Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To understand ways of using routine information and applying epidemiological principles to practical public health problems. Content includes routine data sources, interpreting health information, uses of population and health related data for public health and health service planning, screening and basic principles of demography.

Outline Of Syllabus

Health Surveillance; Health Information; Demography; Disease Registers; Health Needs Assessment; Screening.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of this module students will be able to:

• Explain the basic principles of demography, and how population, census and vital statistics are produced and used to inform public health practice, including the use of life table analysis
• List the key sources of health and health service routine data and, for each, give examples of potential uses and discuss limitations
• Describe the principles of screening and critically appraise its role in health improvement
• Critically appraise current approaches to the use of information to identify public
health priorities, plan population level programmes and evaluate the health impact of interventions at a population level

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of this module students will be able to:
• Access, present and interpret health and population routine data
• Critically appraise the value and limitations of such data
• Calculate and interpret parameters of screening tests and evaluate a screening programme
• Use epidemiological methods to address practical problems in public health
• Design a needs assessment project

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Teaching includes a mixture of presentation of information, to enable students to meet knowledge outcomes, together with interactive practical exercises and discussion. Small group teaching includes direct dialogue between students and provides the opportunity to discuss in depth the sources and uses of epidemiological data, thus embedding and reinforcing the knowledge outcomes and facilitating achievement of the intended skills outcomes. Most of the students have significant experience of working in the health service, and the interactive nature of the learning methods enables them to discuss their experience and to relate that to the concepts and ideas being taught, thus aiding their knowledge and understanding of the subject area.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assignment will assess data interpretation, knowledge and understanding will be assessed. Skills in accessing routine data, and in formulating and addressing health needs assessment problems will also be assessed by the assignment.

General Notes

N/A