| Unit name | Health protection: infectious disease epidemiology and control |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMSM0003 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Christensen |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
This unit aims to equip you with an understanding of the fundamental concepts in the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases. You will gain knowledge of infectious diseases of public health importance and how surveillance is critical for health protection. Through lectures and problem-based learning exercises you will learn methods for infectious disease control, including outbreak investigation, and understand the current and possible future threats in this area. You will learn about techniques for the analysis of infectious disease data, including statistical methods and mathematical modelling. You will be considering communicable diseases and their control in Europe and globally, as well as in the UK.
By the end of this unit students will be able to
1. Explain key infectious disease concepts and terms and relate these to the epidemiology of pathogens of public health significance
2. Explain the principles, use and role of surveillance in health protection
3. Compare and contrast methods for infectious disease control, and explain how mathematical modelling can inform decision making for public health interventions
4. Plan an outbreak investigation and interpret statistical results and findings from epidemiological, microbiological and environmental investigations
There will be 10 teaching weeks. Teaching will include learning activities set by the tutor including lectures (synchronous and asynchronous), small group work, discussions, individual tasks, and practical activities (face to face or online).
Directed and self-directed learning will include activities such as reading, accessing web-based supplementary materials, critical analysis, and completion of assessments.
Student learning will be supported through the use of informal assessments built into teaching sessions and will include approaches such as the use of exercises, interactive quizzes/multiple choice questions, feedback from discussion and strategic questioning and a formative in class peer-marking exercise (ILO 1)
The unit is summatively assessed by a closed-book exam (ILOs 1 - 4, 100% of unit mark).
An overall score of 50% will be required to pass the unit.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BRMSM0003).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
