Description
This module provides a perspective on public health, current threats to health and healthcare within populations and mechanisms and organisations for managing diseases.
Aims
The aim of this Module is to provide the student with a critical awareness of the range of threats to health, the origin of these threats and existing mechanisms for disease control.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate critical awareness of a range of threats to public health and their aetiology.
2. Evaluate the role of statistics and data management in monitoring and control of disease.
3. Critically discuss the role of public health policy, national and international organisation in disease control.
Indicative Content
1 Public Health and Epidemiology ConceptsPublic Health and Epidemiology Concepts
Understand terms such as cluster, outbreak, endemic, epidemic, pandemic and evaluate research methods in the field of epidemiology. Neglected diseases.
1 Public Health and Epidemiology Concepts
Understand terms such as cluster, outbreak, endemic, epidemic, pandemic and evaluate research methods in the field of epidemiology. Neglected diseases.
2 Natural and anthropogenic sources of disease
Critical awareness of disease sources of both natural origin such as infectious diseases; bacterial, viral and parasitic as well as diseases caused by environmental, lifestyle and social determinants.
3 Qualitative and quantitative data streams
Accessing, using and appraising qualitative, quantitative and 'semi- quantitative' health data from local, national and international sources.
4 Disease Surveillance and monitoring
The process of disease surveillance from a local level (reporting from NHS labs) to the role of national and international organisations, such as governments, World Health Organisation and Centre for Disease Control. How these organisations respond to and manage new and emerging health threats.
5 Ethics
Public health ethics. Role of national and international organisations in formulating policies based on evidence and ethical criteria.
6 Prevention, Health Care and emergency risk management
Case studies examining strategies for minimising the impact of natural and anthropogenic diseases. Carrying out a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) in public health strategies.
Teaching and Learning Work Loads
| Teaching and Learning Method | Hours |
| Lecture | 12 |
| Tutorial/Seminar | 24 |
| Practical Activity | 0 |
| Assessment | 80 |
| Independent | 84 |
| Total | 200 |
Guidance notes
SCQF Level - The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.
Credit Value – The total value of SCQF credits for the module. 20 credits are the equivalent of 10 ECTS credits. A full-time student should normally register for 60 SCQF credits per semester.
Disclaimer
We make every effort to ensure that the information on our website is accurate but it is possible that some changes may occur prior to the academic year of entry. The modules listed in this catalogue are offered subject to availability during academic year 2021/22 , and may be subject to change for future years.
