California State University, Northridge

Department of Health Science

HSci 488, Epidemiology

Fall, 2007

Instructor: Jane Rosenblatt

 

Office: Jacaranda Hall  2546

Phone:  677-3050       

Office Hours:  Monday 3:00-4:00; T, Th  10:30-11:00, Tues 2:00-4:00

email: jane.rosenblatt@csun.edu                  

  

Course Objectives

At the completion of the course, the student should be able to: 

·        Explain how epidemiology contributes to knowledge of disease etiology and natural history.

·        Characterize disease by person, place and time and understand the interaction of host, agent, and environment.

·        Understand and calculate measures of morbidity and mortality.

·        Assess validity and reliability in measurements and screening tests.

·        Assess causality and association in epidemiological studies.

·        Describe epidemiological study designs including cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and randomized clinical trials.

·        Calculate and explain risk estimates.

·        Formulate problem statements and hypotheses.

·        Describe transmission of infectious disease and techniques in investigating outbreaks.

·        Understand demographic techniques.

                                                                                                                        

COURSE OUTLINE

Required Text:  Epidemiology, Leon Gordis; Third Edition; 2004

Supplemental Readings:  Reading package to be purchased at the Matador Bookstore.

There will be two (2) examinations, one (1) midterm worth 100 points, and a final worth 125 points.  There will be no make-up exams or individual extra credit assignments.  There may be randomly suggested extra credit assignments.  These will not be required.  You are responsible for the assigned readings (both required and supplemental).  A short paper worth 20 points will be assigned later in the semester.  The outline for this paper is presented below.  Points will be deducted for late papers.  Papers will not be accepted if more than one week late.

 

This is primarily a lecture course.

You are required to have completed any prerequisite classes before enrolling in this class.

Cheating on exams will not be tolerated and will be handled according to University policy.     

Final grading will be calculated using the following scale:

                   A -  A-    100-90%

                    B+ - B-    89-80%

                    C+ - C-    79-65%

                    D+ - D-    64-55%

                    F              below 55%

Please inactivate all cell phones and pagers while in class.  Please do not read newspapers or other extraneous materials while in class.

The course outline schedule, which is flexible, is given below.  The midterm date is approximate.  Additional assignments may be required.

Week

Topic  

Text

Reading
Package

 

 

 

 

Aug. 27

Introduction to Epidemiology History of Epidemiology

Ch.1

pp. 4-10

 

 

 

 

Sept. 3

Descriptive Epidemiology; Genetic and Environmental Lifestyle factors of disease and disease causation

Ch.2

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 10-17

Study Designs, Data Collection,

Biases

Ch. ,7,8,9-13 Ch. 15

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 24- Oct. 1

Hypothesis Testing,  Measure Causes of Morbidity & Mortality Throughout Life

 

pp. 100-105; 108

 

 

 

 

Oct. 8

Causation of Disease and Screening Tests ; Crude, Specific and Adjusted rates

Ch. 5, 18 14,4

  Handout

 

 

 

 

 

MIDTERM (actual date to be announced)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct. 15-22

Transmission of Infectious Disease, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (HIV/AIDS)

Ch. 2

pp. 51-54; 88-91,11

 

 

 

 

Oct. 29-Nov. 5

 Sero-Epidemiology, Slow Viral Diseases, Antibiotics

 

pp.  388-397

 

 

 

 

Nov. 12

Community and Institutional Data and Surveillance

 

pp. 303 - 327
pp. 347 - 361

 

 

 

 

Nov. 19

Demographic Analysis

PAPER DUE

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 26

Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Health Policy, and Their Relationship to Health Promotion

Ch.19

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 3

The Immune System,Occupational Epidemiology  

Complete coursework and review

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 24

Final Exams: 12:30 class

                   11:00 class

Dec. 13 12:45-2:45

Dec. 11:  10:15-12:15

 

 

 

  Outline for 20-point paper using the Internet:

This paper should be 2-4 double-spaced pages in length.

1.      Decide on a specific disease (can be infectious, chronic, or environmental).

2.      Go to  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the Internet.  The address is: http://www.cdc.gov 

Determine whether the disease is reportable.  If so, what was the total number of cases reported in 2006? (or the latest year reported)  If the information is not available on this site, is there an estimate somewhere else?

3.      Develop a bibliography of support groups for the disease you have chosen if there are support groups for this disease. (Include web      addresses  for each site.) If there are no support groups, discuss why this might occur.

4.  If possible, describe the time, place and person for this disease.  Discuss the disease in detail (in your own words). This should be at least one full page.

5.      Develop a list of at least 3 web sites relating to the disease not including the CDC.  To do this, go to the Internet, use a search engine such as Yahoo, Google,etc. and find the disease of interest.  (You can do this through the library page).  Use these sites to obtain the information for your paper.  

6.   Discuss the reliability and validity of the information on each site. (This will be discussed later in the semester.) Be aware of the content, credentials, and organization of the website.

7      Categorize each of the web sites as to whether it is  providing  information for the public and/or for health professionals

 

The documentation should allow someone else (me) to be able to duplicate your search.  Please note the URLs on your paper.

More information and suggestions concerning the Internet will be given later on.

Spelling and grammar count.