2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
EPIB5035M Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology
15 creditsClass Size: 24
Module manager: Dr Roger Parslow
Email: r.c.parslow@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
Pre-requisite qualifications
Academic entry requirements:Normally a first degree in a science allied with medicine, including biology, ecology, biochemistry, statistics, mathematics, computing, psychology, economics or biomedical science (at least 2:2). We will also consider working experience (two years or more) of research in a quantitative subject area.
English language requirements:
An overall score of 7.0 on IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with at least 6.0 in writing and no other skill below 6.5; from a TOEFL paper based test the requirement is a minimum score of 600, with 4.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE); from a TOEFL computer based test the requirement is a minimum score of 250, with 4.5 TWE; from a TOEFL Internet based test the requirement is a minimum score of 100, with 25 in the "Writing Skills" score.
Pre-requisites
| EPIB5022M | Core Epidemiology |
This module is approved as an Elective
Module summary
Non-communicable disease (NCD) is the main cause of death in the world and is being targeted by the WHO as a priority for intervention in lower and middle as well as high income countries. This module focuses on the epidemiology of NCD in relation to cardiovascular health, diabetes, cancer and congenital anomalies, drawing on the experienced of researchers working in these fields. As well as an understanding of the biology, aetiology and trends in incidence of these diseases, the module will include in depth coverage of exposure epidemiology including exposure measurement, validation and study design. Specific exposures include diet, chemicals, radiation, toxicology and lifestyle factors including deprivation and obesity and include molecular epidemiology.Objectives
The objectives of this module are to:Develop an understanding of non-communicable disease epidemiology including disease aetiology, trends and projections, and public health burden;
Develop an in-depth knowledge of environmental exposure measurement in epidemiology related to non-communicable disease;
Enable the student to critically evaluate epidemiological evidence relating to the causes of and trends in non-communicable diseases;
Enable the student to design appropriate methods of measuring environmental exposures in relation to non-communicable disease;
To train students how to interpret the meaning of published data on non-communicable disease epidemiology and apply this knowledge to benefit the population as a whole in a public health, clinical or research environment.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the extent of non-communicable disease epidemiology and the effects this has on health at a population and individual level;
Explain the underlying biology of non-communicable disease and its relationship to the aetiology of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and congenital anomaly;
Critically evaluate published research presenting complex epidemiological data and analyses and report on these in depth;
Explain how environmental exposures are measured and interpret the meaning of such exposures in relation to non-communicable disease aetiology;
Construct effective research protocols for investigating environmental exposures in relation to non-communicable disease;
Effectively design or suggest modification to systems for monitoring non-communicable disease in the population including public health screening and intervention programmes.
Syllabus
The module will be delivered by Dr Roger Parslow, Dr Richard Feltbower, Dr Sarah Fleming, Professor Alastair Hay, Professor Alistair Hall, Dr Mike Routledge and Dr Laura Hardie and other colleagues within the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics over 12 weeks, as a blend of face-to-face small group work, seminars and lectures, online written material, online formative questions, practical sessions and workshops. The course will draw extensively on the research interests and past experience of the lecturers.
The course will cover the following subjects:
Non-communicable diseases epidemiology
The following disease groups will be examined in detail:
Cancer;
Diabetes;
Cardio-vascular disease;
Congenital anomalies.
For each disease group, the following subjects will be covered: biology, aetiology, trends and survival.
Exposure epidemiology:
A common theme related to aetiology in these conditions is environmental exposure. The course will have in-depth coverage of exposure epidemiology, specifically relating these to the main disease groups and also wider environmental health issues.
Specific environmental exposures covered will include:
Diet;
Chemicals;
Radiation;
Toxicology;
Lifestyle factors including deprivation and obesity.
Exposure measurement and validation will include:
Molecular epidemiology and the application of biomarkers for the assessment of exposure such as protein/DNA adducts;
Biological effects such as altered protein expression, DNA mutation, micronuclei, methylation and their association with disease development with an emphasis on cancer;
Case studies of exposure based on case control, cohort and ecological study designs emphasising the issues raised in controlling for confounding exposures and the need for accurate measurement protocols.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lectures | 20 | 1.50 | 30.00 |
| Practical | 5 | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Independent online learning hours | 30.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 80.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 40.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Private study
Students will be expected to continue questions/material started during the practicals and workshops, where they will be expected to read through and reflect upon material covered in the previous lecture and practical session, to write up an online reflective log of their learning, and to read relevant material from the recommended reading list provided (a mix of paper-based and VLE materials). Students will have set reading tasks, critically evaluating published research in preparation for lecture/seminar and workshop topics.Opportunities for Formative Feedback
This will be done in a number of ways:Student attendance and contribution to lectures and tutorials/practical sessions;
Access logs for the online material on the VLE. Despite this being self-paced, reasonable aims will be defined for progress with the material;
Completion of practical questions during contact time;
Recording and monitoring of progress with online formative questions/answers within QuestionMark;
Recording and monitoring of progress with online summative questions/answers within QuestionMark;
Monitoring of weekly contribution to online discussion forum.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Assignment | 1000 word critical appraisal based on published research articles given out at the beginning of the Semester. | 30.00 |
| Research Proposal | 1500 word research protocol investigating an environmental exposure related to one non-communicable disease. | 30.00 |
| Practical | 2 short questions per practical | 15.00 |
| Practical | 2 short questions per practical | 15.00 |
| Reflective log | 100 word reflection on practical or workshop | 10.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 11/07/2012
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
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