Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - HSCI 341 D100

Fundamental Epidemiological Concepts and Approaches (3)

Class Number: 8056

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 12, 2022
    Tue, 12:00–12:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    HSCI 230, and STAT 201 or 203 or 205, all with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

As a follow-up to HSCI 230, this course aims to build further literacy of fundamental epidemiological concepts and approaches, and skills to apply basic quantitative measures to describe and evaluate public health issues as well as communicate the magnitude and potential determinants of those issues.

COURSE DETAILS:

Background
This new course has been developed as part of the ongoing curriculum reform for the BSc Public Health and Data concentration (currently Population and Quantitative Health Sciences concentration) and is being offered for the first time as a pilot in the Spring 2022 term. As the new curriculum is being established, students are going to be expected to enrol in HSCI 230, 341 and 410 in sequence. The course is intended for students who are going to learn basics of using RStudio for basic epidemiological analyses for the first time. 

Overall goal
The overall goal of this course is to prepare students to apply fundamental epidemiological concepts and approaches, some of which they have already learned in HSCI 230 (previously HSCI 330), to real-world data for a given purpose/context and become an effective communicator of the magnitude and potential determinants of population health issues. 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe and apply some key theoretical perspectives to formulate epidemiological research questions
  2. Assess implications of common population health data sources for validity
  3. Apply some fundamental epidemiological concepts and tools to real-world population health issues
    • Illustrate potential causal relationships using a directed acyclic graph
    • Use RStudio for basic (mostly descriptive) epidemiological analyses
    • Identify, calculate and interpret appropriate measures of disease frequency and unadjusted disease effect using real-world data for a given purpose/context
  4. Discuss and apply potential approaches for evaluating causation
  5. Effectively communicate the magnitude and potential determinants of population health issues
    • Appropriately use key epidemiological terms for the academic audience
    • Summarize study results in plain language and an infographic for the lay audience

Grading

  • Participation 5%
  • Assignments 20%
  • Midterm exam 25%
  • Group project 20%
  • Final paper (to be done individually or in a pair) 30%

NOTES:

The course instructor may make changes to the syllabus and grading strategies if necessary. Following the Faculty of Health Sciences grading policy for the undergraduate program, the median letter grade for students in the course will be a B or B+, and no more than 8% of students will receive an A+.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The class will meet in a computer lab where students have access to computers that have already installed RStudio and MSExcel. However, in order to prepare for a situation where students cannot come to the campus (e.g., for COVID-related reasons, for example), students will also need to secure access to an internet-enabled computer outside of the computer lab that is capable of accessing Canvas, running RStudio and MSExcel and allowing students to attend synchronous class sessions via zoom. These programs are free to download and use.

REQUIRED READING:

Textbook (eBook): Webb P, Bain C, Page A. Essential Epidemiology (Enhanced Edition): An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals. Fourth edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2020.

Students are recommened to use the Enhanced Edition (not Regular Edition) that contains additional practice questions. Some of the questions in the midterm exam will resemble them.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.