Epidemiology

Semester Two

In this two semester epidemiology course, students will study the distribution and determinants of health related states or events and the application to the control of disease. Syllabus

Units:

  1. Systems & Policy

  2. Defining Normal

  3. Data Analysis

  4. Research

  5. Employability, Leadership, and Career Connection

  1. Systems & Policy- 4 weeks

Learning Objectives

  • I examined public policies that have an impact on people’s health.
  • I have investigated current issues that define and influence intervention strategies that are related to public health.
  • I examined public policies that have an impact on people’s health.
  • I have investigated current issues that define and influence intervention strategies that are related to public health.
  • I organized current legislation and regulations regarding public health.
  • I understand multinational and global agencies and organizations (e.g. NIH, CDC, etc.).
  • I can explain the relationships among health, equity and social justice.

Opening:

Economic Development Gallery Walk:

  • Create and present the plan about relationship between health and social economic development of a country. Rubric

Opening:

  • American Health System Introduction

Panel Discussion:

  • Compare and contrast the United States healthcare system with a foreign healthcare system. Present your findings in a panel discussion. Rubric

Global Responsibilities:

  • Prepare a marketing tool that describes the attributes, roles and responsibilities of a local or global organization for public distribution. Participate in a panel discussion on healthcare systems. Rubric

2. Defining Normal - 3 weeks

Learning Objectives

  • I can differentiate between descriptive epidemiology and analytical epidemiology research designs.
  • I can demonstrate the ability to recognize different methodological approaches as applied to a range of public health studies/reports.
  • I can calculate mean, median, mode of sets, and how they relate to the idea of normal.
  • I can use measurements of spread, including range, variance, standard deviation.
  • I can create and interpret data tables and charts.

Opening:

  • What is "normal"?

  • Measurements of central tendency: mean, median, mode.

  • Measurements of spread: range, variance, standard deviation.

Making Data Pretty Practice:

  • Create data tables and charts that apply basic statistical concepts such as measurements of central tendency (mean, median, mode), measurements of spread (range, variance, standard deviation), and changes over time. Worksheet.

Case Studies:

  • Read and interpret case studies

3. Data Analysis - 5 weeks

Learning Objectives

  • I can differentiate between descriptive epidemiology and analytical epidemiology research designs.
  • I can demonstrate the ability to recognize different methodological approaches as applied to a range of public health studies/reports.
  • I can create and interpret data tables and charts.
  • I understand the difference between Correlation vs Causation
  • I can calculate relative risk.
  • I can calculate odds ratios.
  • I can explain the information gathered in each type of case study and how that information is important when planning changes in healthcare.
  • I can demonstrate the ability to interpret and communicate results from public health surveillance analyses.

Opening:

  • Descriptive versus analytical epidemiology research designs.
  • Worksheet: What kind of study is this?

Proving Causation Discussion:

  • How would you definitively prove causation? Work as a team to create a flowchart on how you would prove causation.

Lecture:

  • Anecdotes are not science: An introduction to Correlation vs Causation.

  • Intro to sampling bias.

  • Relative Risk

  • Odds Ratio

Data Tells Stories Project:

  • Analyze and present to a group statistical data related to a case study. Read your group case study and calculate the measure of association, including relative risk and odds ratios, determine correlation, and present findings. Be sure to state what story the data tells. Organize the findings into a product (e.g. publication, podcast, media production, radio announcement). Rubric.

4. Research - 3 weeks

Learning Objectives

  • I can demonstrate techniques to locate appropriate resources (Public Health, CDC, WHO, NIH).
  • I can critically analyze the quality of sources.
  • I know the about errors: Sampling, Type I, and Type II.
  • I can synthesize current research, and organize findings into a clear and concise product.

Opening:

  • Garbage in/Garbage out.

  • The most perfect data analysis cannot fix bad data. What makes data bad?

  • Know your errors: Sampling Bias, Type 1: false negative, Type 2: false positive.

"The Impact of Errors" Questions:

  • What is the consequence of a false negative concerning a cancer diagnosis? To the patient? To their family? To the clinic? To the community?

  • What is the consequence of a false positive concerning a cancer diagnosis? To the patient? To their family? To the clinic? To the community?

Opening:

  • Discuss sample size and power.

Analyze Cases:

In small groups read a good case study and a bad case study. What are the flaws in this study? What could have been done better? What was done well? Summarize the studies results and its reliability on a poster.

5. Employability, Leadership, and Career Connection - 5 weeks

Learning Objectives

  • I can assess leadership and evaluate self-growth.
  • I know how to research job opportunities and potential career pathways.
  • I can model and critique employability skills (professionalism, leadership, teamwork, communication, and responsibility).
Pursuing a new career can be daunting. Lucky for you, completing the Public Health program puts you at an advantage. This unit will help you start to pivot you high school learning towards your next step, be that career or college.

Opening:

Extra Credit:

  • Create a video answering some or all of the following questions. Your video may be shared with future students to help them decide of programs. And will be used by your teachers to further refine the program. Thank you for your help. Video release form.

Research a Potential Career:

  • Research at least two careers you are interested in (it doesn't have to be in public health). Use CareerOneStop and or another site to report the average wage of said career, projected career growth, education needed. Identify at least one college/university for each degree/certification needed for said career.

Guest Speaker:

  • Listen attentively and ask questions of our guest speaker. Add to the Thank You note for the speaker.

Lecture:

  • Professional skills: Education/training, dress, reliability, people skills. Slides

  • Introduction to the AIM method of Conflict resolution. Slides

Conflict Resolution Practice:

  • Read the following case and resolve the conflict using the AIM method of conflict resolution.

Practice Interview Questions:

Craft answer for the following interview questions, then practice delivering them to a classmate.

Self Inventory

Perform a SWOT analysis to identify your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

List your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Create five goals or action plans related to your analysis.

CV and/or Cover Letter Creation:

Create your CV or Cover letter, share it with a peer, read theirs in turn, and give constructive criticism.