HSM409 Evidence-based Health Care Delivery (8)

CSU Discipline Area: Allied Health (ALHEA)

Duration: One session

Abstract:

Students are introduced to the history of the development of epidemiology and public health, and its relevance and relationship to contemporary health management issues. They explore approaches to descriptive and analytical epidemiology, and the methods of epidemiological research, including cross sectional, cohort, case control and intervention studies. They are encouraged to develop a “New Public Health” approach to resolve a service delivery health need in their community.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

Session 2
Distance	Bathurst

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: HSM409

Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Enrolment restrictions:

Available only to postgraduate students in health related courses

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

be able to discuss the history and development of public health and its relationship to the development of 'epidemiological practice'.
be able to discuss the significance of the Ottawa Charter for health promotion to public health;
be able to compare and contrast traditional and new public health approaches;
be able to describe the concepts and techniques of epidemiology;
be able to identify the sources of epidemiological information;
be able to critically evaluate epidemiological studies published in refereed journals;
be able to apply epidemiological information to determine health program priorities, design and evaluation;
be able to critically appraise the role of health managers in facilitating a "New Public Health" orientation in their organisations;
be able to identify ways in which epidemiological information can enhance service planning, coordination and evaluation.

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

introduction to the basic concepts of epidemiology;
an overview of available demographic information, vital and health statistics;
the major epidemiological approaches and their application;
the expression and use of epidemiological measurement;
tests of causality and the use of inference;
the application of epidemiological information to planning, delivery and evaluation of health services;
environmental and preventative measures impacting on contemporary health issues;
strategies facilitating new public health approaches.

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