The course will help students gain a broad understanding of the overarching principles of population health, and the role of the discipline in improving health and reducing health inequities. This course will provoke interest in undergraduates around population health and will introduce the subject to students interested in pursuing a career path in public health at the graduate level. It will also lead to an appreciation of population health within the context of other health sciences, thus broadening the foundation for students in other cognate disciplines. This course therefore covers community assessment, health systems in Australia, point of care data collection, preventive strategies, and population level health interventions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Define and explain basic principles and concepts of epidemiology.
2. Calculate and interpret rudimentary measures of risk.
3. Describe basic epidemiologic study designs and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each design to identify cause and effect relationships between exposures and health outcomes.
4. Judge the quality of evidence in primary research from the epidemiologic literature.
5. Critically evaluate population level interventions in action to a problem/scenario that aims to prevent future disease, potential epidemics, reduce mortality or lead to health gains.
6. Evaluate the scientific basis for policy recommendations to a major public health issue and develop and propose a policy recommendation to that major public health issue within an Australian context.

Research-Led Teaching

This course will use primary references (research articles) to highlight key concepts and issues. Guest lectures from current and adjunct staff from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health will highlight their population health and intervention research and application of population health work. Students will search and select a case study from primary sources that summarises a population health intervention.

Recommended Resources

Elmore, J.G., Wild, D.M.G., Nelson, H. & Katz, D.L., (2014) Jekel's Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health, 5th Edition, Elsevier Publishing.

The course textbook can be purchased directly from Elsevier: https://www.elsevier.com/books/jekels-epidemiology-biostatistics-preventive-medicine-and-public-health/elmore/978-0-323-64201-9

Note there are paperback and ebook versions of the textbook. With the paperback version, you also have access to the online version which you can access here:

https://www.clinicalkey.com.au/#!/browse/book/3-s2.0-C20100656549

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

For more information please see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/systems/recommended-student-system-requirements

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Course Introduction (Face-to-Face); Basic Epidemiological Concepts and Principles; Introduction to Public Health	Lecture: There will be a face-to-face introductory lecture this weekTutorial: The basics to doing an Oral Presentation
2	Epidemiological Data Measurement; Surveillance & Outbreak investigation; Outbreak Investigation: Ebola by Kamalini Lokuge	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: A guide to writing a scientific essay/report
3	The Study of Risk Factors and Causation; Common Designs and Issues in Epidemiology; RCTs in E-Mental and Mental Health Research by Phil Batterham	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Critical Thinking?
4	Assessment of Risk and Benefit in Epidemiology; Case-Study: Interpreting findings from the scientific literature (Statins for Primary/Secondary Prevention)	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Design your own RCT!
5	Introduction to Preventative Medicine; Primary Prevention; Geo-Spatial modelling in population health research by Kayla Smurthwaite	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial:  Calculating Rudimentary Risk Estimates
6	Secondary Prevention; Tertiary Prevention	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Student Presentations
7	Prevention of Chronic Disease and Infectious Disease; The Happy Life: Intervention for Type-2 Diabetes and Chronic Disease by Shane Thomas	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Student Presentations
8	Mental and Behavioural Health	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Student Presentations
9	Australia’s Health Care System; Disease Burden in Australia	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Student Presentations
10	Theories of Behaviour Change; Predictors of Adherence	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Student Presentations
11	Psycho-social Barriers to Treatment Adherence; Promoting Dietary Change	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Student Presentations
12	Adherence to Physical Activity; Addressing Tobacco Use	Lecture: Pre-RecordedTutorial: Student Presentations (if needed)

Tutorial Registration

Students will be able to register for tutorials through MyTimetable.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Oral Presentation	10 %	*	1,2,4,5
Structured Essay	40 %	02/10/2024	1,5
Mid-Semester Review Test	15 %	23/08/2024	1,2,4,
End of Semester Test	35 %	02/11/2024	1,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Oral Presentation

Assessment Task: Oral Presentation 2024

 

Details of task:

Students will develop an Oral Presentation as would be required if attending a health conference. Presentations are an important and effective way for researchers to present their research findings. Students will:

1)     select ONE peer-reviewed journal article that describes an intervention to improve health and well-being in a population.

2)     The article must present a quantitative or qualitative study, BUT NOT a review or summary document. A good starting point for finding an article is to browse through the latest editions of peer-reviewed health and medical journals. 

3)     Develop a PowerPoint presentation that briefly, concisely and critically communicates the article and findings.  

4)     Include two original sections in the Presentation which include:

a.     A critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the article. 

b.     A ‘proposed research’ section outlining methodology to extend the research

5)     Present a 5-minute oral presentation to their tutorial group with a further 5 minutes for questions.

YOU MUST SUBMIT THE FILES ON WATTLE THE DAY BEFORE YOUR PRESENTATION

The presentation is designed to develop your

·      interest and understanding of the different fields of health research and the primary literature in an area of your choosing.

