDN, CAMBRIDGE UNI PRESS, CAMBRIDGE. |
| Readings | Basic epidemiology. | Recommended | Beaglehole, R, Bonita, R, Kjellstrom, T 2007 | 2ND EDN, WHO, GENEVA. |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Discuss the contribution of epidemiology to science and its emergence as a research discipline.
- Activities:
- Online lectures, activities, discussion forums, exam.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Writing (Writing)
- Inquiry/ Research (Inquiry/ Research)
- Communication (Communication)
02. Describe, apply and interpret basic epidemiological measures of frequency and association.
- Activities:
- Online lectures, activities, discussion forums, exam.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline Specific Competencies (Discipline Specific Competencies)
- Inquiry/ Research (Inquiry/ Research)
- Communication (Communication)
- Writing (Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving (Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking)
03. Explain the uses, advantages/disadvantages and ethical aspects of different study designs.
- Activities:
- Online lectures, activities, discussion forums, exam.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline Specific Competencies (Discipline Specific Competencies)
- Creative Problem-solving (Creative Problem-solving)
- Writing (Writing)
- Communication (Communication)
- Ethical/ Social Responsibility (Ethical/ Social Responsibility)
- Inquiry/ Research (Inquiry/ Research)
- Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking)
04. Identify and assess the implications of chance, bias, confounding in epidemiological research.
- Activities:
- Online lectures, activities, discussion forums, exam.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving (Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking)
- Writing (Writing)
- Inquiry/ Research (Inquiry/ Research)
- Discipline Specific Competencies (Discipline Specific Competencies)
- Communication (Communication)
05. Apply knowledge of epidemiological concepts when critically reviewing scientific literature.
- Activities:
- Online lectures, activities, discussion forums, exam, self-directed learning task.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Communication (Communication)
- Inquiry/ Research (Inquiry/ Research)
- Discipline Specific Competencies (Discipline Specific Competencies)
- Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking)
- Writing (Writing)
- Creative Problem-solving (Creative Problem-solving)
06. Explain the role of epidemiology in various public health activities such as outbreak investigations, surveillance, prevention and screening.
- Activities:
- Online lectures, activities, discussion forums, exam, self-directed learning task.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving (Creative Problem-solving)
- Inquiry/ Research (Inquiry/ Research)
- Writing (Writing)
- Discipline Specific Competencies (Discipline Specific Competencies)
- Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking)
- Ethical/ Social Responsibility (Ethical/ Social Responsibility)
- Teamwork (Teamwork)
- Communication (Communication)
Subject options
Select to view your study options…
Online, 2018, Semester 2, Online
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorSteve Begg
Class requirements
Lecture
One 2.0 hours lecture per week
and delivered via online.
"Online equivalent of two hours of lectures per week."
Tutorial
One 1.0 hours tutorial per week
and delivered via online.
"Online equivalent of a one-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| One 1,000-word self-directed learning task. | 30 | 05, 06 | |
| One 2-hour online exam (equiv to 2000 words). | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 | |
| Participation in ten online skills workshop exercises (equiv to 1,000 words). | 30 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 |