University of Technology Sydney

92036 Contemporary Approaches to Health Analytics

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 92917 Using Health Care Data for Decision Making
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 96333 Contemporary Approaches to Health Analytics

Description

This subject is an extension of the knowledge and skill students learnt in the subject “92917 – Using Healthcare Data for Decision Making” and will focus on the skills used to deliver clinical and programmatic insights into the complex interdependencies that drive health outcomes. Students will learn how to extract data from databases to answer a research question, and to use appropriate software to profile data to check for data quality. Students will also learn how to preform descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics on healthcare data. The analytic skills acquired from this subject will enable health information management graduates to effectively work in a data rich healthcare environment.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
A. Apply knowledge in research methods and ethics to the management and analysis of health data
B. Identify, profile, analyse and interpret data for statistical and research purposes
C. Critically evaluate research methodologies presented in articles, paper or presentations to inform evidence based practice
D. Produce a report of research findings in appropriate format suitable for presentation and publication

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

1. Critical thinking:
1.1 Critique, interpret and synthesise data and research findings to develop safe, effective and evidence-based solutions to healthcare challenges

2. Leadership:
2.2 Develop and contribute to research and quality improvement activities in order to maintain knowledge currency and influence healthcare practice and policy

3. Accountability:
3.2 Validate the importance of integrating stakeholder partnerships in all healthcare decision making activities

4. Communication:
4.1 Value and choose highly effective and sensitive communication with diverse populations to enable positive and sustainable change in healthcare practice, policy and research at an advanced level

Teaching and learning strategies

Pre-session learning
Students access online learning resources such as podcasts, videos and literature prior to attending face-to-face on-campus sessions to improve their confidence in approaching the proposed content, afford them time to construct questions, and facilitate discussion in class, resulting in shared learning, experiences and reflections. The specific sessions will be detailed in this subject outline and all resources will be located on UTSOnline.

Blend of online and face-to-face strategies
This subject benefits from both the real time delivery of content and access to resources via UTSOnline, including podcasts, videos and learning resources. The face-to-face workshops provide a variety of activities for each content area. During the face-to-face sessions, students will work in small groups or individual to learn how to formulate research questions for analysis, profile data to check for data quality, conduct analysis using statistical software and generate a health report.

Dataset, published articles and collaboration
A de-identified health dataset will be used for this subject. Students will collaborate and work on this dataset to learn concepts about data quality, and skills around data manipulation and data analysis. Selected research papers will be used to help students develop the ability to evaluate research methodologies presented in published articles. Self, peer and teacher feedback will be provided during the sessions to develop students’ judgement.

Assessment range
Students will be exposed to a variety of assessment modes, including a presentation, a short data quality report, and a professional health data analytic report. Feedback will be provided on assessments to ensure students can identify areas for development and areas of sufficient expertise.

Feedback
Early low-stakes feedback will be provided via two methods:

  • during the on-campus sessions, where students discuss material raised in the sessions, and ask questions of their peers and lecturing staff; and
  • results for the first assessment (Assessment Item 1), worth 15%, which will be provided prior to the census date.

Continual feedback will be provided via four methods:

  • peer communication, individual and lecturing staff contributions to the session discussions; and
  • assessment tasks, worth 15%, 35% and 50%.

Content (topics)

Workshop 1

  • Introduction to subject
  • Health data management and governance
  • Review of health data sources
  • Overview of approaches to health data research
  • Applications in statistical software I
  • Assessment Task 1 workshop

Workshop 2

  • Descriptive statistics
  • Parametric tests I and II
  • Applications in statistical software II
  • Assessment Task 1 – group presentation

Workshop 3

  • Non - Parametric tests II
  • Data profiling and cleaning
  • Applications in statistical software III
  • Assessment Task 2 workshop

Workshop 4

  • Statistical modelling
  • Reporting research findings
  • Applications in statistical software IV
  • Assessment Task 3 workshop

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Group Presentation

Intent:

This assessment provides students with the opportunity to examine the aims and question(s) of a research paper, and to evaluate the suitability of methodologies for rigorously answering the research question(s) posted with the support of their peers. In addition, this assessment task aims to provide an opportunity for students to learn how to effectively communicate information to a target audience.

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 15%
Length:

15 minutes per-group

Assessment task 2: Data quality and processing report

Intent:

This assessment task will provide students with the opportunity to apply data profiling techniques to examine the quality of the provided datasets, and to generate a report about the quality of the datasets and methods used to clean and process the datasets for subsequent analyses.

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 35%
Length:

2000 words

Assessment task 3: Data analytics report

Intent:

This assessment task provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in this subject in the form of a professionally presented health data analytics report.

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 50%
Length:

2500 words

Required texts

There is no prescribed text for this subject. Links to references and electronic resources will be made available on UTSOnline.

Other resources

UTS Student Centre
Building 10

Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)

Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts

For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health), the Health Student Guide (www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/uts-health-student-guide.pdf) and UTSOnline at: https://online.uts.edu.au/webapps/login/

UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.

Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.

HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.

Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.