This module examines Public health and Epidemiology from a scientific perspective¿ focusing on the analytical approaches that underpin effective public health activity. Initially, it focuses on key concepts, central tenets and methods of enquiry within public health, by way of introducing this discipline. You will be able to explore the work of healthcare and related life scientists within the context of public health medicine and understand the drivers of national, international and global public health agendas.

The module covers five main topic areas: Tools and Techniques in Public health. The principles of epidemiology, basic measures of frequency, measure of association and use of the toolkit and terminology common to epidemiology. Risk, association and cause form a framework for investigation. The applications of epidemiological data, such as within indices of health and disease, medical demography and evidence-based medicine are also used as case studies. Biomedical interventions in Public health focuses on aspects of testing, diagnosis and screening. Sensitivity and specificity. Clinical trials and the interpretation of data emerging from trials, other types of interventions and analysing clinical data. Case studies are used in this section and may vary from year to year. Public Health emergencies are studied and you will be able to apply the tools and techniques learnt earlier, in the analysis of the ‘real-life’ data of an emergency, such as an epidemic. This section focuses on key case studies, which will vary. Public Health and Chronic Disease - several weeks of the module are devoted to the in-depth study of disease conditions that currently challenge public health in the UK and may include (but are not limited to) modifiable risks of cancer, harmful alcohol consumption, smoking, sugar intake and obesity. Finally, the future directions of public health looks at the horizon scanning activity of many public health agencies both nationally and internationally. It examines the notion of foresight analysis and challenges you to be innovative and creative in identifying possible interventions to assist the public health practitioner.
Widespread use of cases and problems will be a feature of the workshops in this module.

The assessment for this module consists of two parts:
40% on-line test (comprising online time constrained tasks) (1,2)
60% Case scenario analysis (3) 1500
The Case scenario analysis is the FINAL assessment.

The module is delivered as a blend of DL and face-to-face.

Face to face contact (8 hours) will allow you to consolidate the material covered and demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the material covered.

Independent and Distance Learning Study Hours

34 hours – practice-based workshops
20 hours – reading PowerPoint presentations
6 hours – on-line tutor led activity
22 hours - literature search/reading/ preparation to supplement lecture material
22 hours – writing reports and contributing to workshop activities
38 hours - assessment preparation

Access to e-book:
Detels, R et al. (2015) Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health 9780199661756

Donaldson, L and Rutter, P. (2017) Donaldsons’ Essential Public health. 4th Edition ISBN-13
978-1909368958

Ben-Shlomo, Y; Brookes, S and Hickman, M. (2013) Lecture Notes: Epidemiology, Evidence-based Medicine and public health. 6th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9781444334784

Other resources will be available online and provided in the module handbook and on the Blackboard course pages at the start of the module.

Collaborative and technology supported group working room for all sessions
BB collaborate
Panopto for lecture recording
Access to online resources from workplace

1. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF KEY CONCEPTS, METHODS OF ENQUIRY AND APPLICATION OF INFORMATION LITERACY AND NUMERCACY IN THE FIELD OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE.
Knowledge and Understanding
Enquiry

2. CRITICALLY ANALYSE INFORMATION AND DATA IN ORDER TO ILLUSTRATE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DISEASE, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
Analysis

3. EVALUATE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO SOLVING PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AND PROPOSE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS USING AN EVIDENCED BASED APPROACH
Problem solving
Application