Summer 2020

NURS 6380-001 Fundamentals of Epidemiology

All students are responsible for checking their UTHSCSA Livemail account regularly (i.e., daily or several times every week) to obtain Official University Communication regarding their courses, program and student status.

COVID-19
Students are expected to follow all policies related to COVID-19 found on the university webpage: https://wp.uthscsa.edu/coronavirus/.

NOTE: Our campus has enabled the CANVAS MOBILE LEARN application. CANVAS tools such as discussions, quizzes or videos May or May NOT function on all mobile devices. This is because mobile devices are available with rapidly changing and different configurations. Hence, students must not depend on only a mobile device to access course materials. Students must have access to a laptop or desktop device to access course materials and complete assignments.

This course is Web Enhanced with 
Please be sure to check the Current Computer Requirements

All students are responsible for checking their UTHSCSA Livemail account regularly (i.e., daily or several times every week) to obtain Official University Communication regarding their courses, program and student status.

NOTE: Our campus has enabled the CANVAS MOBILELEARN application. CANVAS tools such as discussions, quizzes or videos May or May NOT function on all mobile devices. This is because mobile devices are available with rapidly changing and different configurations. Hence, students must not depend on only a mobile device to access course materials. Students must have access to a laptop or desktop device to access course materials and complete assignments.

This course is Web Enhanced with 
Please be sure to check the Current Computer Requirements

    

      Review the CANVAS Course for familiarity and bring your questions
      Bring your computer to class.
    

FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION

Elizabeth Brownell, PhD, MA
Associate Professor
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
School of Nursing
Office SON 2.644
Mobile: 802.598.8123
Email: Brownelle@uthscsa.edu
Office Hours: By appointment requested via email

Yan Du, PhD, MPH, RN
Assistant Professor
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
School of Nursing
Email: dyu@uthscsa.edu 
Office Hours: By appointment requested via email       

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to study the distribution and determinants of health and disease in human populations.  Improving health by altering personal and environmental risk factors will be a major focus.  Epidemiological research using technology and public health informatics will also be introduced.

CREDIT AND TIME ALLOCATION

Credit Hour Allocation: 3 Semester Credit Hours
Clock Hour Allocation: 3 Clock Hours Class (45 hours class)

PREREQUISITES

Graduate Standing

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program students will:

1. Integrate nursing science, ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sources to provide the highest level of specialty nursing practices.
2. Develop, implement, and evaluate healthcare practices in healthcare systems that ensure quality improvement and patient safety.
3. Use analytic methods and evidence based practices to improve practice outcomes and the practice environment.
4. Implement and evaluate ethical healthcare information systems and patient care technology to improve the quality of patient health outcomes and care systems.
5. Advocate for healthcare practices that advance social justice, equity, and ethical policies within all healthcare arenas.
6. Employ interprofessional collaborative teams to improve patient and population health outcomes and healthcare delivery systems.
7. Lead the integration and institutionalization of (evidence based) clinical prevention and population based health guidelines.
8. Use clinical judgment, systems thinking, accountability, and specialized knowledge to design, deliver, and evaluate evidence based, culturally proficient care to improve patient, population, and health systems outcomes.

COURSE OUTCOMES

1. Apply knowledge of basic and advanced philosophy, theory (including causal inference), and principles of epidemiology as a scientific discipline to a study relevant to population health. (DNP Essential I, III, VII; NONPF Competency: Scientific Foundation 1,2)
2. Explain the history and role of epidemiology within the broader field of public health. (DNP Essential I, VII; NONPF Competency: Scientific Foundation 1, 2)
3. Explain the strengths and limitations of epidemiological strategies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, ecological, and intervention study designs) for studying associations between risk factors or exposures and rates of morbidity and mortality. (DNP Essential I, III; NONPF Competency: Scientific Foundation 1. 2)
4. Use the natural history of one or more specific diseases or health conditions, including consideration of its causation, control and prevention to develop a study. (DNP Essential I, III; NONPF Competency; Practice Inquiry 2, 3)
5. Apply basic and advanced principles and methods of epidemiology to research questions. (DNP Essential I, III; NONPF Competency: Scientific Foundation 3, 4)
6. Design, collect, manage, critically analyze, and interpret data from an epidemiological study. (DNP Essential I, III; NONPF Competency: Scientific Foundation 1, 3)
7. Evaluate the results of epidemiological studies for their relevance to clinical practice and policy. (DNP Essential V, VII; NONPF Competency: Policy 1, 4, 5, 6, 7)
8. Explain the major sources of random and non-random error. (DNP Essential I, III; NONPF Competency: Scientific Foundation 4)
9. Address ethical issues in epidemiological research. (DNP Essential VII, VIII; NONPF Competency: Ethics 3)