·      critical thinking skills with regards to peer reviewed literature by questioning experimental and research questions, designs and outcomes and understanding studies strengths and limitations.

·      ability to determine and extract the relevant information from the literature.

·      communication skills and ability to present information in a succinct and concise visual AND verbal manner, using a combination of text, graphics and pictures. 

Students will present on different dates and will be randomly allocated to one of these presentation times in tutorial 1. The presentations will be given during the Tutorial time in Weeks 5 THRU 11.

Students' oral presentation will be assessed by the tutor and reflect 10% of the total course marks.

Assessment Rubrics

The assessment rubric is online at the course’s Wattle site.

 

Value: 10% of the final grade

 

 

ORGANISATION OF YOUR PRESENTATION

Your Presentation should:

Comprise a maximum of Seven Slides. This includes the introductory slide which should provide the Title of the Journal Article – with full citation.

An additional slide for listing references or image sources is permitted in addition to these 7 slides.

1)     Provide an Introduction to the Article. The introduction of your presentation will concisely convey the background of your chosen journal article, and the research aims/ questions. 

2)     Provide a brief overview of the methods and results, and a discussion of the findings.

3)     Include two additional slides that cover

a.     Strengths / Weaknesses of the study:

                                                             i.     Provide a critical examination of the study / article and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. 

                                                            ii.     Think critically when reading and presenting research. Is the study / article demonstrating “good science”? Are there alternative points of view and have they been addressed in the article? Does the research design answer the research question? Were the author’s conclusions appropriate given the study’s findings? What are the implications (theoretical, practical, clinical, policy, etc) of the findings (i.e. so what?)? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the study / article?

b.     Proposed Research – Extending the Findings

                                                             i.     Linking the weaknesses/limitations identified, provide an outline of some proposed research that could extend the current study.  

Assessment Task 2

Structured Essay

Assessment Task: Structured Essay 2024

 

Details of task: This assessment item is designed to allow students to undertake an in-depth investigation of a single research topic of ongoing interest to the community at large, to present information in a cogent and critical manner, and to consider how scientific findings could inform health policy.

 

Write a structured essay addressing a key population health issue on ONE of the proscribed topics provided.

 

In your answer, you are expected to:

 

·    Provide a background/what is known about the disorder/behaviour/issue.

·    Summarise and critically review the key known research related to the issue; each question has a reference which must be cited and discussed in your answer.

·    Your answer should assess approaches to reduce/increase/change the behaviour.

·    Include discussion of possible criticisms of current knowledge-base and approaches to the problem, and the means used to evaluate them.

·    Present a BALANCED and critical answer to the question.

 

 

Review Requirements.

Your review should include:

·    An introduction to the topic.

·    A body of the essay that comprises:

o  A review of the key evidence on the topic.

o  A critical analysis of the findings, and an explanation for contradictions.

·    A conclusion summarising the topic, and the main points raised.

·    References must contain no fewer than 8 and no more than 10 references.

·    References must be cited and listed using the APA v7 style. We will also go over this referencing style in the second tutorial. Marks will be deducted where full bibliographic details are not provided.

Assessment Rubrics

The assessment rubric is online on the course Wattle site

 Word limit (where applicable): 1500-word limit (between 1400 and 1600 words) and does not include the title page and reference list. See the Marking Criteria for full details.

 Value: 40% of the final grade

Assessment Task 3

Mid-Semester Review Test

Assessment Task: Mid-Semester Test 2024

 

Details of task: A mid-semester test will cover material from Lecture 2 and Lecture 4.  Specifically, the questions will focus on calculation-based questions (e.g. standardization of mortality rates, calculation of Absolute or Relative Risk). There may be questions asking you to interpret questions about mortality rates or Relative Risk between two populations.

 

Students will have 1.5 hours to complete the test and must complete the test in one session.

 

Multiple attempts are not permitted.

 

The format of the test will include different types of questions, including multiple choice and short response questions.

 

You will need a basic calculator for calculation questions.

 

Students must ensure they complete the test on a secure internet connection.

 

The test can only be undertaken once.

 

Due: Online test accessible on WATTLE in WEEK 5 between 1pm and 9pm Friday 23rd of August.

 

Value: 15% of the final grade.

 

Estimated return date: Marks will be uploaded to WATTLE within 2 weeks.

Assessment Task 4

End of Semester Test

Assessment Task: End-of-Semester Test 2024

 

Details of task:

The end-of-semester test is an online test. The test will cover material from the whole semester EXCEPT students will not be required to do calculations of risk or rates as was done in the mid-semester test.

Students will have 2 hours to complete the test and must complete the test in one session.

 

Multiple attempts are not permitted.

The format of the test will include multiple-choice, short and longer response questions. The test will not include any calculation questions.

Students must ensure they complete the test on a secure internet connection.

Due: Online test accessible on WATTLE between 1pm Friday 1st of November and 1pm Saturday 2nd of November.

Value: 35% of the final grade.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) a submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned via Wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments is not permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students