| Unit name | Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMSM0012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Theresa Redaniel |
| 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 |
Why is this unit important?
Non-communicable diseases, also known as chronic diseases, are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, disproportionally affecting those in middle and low-income countries. These diseases are caused by a combination of behavioural, physiological, environmental and genetic factors, and include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. Non-communicable disease epidemiology helps answer questions like “Are children who witness domestic violence more likely to become perpetrators of violence in the future?”, “What are the possible reasons for temporal and geographical variation in cancer prevalence, incidence and survival” and “How does mental health vary by gender, and why?”
In this unit, you will learn about and gain an understanding of trends, risk factors and appropriate control and prevention strategies for non-communicable diseases in the UK and globally. You will learn about current epidemiological research on the major types of non-communicable diseases, with sessions delivered by leading researchers in the field.
How does the unit fit into the programme of study?
This compulsory unit in Teaching Block 1 will develop your knowledge and critical understanding of basic epidemiological concepts, study designs and statistical methods introduced in the “Introduction to Epidemiology and Statistics” and “Clinical Epidemiology” units, using examples from the field of non-communicable diseases in the UK and globally. This learning will support a deeper understanding of the field of epidemiology in preparation for the more advanced units during Teaching Block 2. In the assessment, you will apply your learning of epidemiological concepts to design a study, with this experience preparing you for the dissertation unit.
An overview of content
This unit will cover the application of epidemiological concepts in studying risk-factors (e.g. lifecourse events, social determinants) and outcomes (e.g. diseases such as cancer and mental health). You will be introduced to the principles of applied health research, including use of routine data, surveillance and open science. You will be applying these concepts in practical sessions and assessments, including designing a research study focusing on a non-communicable diseases.
You will work with world leading experts in the field who will be giving lectures and leading the practical sessions.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
By the end of the unit, you will have developed the skills needed to apply core epidemiological theories and concepts to study non-communicable diseases, and be able to describe major challenges in the epidemiological study of non-communicable diseases. This will give you hands-on experience in non-communicable disease epidemiology and prepare you for a career in this field.
Learning outcomes:
Teaching will include learning activities set by the tutor including lectures and practical activities such as small group work, critical appraisal of literature, discussions, and data interpretation. You will be encouraged to ask questions and discuss key issues with the tutors and your peer to enhance your learning. Directed and self-directed learning will support teaching and will include activities such as reading, accessing web-based supplementary materials, critical analysis and completion of assessments.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
You will be given a mock exam which will be set in week 4, with short-answer questions which may relate to any of the sessions covered so far. You will receive individual written feedback on your responses and will be able to ask questions relating to the mock exam or the feedback in an open session.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative): this will come in two parts:
When assessment does not go to plan:
If you do not pass the unit, you will normally be given the opportunity to take a reassessment as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. Decisions on the award of reassessment will normally be taken after all taught units of the year have been completed. Reassessment will normally be in a similar format to the original assessment that has been failed.
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. BRMSM0012).
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 University 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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