CLINICAL OUTCOMES

N/A

GRADING SCALE FOR GRADUATE COURSES

A = 4 points (90-100)
B = 3 points (80-89)
C = 2 points (75-79)
D = 1 point (66-74)
F = 0 points (65 or below)

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION / GRADES

CANVAS Discussion Participation: 30%

The Instructors will add a series of 6 discussion questions over the course duration. Students will have 1 week to reflect and respond to each question and to interact with each other’s comments(combined response and interaction is 5% per question).

 

Schedule:

Instructor Posting Date	Final Student Response and Reflection Due Date
June 1	June 8
June 15	June 22
June 29	July 6
July 6	July 13
July 13	July 20
July 20	July 27

 

 

Epidemiologic Research Project Presentation: 40% Due August 3, 2020

 

Students will develop a research study and a corresponding powerpoint presentation.

 

The powerpoint does not need to have a voiceover, but the slides must be clear (stand alone).

 

Required powerpoint template (PICO format):

Slide 1: Research Study Title/Student Name

Slide 2: Acknowledgement of any conflicts of interest that may bias your study; if none, indicate the author has no conflicts of interest to declare

Slide 3: Introduction/Background: 3-5 bullet points to justify what is known on this topic, what is unknown, and what this study adds;this represents the patient, population or problem of interest

Slide 4: Research Question; this represents the exposure or intervention to be assessed and the comparison/control group

Slide 5: Study design (e.g. case-control, cohort study) and implantation plan

Slide 6: Statistical methods required to assess this question (e.g. prevalence, odds ratio, etc)

Slide 7: Potential limitations, potential types of bias  as a function of the study design

Slide 8: References used in slide 3; APA style; at least 3-5 references are required.

 

Adherence to template:10%

Clarity of slides:10%

Quality of ResearchStudy: 20%

Reflective Group Work Summary: 30% Due August 3, 2020

 

Students will be assigned to small groups by the Instructors. They will work offline outside of the CANVAS platform to provide feedback on each member of the groups powerpoint presentation over the course of the semester. This will involve reviewing several iterations of each student’s presentation and providing constructive feedback.

 

When students submit their powerpoint presentation, they will also submit to the Instructors a one-page summary(no longer) that describes the strengths and limitations/challenges of this process and what they learned through participating in peer review.

"Further details and information on grading criteria are contained in the course information section in CANVAS".

A familiarity with introductor  y biostatistics is recommended but not mandatory.

Course materials, modules and discussion questions are posted in CANVAS.

CELL PHONE POLICY

• Respect for classroom and clinical communication processes are necessary for teaching and learning.
• Silence mobile devices / cell phones in classrooms and clinical settings.
• Remove Bluetooth devices prior to entering the classroom and when in ANY clinical setting.
• Failure to do so can / will / may (depending on the faculty) either affect your class participation, clinical or final course grade.
  

CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE

Attendance in class is an expectation of each student.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

1. If written assignments are made in a course they are required.
2. Students are expected to submit written work on the scheduled date and time.
3. The student must notify the course coordinator prior to the scheduled due date and time if they are unable to submit the written work as scheduled. Failure to make this notification in advance will result in a "zero" for that written work.
4. If the excuse is accepted as reasonable and necessary, arrangements will be made for an alternative due date and time.
5. Each student is responsible for making sure that he or she has completed the written work prior to submission.
6. Late work will be accepted with consequences as outlined per course syllabi.

APA GUIDELINES

The APA Publication Manual 7th edition is required for use in all nursing school programs. 

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY

Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." Regents Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.

PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT

Students who are nurses or are preparing to enter the profession of nursing are expected to treat others with respect and compassion. “The principle of respect for persons extends to all individuals with whom the nurse interacts. The nurse maintains compassionate and caring relationships with colleagues and others with a commitment to the fair treatment of individuals, to integrity-preserving compromise and to resolving conflict. This standard of conduct precludes any and all prejudicial actions, any form of harassment or threatening behavior, or disregard for the effects of one’s actions on others” (American Nurses Association Code for Nurses, Interpretive Statement 1.5).

