92591 Communicable Disease Prevention and Control
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksDescription
Communicable diseases are a major contributor to the global burden of disease posing a significant public health challenge. The expansion of the human-animal interface coupled with the speed and scale of national and international travel present an ever-changing risk of emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases. With the last three decades seeing a significant increase in outbreaks, the need for better understanding transmission dynamics and management of communicable diseases is timely and relevant. This subject provides students underpinning knowledge, principles and skills in communicable diseases prevention and control.
Students gain an understanding of communicable diseases epidemiology, and its relationship to communicable disease prevention and management. The contribution and application of surveillance and other public health strategies on communicable diseases control are elaborated. Using case studies in Australia and low- and middle-income countries, students gain deeper insights on factors that have contributed to successes on public health action towards communicable diseases control, challenges and opportunities for better addressing these. The need for integrating a multifaceted and a coordinated approach that goes beyond a biomedical model including building coalitions, policy advocacy, cooperation between different sectors and dissemination of health information are discussed.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Describe the chain of infection and explain its relationship to prevention and control of communicable diseases |
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| B. | Recognise and analyse factors that make some population groups at a greater risk of communicable diseases |
| C. | Describe epidemiological principles underpinning communicable disease prevention and control; and consider their application within a variety of settings |
| D. | Collaborate and communicate with peers in planning and developing public health responses to selected examples of communicable diseases in Australia |
| E. | Discuss and critically analyse public health strategies used in the prevention and control of communicable diseases |
| F. | Demonstrate understanding of the importance of collaborative and coordinated approaches to communicable disease prevention and control |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Respect and respond to the needs of diverse groups to improve health outcomes (1.2)
- Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of health projects and programs (2.1)
- Develop creative and innovative responses to health issues (2.2)
- Identify and use culturally sensitive and appropriate communication techniques aimed at improving health in diverse populations (3.1)
- Translate and communicate knowledge and research effectively to various audiences (3.3)
- Reflects on the ethical implications for public health research and practice (4.1)
- Translate research and evaluation into social and professional practice through critical thinking and knowledge integration (5.0)
- Critically reflect upon the ongoing impact of colonisation and its pervasive discourse on Indigenous Australians and their health and wellbeing (6.2)
Teaching and learning strategies
Strategy 1: Independent learning (by way of preparation)
Students take responsibility for their preparation for lectures and tutorials which helps develop appropriate professional self-management skills. Through completion of readings and/or tasks before lectures and tutorials (as outlined on UTS Online), by watching videos (loaded onto UTS Online) prior to class, students will develop knowledge of key concepts and develop skills underpinning communicable disease management that they will then practise and develop further during tutorials.
Strategy 2: Lectures
Students listen to an hour of lectures presented each week (except for Week 1). These lectures bring together the essential principles and core knowledge on communicable disease management that is analysed and applied during tutorial sessions and the assessment tasks.
Strategy 3: Tutorial participation
By participating in weekly two hour tutorials, students will test their knowledge on communicable disease prevention and control; and develop and refine their critical analysis skills around emerging issues on communicable disease management. The tutorials will offer an opportunity for a more interactive and practical approach to the learning that occurs in the lectures. The tutorials are designed to be an interactive forum for facilitating authentic learning, collaboration between peers, presentation and debating of ideas and for more personalised and in-depth discussion on communicable disease management. Active participation will be essential in achieving the learning objectives for each session. Feedback will be provided throughout to further augment student learning.
Strategy 4: Guest lecturers
Experts in the field of communicable disease prevention and control will be invited to present exposing students to real-world life experiences from the field and build important connections between what they are learning and the real world.
Content (topics)
Topic 1: Concepts of disease occurrence
- Introduction to communicable diseases
- Introduction to basic concepts in the epidemiology and control of communicable/infectious diseases
- Social determinants of health and communicable diseases
Topic 2: Communicable disease control principles and methods
- Communicable disease surveillance
- Outbreak investigation
- Preventive and control strategies
- Infection control – health care facilities
- Health promotion - raising awareness and promoting behaviour change - health education, health communication(messaging)
Topic 3: Key issues in communicable disease prevention and control
- Communicable/infectious disease prevention and control in LMICs – HIV, malaria and TB as examples
- One Health – Working at the human- animal- environment interface
- Public health action on communicable disease control in Australia - successes, challenges and opportunities
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Online quizzes
| Intent: | To determine how well students understand fundamental concepts on communicable disease taxonomy, transmission modes and epidemiology; and their application to communicable disease prevention and control. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .5 and 2.1 |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Two online quizzes with 15 questions per quiz. 90 minutes to complete each quiz. |
Assessment task 2: Investigation of an outbreak- Group presentations
| Intent: | Students develop skills in conducting field investigation and consolidate and apply their knowledge of communicable disease transmission, epidemiology, surveillance and management. Students will also gain presentation, communication and teamwork skills. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.2 and 3.3 |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | This assessment will comprise of two components: group presentations and a reflective piece.The allocated time for the presentations is 30 min per group (20 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for discussion). The reflective piece length is a maximum of 500 words. |
Assessment task 3: A public health response to an outbreak using a health promotion approach – a consultation report
| Intent: | Students acquire skills in developing evidence-informed solutions reflecting in-depth knowledge of the interplay between social determinants of health and communicable diseases. Students recognise the public health needs of population subgroups; and translate research and evaluation on public health strategies used in the prevention and control of communicable diseases into professional practice through critical thinking and knowledge integration. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.0 and 6.2 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | Report length is a maximum of 1800 words and should contain 15 references maximum. |
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