Module: Epidemiology

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Epidemiology
Module Code	NS270 (ITS) / HEA1009 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health
Module Co-ordinator	Gillian Paul
Module Teachers	Anthony Staines
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only
Students will be required to write an essay of 4,000 words, reviewing the evidence for a question provided by themselves, and agreed, in advance, with the examiner. They will be required to communicate with the examiner on three occasions, either in person, or by electronic means, while this is happening, to ensure, as far as possible, that this represents their own work.

Description

This is a first course in epidemiology. After doing it you will understand what epidemiology is, and how epidemiologists view the world. You will have a basic knowledge of the major sources of health and disease in population. You will be able to read, and critically appraise, relevant journal articles.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the term epidemiology and its contribution to population health and the planning and delivery of health services.
2. Understand the uses of evidence in healthcare, and learn how to find, use and critically appraise it.
3. Understand the range of study designs in common use - survey, cohort, case-control, randomized controlled trial, and have a working knowledge of how to measure health and well-being.
4. Discuss the main factors that sustain health, and cause disease, including social status, nutrition, and exercise.
5. Have a working knowledge of how to think about and measure measure health and well-being.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	12	Taught elements during scheduled lectures
Group work	12	Class is divided into groups, who receive tasks regularly, and present the results of these in the class
Class Presentation	24	Work between session, carrying out the tasks set for their groups
Independent Study	77	Self-directed learning
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Epidemiology
This is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in human populations.

Evidence and Appraisal
These are the skills and techniques required to find evidence relating to a question, evaluate the evidence you find, and summarise it for others.

Causes of health and disease
We will review some of the main causes of health and disease in human populations.

Measuring health and disease
We will give some approaches to measuring health and disease in human populations.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Extended Essay / Dissertation	Students will form groups which choose a topic of interest to them, posed as a question. In their assignment they will answer the question, and justify their answer, with correctly referenced, but selected, literature. Each assignment will then be marked, in writing, by at least two other students, and the authors will respond, in writing, to the comments of the markers. The whole package, assignment, two peer marks, and response, will be graded.	70%	Once per semester
Participation	Students are divided into groups. For each session all groups are given the same task, and time is allocated to carry out the work. Groups are selected, in order, to present their work to the class. Each group will do the same number of presentations.	20%	As required
Participation	Students will receive 1 mark for attendance at classes, up to a total of 10 marks.	10%	Every Week

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Isabel dos Santos Silva: 1999, Cancer epidemiology: principles and methods, 1, IARC, Lyons:France, 928320405
R. Bonita, R. Beaglehole, T. Kjellström.: 2006, Basic epidemiology, 2, WHO, Geneva:Switzerland, 924154707

Other Resources

None