The students, faculty, Department Chairs, Associate Deans, and the Dean of the School of Nursing of the University Texas Health Science Center San Antonio subscribe to the highest standards of conduct. Our aim is professional behavior beyond reproach. Failure to abide by the signed code of professional conduct may lead to suspension and/or permanent dismissal from the UTHSCSA SON. In particular, we subscribe to the provisions of the Code of Ethics for Nurses (http://bit.ly/1mtD5p2) and the following points of conduct.

http://catalog.uthscsa.edu/schoolofnursing/policiesandprocedures/

School of Nursing Netiquette Guidelines for Online Interaction

Netiquette guidelines provide information for behaving properly online, when using email, tweets or texts so that you may successfully communicate your thoughts in a manner that is respectful and avoids misunderstandings with others.

• Be courteous about what you say to or about others in any electronic format. In electronic communication the golden rule is "Remember the Human." Remember there is a real person with real feelings on the receiving end of your email or post.
• Be respectful and open to opinions and ideas that differ from yours. The exchange of diverse thoughts, ideas and opinions are an important part of the scholarly environment. Keep in mind that the people in your classes may come from different backgrounds and have views that may vary significantly from your own.
• Flaming (defined as posting of messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting in an online social context) is never appropriate. While everyone (learners and instructors alike) is encouraged to share ideas and opinions openly, you should never use insults or resort to name-calling even if you disagree strongly with what someone else has written.
• When responding to messages or posts made by others, address the ideas, not the person.
• It’s often best to avoid using sarcasm and humor online. Without social cues, such as facial expressions and body language, a remark meant as humorous could come across hurtful or offensive. Keep in mind that ‘emoticons’ (such as J) may not convey your tone or intent.
• Capitalizing whole words is generally seen as SHOUTING and is difficult for most people to read. Use all capital letters sparingly, such as to highlight an important word or point.
• Think and reread what you’ve written before you post! Make sure that what you’ve written makes sense (is clear and to the point).
• Remember you are responsible for the content you communicate on CANVAS. What you write represents you, so use appropriate language. Remember that all writing should be professional, consisting of complete sentences, and free of grammatical and spelling errors.
• Be aware that distributing copyrighted materials, such as articles and images, is illegal. Most of the materials on the Internet are copyrighted. The only time it’s ok to distribute materials from the Internet is when you are sure those materials are "fair use." To be safe, if you want to share materials with classmates and/or your instructor, share the web link or URL only.
• To avoid plagiarism, make sure you properly cite all source materials. All materials should be cited unless you are the author of the content.
• Protect your privileges in online communication (avoid posting spam or emailing chain letters).

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

Any student seeking reasonable accommodations through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact either the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services within the first week of the semester or schedule a meeting with the UTHSCSA ADA Compliance Office so that appropriate accommodations may be arranged. A request for accommodations (Form ADA-100: http://uthscsa.edu/eeo/form100-Faculty-student-resident.pdf) must be completed and submitted to the Executive Director of the ADA Compliance Office before accommodations can be provided. Additional information can be provided in the Student Success Center, Room 1.118 or through the ADA Compliance Office website: http://uthscsa.edu/eeo/request.asp.

REQUIRED TEXT / REFERENCE

Gordis L. Epidemiology. 5th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders, 2013. (ISBN: 9781455737338). REQUIRED

RECOMMENDED (OPTIONAL) TEXT / REFERENCE

• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Electronic Subscription http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html

·

• United States Census Bureau, https://census.gov

CONTENT OUTLINE

Lecture	Topic	Readings
	Course/Syllabus Overview
1	Descriptive Epidemiology	Gordis Chapters1, 7
2	Occurrence of Disease I, II	Gordis Chapters 3-4
3	Natural History of Disease Infectious Disease Outbreak Investigations	Gordis Chapters1, 7
4	Observational Studies Case-Control/Cohorts Studies	Gordis Chapters 7, 8
5	Randomized Trials	Gordis Chapters 10, 11
6	Risk Estimation Bias	Gordis Chapters 12, 13
7	Causal Inference Confounding Interaction	Gordis Chapters 14, 15
8	Reliability/Validity Screening	Gordis Chapter 5
9	Prognosis Expression	Gordis Chapter 6
10	Public Health Public Policy	Gordis Chapter 19

**Interaction with the lectures/modules are required; they will ensureyour success with student’s online participation and research project.

CALENDAR - 1st Day Only

Please check the schedule for recent updates on Class Dates & Room.

      Review the CANVAS Course for familiarity and bring your questions
      Bring your computer to class.

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