POPLHLTH 304 : Principles of Applied Epidemiology

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The application of an epidemiological approach in population health, including study of the principles of epidemiological thinking, epidemiological study design and analyses, and the application of these findings to population health. Modules will be taught through specific themes for example, a life course approach or injury prevention.

Course Overview

The course focuses on the principles of epidemiology applied to the measurement and surveillance of disease and the assessment of cause-and-effect relationships. The objective is to give you the skills to understand reports and published new studies in health areas that use epidemiological methods, which includes studies of the frequency of disease, the causes of diseases, and the effects of treatment and health care interventions. It includes ‘hands on’ experience with the analysis and interpretation of data from real studies. This year, we will be using a combination of R and EpiInfo software. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: POPLHLTH 111, 202 and 15 points from STATS 101, 102, 108

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and apply how research questions are tested using epidemiological studies and data analysis. (Capability 2.1 and 2.2)
  2. Evaluate and apply the main epidemiological study designs to research questions, with an understanding of their strength and weaknesses. (Capability 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)
  3. Understand and apply methods of calculating main study effect measures and confidence intervals and implement these with statistical software. (Capability 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)
  4. Analyse and interpret how statistical hypothesis testing is applied to epidemiological studies and research questions. (Capability 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)
  5. Recognise, analyse and evaluate how epidemiological evidence has contributed to medical and public health practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Assignments
Final Exam

Learning Resources

Required Textbook
Hulley SB, et al. Designing clinical research. 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013.

Course Contacts

Dr Simon Thornley
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 two hours of lectures, a one hour tutorial, four hours of reading and thinking about the content and 66 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

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 19/12/2019 02:00 p.m.