POPLHLTH 216 : Essential Epidemiology

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A good understanding of epidemiology is essential for people working in public health. Covers basic epidemiological principles and methods, and illustrates how these are applied to common diseases in New Zealand.

Course Overview

The course introduces essential quantitative principles and methods, including the principles underlying measurement in the health system. It also outlines the main study designs and methods of analysis used in health sector research. The emphasis is on not only understanding the principles, but also giving students the practical skills to carry out such analyses. Emphasis will be also on introducing principles of applied statistical computing and presenting analyses to audiences in the health sector, with a view to gaining vocational skills.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: POPLHLTH 111

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe and apply quantitative methods to answer research questions. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Evaluate and apply the basic principles of measurement for research, including measures of disease frequency. (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 4.1)
  3. Evaluate and apply the main quantitative study designs, including their applications, strengths and weaknesses to research questions. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1)
  4. Describe and apply basic principles of statistical inference, including measures of association, measures of variation and hypothesis testing. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 6.2)
  5. Demonstrate the use of regression as an analytical tool for health sector research. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 6.2)
  6. Demonstrate practical skills in the management, analysis and presentation of health data, using R and iNZight software. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.3 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Analyse repeated measures data 25% Individual Coursework
Analyse epidemiological data 35% Individual Coursework
Examination 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Analyse repeated measures data
Analyse epidemiological data
Examination
Policy on late assessments
It is very important to get your assessments in on time.
If you are not able to meet the deadline for submission you must notify the course coordinator/lecturer, BEFORE the due date/time to avoid penalties resulting from not having an approved extension.
If circumstances prevent a student making an application before the assessment due date/time, the Academic Director will consider and may approve an application for late submission.
The School of Population Health policy on late assessments is as follows:
Due dates for assessments are strictly observed.
Extensions will only be given in exceptional and unavoidable circumstances, and if approved by the course coordinator/lecturer BEFORE the assessment due date. Penalties will be imposed for extensions (see below).
Late assessments where an extension has not been given will be penalised as follows:
Up to 2 weeks (including weekend days) late - 5% off the assessment total mark for each day late e.g.
if an assessment is out of 40 and is 1 day late, then 2 marks (5% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved
if an assessment is out of 40 and is 5 days late, then 10 marks (25% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved
More than 14 days late – the assessment will NOT be graded

Learning Resources

  • Kirkwood BR, Sterne JA. Essential Medical Statistics: John Wiley & Sons 2010.

Course Contacts

Dr Simon Thornley
Course Director
s.thornley@auckland.ac.nz 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures per week, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Other Information

This course is held at The University of Auckland Grafton Campus. Lectures are 4-6 pm on Monday and Tutorials 4-6 pm every other Tuesday.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 15/07/2020 04:24 p.m.