MPH5207 - Chronic disease: Epidemiology and prevention - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

Coordinator(s)

Dr Robert Hall

Unit guides

Offered

Alfred Hospital

  • First semester 2017 (Day)
  • First semester 2017 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Epidemiology and control of chronic diseases. Overview of important chronic diseases in Australia in 2011, and strategies for their prevention and control.

Measurement of disease and burden of disease; concept of risk factors and risk factors for important chronic diseases; the effect of social and economic factors on the epidemiology of chronic diseases; impact of chronic diseases on society and the economy; smoking, nutrition and physical activity as risk factors for important chronic diseases; cardiovascular diseases and their prevention; oral diseases and their prevention; injuries and their prevention; respiratory diseases and their prevention; cancers and their prevention; screening as a public health tool; health promotion as a public health tool; use of evidence in public health programmes to prevent chronic diseases.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the epidemiology and burden of chronic diseases in Australia
  2. Evaluate methods to measure the health impact of chronic diseases
  3. Assess risk factors and causal pathways leading to important chronic diseases.
  4. Examine the influence of social and economic factors on chronic diseases
  5. Analyse strategies for the public health control of chronic diseases.
  6. Evaluate the role of public health evidence in the control of chronic diseases.

Assessment

  • 9 x learning reports (200 words each) that comprises responses to questions and participation in discussion forum (35%)
  • Poster discussing the public health importance of a chronic disease or risk factor (25%)
  • Essay on public health measures to control a chronic disease or risk factor (2,500 words) (40%) (hurdle)

Workload requirements

15 contact hours over 2 days.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Co-requisites

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at: