EPID6420

Epidemiology A - Basic Methods

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2014

Callaghan Campus Semester 1
WebLearn GradSchool Semester 1

Previously offered in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

Introduces students to the basic concepts of epidemiology. Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in specific populations, and the application of this knowledge to the evaluation and control of health problems in the community.

Objectives Module 1: to understand how epidemiologists judge cause and effect, and the potential biases that can affect this process. To understand the difference between confounders and effect modifiers.
Module 2: to understand the measures used to describe the health of populations and the pitfalls associated with these. Includes prevalence, incidence, crude and specific rates, ratios, odds, and direct and indirect standardisation.
Module 3: to understand the design of case-control, cohort and randomised controlled studies and their analyses, including relative risks, odds ratios, attributable risk, number needed to treat, aetiologic fraction, population attributable risk and population attributable risk percent.
Module 4: to become familiar with different frameworks for critical appraisal of an article.
Module 5: to understand the steps in investigating an epidemic, including attack rates.
Content Learning modules covered in this course include:
Module 1: Causation and bias
Module 2: Health indicators
Module 3: Study Designs
Module 4: Critical Appraisal
Module 5: Epidemic investigation
Replacing Course(s) n/a
Transition n/a
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge n/a
Modes of Delivery Distance Learning : IT Based
Distance Learning : Paper Based
Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Email Discussion Group
Lecture
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Three marked Assignments. MA1 and MA2 worth 15% and MA3 worth 30%
Examination: Take Home Take home examination worth 40 %
Contact Hours Email Discussion Group: for 2 hour(s) per Week for Full Term
Timetables 2014 Course Timetables for EPID6420