Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

    Overview

    Introduction to the principles and practice of epidemiology, including measuring disease frequency; study design and methods; dealing with error, linking exposures with outcomes and critical appraisal of published research.

    In the first part of the paper, students will learn how they can identify patterns of health or disease in populations to address questions such as, 'Which groups of people are more likely to suffer poor health?' 'Is health improving over time?' 'Does health vary by place?' Students will learn about epidemiological study designs and methods and identify which types of important public health questions they can be used to investigate. Students will learn how to identify and assess potential error in epidemiological studies and how to measure the potential associations between exposures and disease. By the end of the paper students will be critically appraising published epidemiological studies and addressing questions such as, 'Does this study provide valid evidence about the cause of this disease in this population?'

    About this paper

    Paper title Principles of Epidemiology
    Subject Public Health
    EFTS 0.125
    Points 15 points
    Teaching period(s) 1st Non standard period (29 April 2024 - 28 June 2024) (On campus)
    1st Non standard period (29 April 2024 - 28 June 2024) (On campus)
    1st Non standard period (29 April 2024 - 28 June 2024) (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,551.63
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Restriction
    HASC 411, HASX 411
    Limited to
    MA, MHealSc, MMLSc, MPH, MSc, DPH, PGDipArts, PGDipHealSc, PGDipMLSc, PGDipPHC, PGCertPH, PGCertPHC
    Eligibility
    Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline or recognised equivalent.
    Contact

    Wellington Campus: publichealth.wellington@otago.ac.nz
    Christchurch Campus: publichealth.christchurch@otago.ac.nz
    Dunedin Campus: publichealth.dunedin@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff

    Wellington Campus and Overall Convenor: Dr Melissa McLeod
    Christchurch Campus: Dr Phil Hider
    Dunedin Campus: Dr Simon Horsburgh

    Paper Structure
    1. Introducing Epidemiology
    2. Hidden Patterns: Descriptive Epidemiology
    3. Epidemiological study designs
    4. Measuring associations
    5. Error: the role of chance, bias and confounding
    6. Critical appraisal and synthesis of evidence

    Assessment:

    • In-class test - 40%
    • Final Assessment - 60%
    Teaching Arrangements

    Tuesday morning sessions, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

    Friday morning sessions, 9:00 am - 11:00 am

    Textbooks

    Essential Epidemiology. An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals (3rd Edition) by P Webb, C Bain and A Page. Cambridge University Press (2017). (The fourth edition may also be used instead).

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes
    • To summarise and interpret the descriptive epidemiology of a public health problem
    • To explain and interpret core epidemiological concepts and to use them to critically appraise epidemiological studies
    • To integrate epidemiological evidence from more than one source and examine the extent to which the evidence supports the existence of a causal association between an exposure (or intervention) and an outcome

    Timetable

    1st Non standard period (29 April 2024 - 28 June 2024)

    Location
    Christchurch
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Moodle

    1st Non standard period (29 April 2024 - 28 June 2024)

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Moodle

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Tuesday 09:00-12:50 18-23
    Friday 09:00-10:50 18-23

    1st Non standard period (29 April 2024 - 28 June 2024)

    Location
    Wellington
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Moodle
    Back to top