Overview
This unit explores the importance and role of epidemiology as an approach to both public health and clinical practice. Students will be able to use evidence from epidemiological investigations, including statistical data, to understand the distribution of health outcomes in populations and understand the influence of factors that determine this distribution. The critical function of epidemiology will be reviewed including areas of anticipated needs, identified risk conditions, definition of priorities and the use of available resources for planning and administering health care services.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prereq: 72 credit points (any tertiary level units)
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Course evaluation
Desire for an example or exemplar to clarify the rapid review.
Consideration will be given to how a more "standard" format can be adopted that will meet the needs of all disciplines undertaking the subject.
Examples of different formats and scopes of rapid reviews were provided in a tutorial dedicated to discussion and clarifications of the assessment task.
Feedback from Course evaluation
Size of the workbooks
The workbook format be reconsidered to be changed to an end of semester exam in the formal exam block.
Work books were discontinued and an online quiz format was used.
- Interpret, calculate and communicate epidemiological statistics relating to the measurement of health, wellness and disease.
- Evaluate epidemiological investigations and sources of epidemiological data.
- Analyse the impact of health determinants on population health outcomes.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Epidemiology
Edition: Fifth (2013)
Authors: Leon Gordis,
Elsevier
Philadelphia Philadelphia , PA , USA
ISBN: 9781455737338
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
e.langham@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Frameworks for determinants of population health
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapters 1 and 2 of text
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Measuring the occurrence of disease
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapters 3 and 4 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Measures of other health outcomes and diagnostic and screening tests
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapter 5 and 6 of text
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
How we gather evidence in population health: an introduction to qualitative methods
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
How we gather evidence in population health: sources of health data and the hierarchy of quantitative measures
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Quantitative Methods for Health Evidence: Population Surveys and Randomised Control Trials
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapter 8 of text
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 1 to be completed this week
Module/Topic
Quantitative Methods for Health Evidence: Cohort Studies, Case Control and other study designs
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapter 9 and 10 of text
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Estimating risk: measures of association and potential
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapters 11 and 12 of text
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Linking determinants and outcomes: from association to causation
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapters 13 and 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Summary measures of health
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Improving health at the population level
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapters 17 and 18 of text
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Evidence and public policy
Chapter
Prescribed learning activities - combination of journal articles, chapter readings and online activities.
Chapers 19 and 20 of text
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 2 To be completed this week
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Report Part B Due
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
You will need to complete two quizzes (20 questions each) during the term (Week 6 and Week 12). The questions will relate to conceptual understanding of the topics covered, and a practical assessment of utilising health measures.
The quiz questions will be based on the review questions contained in the text book and the additional online review questions. You are strongly encouraged to undertake the review questions each week to check their understanding.
Each quiz will be available for one week, but you will only have one attempt and it will be time limited (60 mins). The quiz can NOT be saved and returned to. Questions will be drawn randomly from a pool. You will need to set aside a time convenient for them to undertake the quiz. It is recommended that you attempt the quiz at a time that ITD services are available for support for any technical problems.
Students with accessibility plans relevant to this type of assessment are encouraged to contact the course coordinator at the start of the term to discuss the assessment item.
Quiz 1 will be available during week 6; Quiz 2 will be available during week 12
Quiz results will be made available once all students have completed the quiz.
For each assessable contribution, a rating will be made on the quality of the contents based on the accuracy and quality of the input. For the short answer questions the rating will be based on comprehension and understanding of the topic, and for the calculations, accuracy of the calculation (including part marks where appropriate).
- Interpret, calculate and communicate epidemiological statistics relating to the measurement of health, wellness and disease.
- Evaluate epidemiological investigations and sources of epidemiological data.
- Analyse the impact of health determinants on population health outcomes.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
You will undertake a rapid review of a current population health issue of relevance. This review will be undertaken in two parts to allow you to receive and incorporate feedback on your academic writing, critical thinking and communication of evidence.
Part A: Background to the health issue (1000 words) will be a short introduction to the health issue, outlining its importance as a population health issue and critically outlining the current patterns of occurrence of the health issue within the population. This will be submitted on the Friday of week 5.
Part 2 will be a critical examination of the current evidence on issues around risk factors and recommended responses to reduce the impact of the health issue (3500 words). This will be submitted on the Friday of the Review / Exam week.
Full details, the assessment criteria and examples of reviews used in practice will be available on the moodle site.
Part 1 is due at 5pm on Friday 7 April, 2017 Part 2 is due 5pm Friday 9 June, 2017
In accordance with university policy, feedback and grade will be provided through Moodle two weeks after the submission date.
The report will be evaluated on:
- Quality of communication
- Presentation
- Depth of critical analysis and interpretation
- Interpretation and visualisation of data and information
- Referencing
A full rubric with the assessment criteria broken down by grade is available on the course moodle site.
- Interpret, calculate and communicate epidemiological statistics relating to the measurement of health, wellness and disease.
- Evaluate epidemiological investigations and sources of epidemiological data.
- Analyse the impact of health determinants on population health outcomes.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
