PHPS30020 Public Health Medicine, Epidemiology & International Health

Academic Year 2022/2023

The module runs over three weeks in the final year of medicine and is organised into three blocks.
During the first block (week 1, Epidemiology and biostatistics), the students learn the fundamentals of epidemiology, statistics, and research methods. Concerning statistics, the focus is on interpreting the results -tables and figures- and the interpretation of statistical parameters reported in research studies.
The course further develops students' understanding of the population's perspective of health and public health medicine principles and practice (Week 2). The lectures and seminars cover the following topics: social and environmental determinants of disease, chronic non-communicable diseases epidemiology and determinants, one-health, cancer screening, surveillance of infectious diseases, public health policy, advocacy, health promotion and the financing and organisation of health services. In addition, students are introduced to the concept of cultural humility and the influence of unconscious bias in health systems and clinical encounters.
The third week introduces students to the critical issues in Global Health; climate change, public health emergencies, built environment and health impacts, health services in developing countries and Sustainable Developments Goals.
The material is delivered through synchronic online lectures, asynchronous online lectures, face-to-face lectures and tutorials.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
(1) Gain the ability to critically appraise data (epidemiology, clinical research, diagnostic tests, and biostatistics);
(2) Identify and map causal pathways and the determinants of health
(3) Demonstrate understanding of surveillance systems, and outbreak investigations through analysis of historical infectious disease outbreaks (e.g. HIV, Hantavirus, Ebola, Covid-19).
(4) ability to provide brief advice to the individual incorporating theories of behavioural change and to advocate for the rights of patients and health equity in communities
(5) Demonstrate understanding of major global health challenges.
(6) Apply screening concepts, interpret diagnostic test parameters and performance

Indicative Module Content:

Week 1
Epidemiology: Interpreting counts, rates and ratios. Epidemiological study designs: observational versus interventions; quantitative, mixed methods and qualitative Research Methods Types of variables. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures.
Interpretation of statistical tests, which are frequently used in medicine. Construction, application and Interpretation of relative rIsk, relative risk reduction, absolute risk reduction, number needed to treat, odds ratio, and mean difference. Understand the concepts of the direction of the effect estimates, the strength of effects estimates, and the precision of effect estimates. Principles of screening and the use and interpretation of diagnostic tests.
Week 2
Public Health and population health. Public Health measures and policies that impact life expectancy. Prevention Lifestyle factors, Chronic disease epidemiology. Social and environmental determinants of health. Infectious Disease (contact tracing, surveillance). Health Service delivery and principles of health financing. Audit and quality improvements in medicine. One Health and antimicrobial resistance. Unconscious bias in health systems and its impact on health outcomes. Behavioural change theories applied to individuals and populations.
Week 3 Global Health.
Sustainable Development Goals and Global Health
Health Services in low-income countries, low resource settings.
Overview of the scientific evidence of climate change and Public Health implications.
Built-environment and the impacts on population health




Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Small Group

12
Specified Learning Activities

18
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Total

114
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Face-to-face lectures
Online lectures
Face-to-face and online tutorials
Directed learning (documents posted)
Self-assessments

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Additional Information:
Prerequisite: Clinical Stage I


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: Four short answer questions.
1 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes

60
Examination: Multiple-choice questions 1 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

If individual students request feedback on their exam/MCQ that will be provided after provisional marks are published.

Schneider M, Schneider HS. Introduction to Public Health. Sixth ed. Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2021;2020.

Epidemiology and Biostatistics:
Fletcher RH, Fletcher SW, Fletcher GS, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health; 2021.

Sullivan LM. Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health. Third;3; ed. Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2018;2017
Name Role
Professor Patricia Fitzpatrick Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Akke Vellinga Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Patrick Wall Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Carolyn Ingram Tutor
Assoc Professor Carla Perrotta Tutor