COURSE OUTLINE

Course Epidemiology, Population Health and Public Health (2019-2020)

Code / Version HIM73030 (101)

Total Hours 42

Credits 3

PreRequisite(s)
CoRequisite(s)

Course Description
The objective of HIM3030 is to develop an appreciation for epidemiology and public health. Principles and methods of epidemiology
will be discussed, including the role of epidemiology in health care planning. Applications of health informatics will be explored.
Additional topics such as research ethics, critical reviews of the literature, and data analyses will also be covered within the course.

PLAR Eligible Yes

Eligible for Supplemental Yes (See eligibility requirements in the program handbook)

Resources
Other Resources from Vendor/Publisher | Digital Textbook | Robert H. Friis. Epidemiology 101 (2nd, 2018). Jones & Bartlett. ISBN:
9781284107852.

Course Outcomes
Successful completion of this course will enable the student to:

1. Describe and understand fundamental epidemiological principles, concepts and terminology

2. Describe and use common public health epidemiologic approaches.
3. Compare the relationship between the determinants of health and risk behaviours and chronic diseases.
4. Review the basic principles of the epidemiology of chronic diseases and the relationship of disease to public health.
5. Identify and measure health status.
6. Identify and use Canadian health data sources online.
7. Introduce and describe the methods of epidemiological studies.
8. Describe the use of visual data presentation methods for displaying epidemiological data.
9. Describe the bioethical considerations in the design and conduct of epidemiological studies in Public Health.
10. Describe the role of epidemiological evidence in Canadian public health policy and decision-making.
11. Practice communication and collaboration skills.
12. Practice critical thinking skills.

Unit Outcomes
Successful completion of the following units will enable the student to:
1.0 History, Philosophy, and Uses of Epidemiology
1.1 Define the term epidemiology
1.2 Describe two ways in which epidemiology may be considered a liberal arts discipline
1.3 State three important landmarks in the history of epidemiology
1.4 Describe three uses of epidemiology
2.0 Epidemiologic Measurements Used to Describe Disease Occurrence
2.1 State three mathematical terms used in epidemiology
2.2 Differentiate between incidence and prevalence
2.3 State one epidemiologic measure of morbidity and mortality
2.4 Define the term specific rate
3.0 Data and Additional Measures of Disease Occurrences
3.1 State three factors that affect the quality of epidemiologic data
3.2 List four data sources that are used in epidemiologic research
3.3 Calculate two epidemiologic measures
3.4 State one source of epidemiologic data available from an international organization
4.0 Descriptive Epidemiology: Patterns of Disease—Person, Place, Time
4.1 Define the term descriptive epidemiology
4.2 Discuss types of descriptive epidemiologic studies and their uses
4.3 Describe the process of epidemiologic inference in the context of descriptive epidemiology
4.4 Give two examples each of person, place, and time variables and describe how they relate to the distribution of health
outcomes
5.0 Association and Causality
5.1 Distinguish between non-causal and causal associations
5.2 Describe two methods for displaying data graphically
5.3 State three criteria of causality
5.4 State one example of how chance affects epidemiologic associations
6.0 Analytic Epidemiology: Types of Study Designs
6.1 State three ways in which study designs differ from one another
6.2 Describe case-control, ecologic, and cohort studies
6.3 Calculate an odds ratio, relative risk, and attributable risk
6.4 State appropriate uses of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs
7.0 Epidemiology and the Policy Arena
7.1 Define the term health policy
7.2 Discuss risk assessment
7.3 Give two examples of policies that are applicable to epidemiology
7.4 Discuss the relationship between policy and screening for disease
8.0 Epidemiology and screening for disease
8.1 Synchronize screening of disease with a model for prevention of disease
8.2 Compare two types of screening programs
8.3 State the differences and relationships between reliability and validity
8.4 Calculate measures for evaluating screening tests for disease
8.5 Give tree examples of specific screening programs
9.0 Infectious Diseases and Outbreak Investigation
9.1 Describe modes of transmission of communicable diseases
9.2 Name three microbial agents associated with infectious diseases
9.3 Describe the epidemiology of two infectious diseases
9.4 State procedures for investigating infectious disease outbreaks
9.5 Identify relevant and appropriate sources of epidemiological information.
10.0 Social and Behavioral Epidemiology
10.1 Give two examples of how lifestyle is associated with negative health outcomes
 10.2 State the linkage between tobacco use and adverse health outcomes
10.3 Describe the epidemiology of one form of substance abuse
10.4 Describe the epidemiology of two important mental disorders
11.0 Special Epidemiologic Applications
11.1 Distinguish between molecular and genetic epidemiology
11.2 Define the term environmental epidemiology
11.3 Describe two applications of occupational epidemiology
11.4 State a role for epidemiology in the primary prevention of unintentional injuries and violence

Evaluation
The minimum passing grade for this course is 60 (C).
In order to successfully complete this course, the student is required to meet the following evaluation criteria:

Description Quantity Percentage

1. Mid-Term Exam(s) 35.00 %

2. Final Exam 35.00 %

3. Problem Analysis 5 20.00 %

4. Group Project 10.00 %

100.00 %

Notes
Academic integrity is expected and required of all Conestoga students. It is a student's responsibility to maintain compliance with
Conestoga's Academic Integrity Policy at all times.
Conestoga College is committed to providing academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
An Instructional Plan will be available at the beginning of the course and will be referred to in conjunction with this course outline.

Prepared By Stefan V. Pantazi, MD, PhD

School Health & Life Sciences

Date 2019-11-17 © Conestoga ITAL