| Module Code: NUR3038 |
Module Title: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH PROTECTION IN PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE |
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Module Provider: Health & Social Care
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Short Name: NUR3038
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Level: HE3
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Module Co-ordinator: HUTCHINSON K Mrs (HSC)
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Number of credits: 10
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Number of ECTS credits: 5
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| Module Availability |
| Semester 1 |
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| Assessment Pattern |
An examination (50%)
The written examination will consist of a total of twenty, short answer and multiple choice questions, to test epidemiological knowledge and its application to practice.
A written assignment
Students have a choice of two assignments
Question A (50%)
Describe the levels of prevention in relation to a chosen topic area. Discuss how selected levels would be appropriate as part of a comprehensive programme to prevent the spread of an identified illness or behaviour that threatens health in a specific population.
Word count 1500 words
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Question B (50%)
Outline the steps of the health care planning cycle. Discuss selected stages of the cycle with reference to a public health risk / problem in an identified population.
Word count 1500 words
A pass must be attained in both assessments
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| Module Overview |
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| Prerequisites/Co-requisites |
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| Module Aims |
The aims of this module are to:
• Appreciate the strategic approach to the promotion and protection of the populations’ health and well-being
• To demonstrate appreciation of the ways in which epidemiology impacts on public health
• To enable practitioners to act as health promoters and educators
• Enhance, and utilise skills for the surveillance and assessment of the populations health and well-being
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| Learning Outcomes |
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
Subject knowledge and understanding
• Demonstrate appreciation of the principles and methodologies of epidemiology
• Utilise strategies to assess health, public health, social, political and economic factors which influence and impact on communities, community development and health and welfare resources
• understand the processes of health surveillance and assessment of the population’s health and well-being and assess the resources needed for the implementation and evaluation of service developments at local and national levels and make appropriate recommendations
• explore public health in the light of epidemiological evidence
Cognitive skills
• analyse, evaluate and apply epidemiological data relating to public health
• demonstrate skills of critical analysis and evaluation
• initiate and evaluate strategies designed to promote health and empower patients, clients and carers through public health service developments.
Practical skills
• support and empower patients, clients and carers to influence and use available services, information and skills to the full and to participate in decisions concerning their care
• identify and select from a range of health and social agencies those which will assist and improve the care of individuals, groups and communities
• Deliver effective health promotion
• undertake diagnostic health screening and health surveillance
• carry out health needs assessment, stimulate an awareness of health and care needs and initiate and contribute to strategies designed to promote and improve health and prevent disease in individuals, groups and communities and assess the health gain of policies
• engage with a community development approach in supporting and empowering service users and communities to act as active partners in development
• develop and maintain effective multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working partnerships in health protection measures
Key / transferable skills
• demonstrate a critical approach to reading and using epidemiological evidence
• develop and maintain one’s own knowledge to inform evidence-based practice
• demonstrate good communication, networking and facilitative skills
• demonstrate skills related to information and communication technology in the retrieval and presentation of data
• produce detailed and coherent project reports
• Demonstrate a critical approach to reading and using epidemiological evidence
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| Module Content |
What is Epidemiology? Historical context.
Definition and scope of epidemiology
Ten great Public Health achievements of the 20th Century
Quantifying diseases in populations
Measuring health and disease
Types of study:
Surveys: Planning and conducting
Studies: ecological, longitudinal
Case control and cross sectional studies
Experimental studies
Epidemiology and levels of prevention
Screening
Environmental and occupational epidemiology
Causation in epidemiology:
Communicable Disease: Outbreaks of disease and management
Health policy and healthcare planning
Making sense of epidemiological reports
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| Methods of Teaching/Learning |
Taught: 30 hours
Self-directed learning: 120 hours
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| Selected Texts/Journals |
ESSENTIAL READING
Beaglehole R, Bonita R. & Kjellstrom T. (1993) Basic Epidemiology. WHO, Geneva.
Cowley S. (2002) Public Health in Policy and Practice. Baillière Tindall, London.
Carr S. (2007) An Introduction to public health and epidemiolog. (2nd edn.) Open University , Buckingham.
RECOMMENDED READING
Gerstman B. (2003) Epidemiology kept simple (2nd edn.) Wiley-Liss, Chichester.
Seedhouse D. (2001) Foundations for achievement (2nd edn.) Wiley, Chichester.
BACKGROUND READING
Acheson D. (1998) Independent inquiry into inequalities in health. The Stationery Office, London
Costello J, & Haggart M. (2003) Public Health and Society. Palgrave, Basingstoke.
Donaldson L J. & Donaldson R J. (2000) Essential Public Health (2nd edn.) Petroc Press, London.
Farmer K., Miller D. & Lawrenson R. (2003) Public Health Medicine: Lecture Notes (5th edn.) Blackwell Science, London.
Holland W.W. & Werner W. (1998) Public Health: The vision & the challenge. Nuffield Trust, London.
Specialist tutors will advise students on the specific reading required for their area of practice
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| Last Updated |
| 29TH JULY 2010 |
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