BIO 5095 Epidemiology, Surveillance and Statistical Methods

STAFFING:

REQUISITES:

RATIONALE:

This course provides an understanding of the fundamentals of epidemiology, surveillance procedures and an introduction to statistical analysis. Students will acquire a sound foundation in investigative methods as relevant to outbreaks of infectious diseases.

SYNOPSIS:

The course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of epidemiology. Surveillance techniques and methods for investigating outbreaks of infectious diseases are described. The course provides an introduction to statistical analysis and methods for organising, analysing and presenting epidemiological data. Methods for estimating and comparing means and proportions with some emphasis on the use of the t- and chi-squared procedures is provided.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. define and outline the basic principles of epidemiology, surveillance and statistical analysis. Describe the application of these methods to infection control;
2. understand and apply the basic principals of surveillance;
3. collate and present surveillance data in a logical and informative fashion;
4. correctly identify and communicate outbreaks and trends in surveillance data;
5. describe the general concepts of association and causation;
6. apply various models of epidemiological study design including observational studies, analytical studies and experiments;
7. use appropriate graphs and statistics to summarise data;
8. describe when statistical inference is needed in data analysis and the strengths and limitations of this technique;
9. describe what a confidence interval is used for and appropriately interpret the results;
10. describe what a hypothesis test is used for and appropriately interpret the results;
11. describe the need for probability distributions and list the circumstances appropriate for the following distributions: Normal, t, Binomial, Poisson and Chi-Square;
12. critically appraise published papers and comment on the likely validity of results and relevance to your institution.

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Scientific Calculator

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

NOTES:

1.

Examination dates will be available during the Semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assignments satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assignment. To complete the examination satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for the examination.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 10% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve 50% of the marks available for each assessment item, achieve at least 50% in the examination and at least 50% of the available weighted marks for the summative assessment items.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   In an Open Examination, candidates may have access to any material during the examination except the following: electronic communication devices, bulky materials, devices requiring mains power and material likely to disturb other students.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held in the semester 3 examination period of the current academic year.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES