GCU PUB540 2020 November All Assignments Latest

PUB540 Principle of Epidemiology

Week 1 Assignment  

Historical Review of Epidemiology

Key individuals and historical events have helped shape the field of epidemiology. Research the following individuals and their roles in shaping contemporary epidemiology:

John Graunt

James Lind

Edward Jenner

Ignaz Semmelweis

John Snow

Choose three of the individuals from your research. In a 1,000-1,250 word paper, describe the epidemiological advancements that were influenced by these individuals. Include the following:

Describe the disease and the event. Using descriptive epidemiology, discuss how common the disease was at the time, who was infected, when it occurred (time of year or season), and the mode of transmission. If the individual is not associated with a specific disease, discuss a significant disease happening during that period.

Discuss how the individuals influenced or advanced epidemiological methods and the process they used to describe and control disease. Discuss how their contributions helped to inform the definition of epidemiology. Consider whether they used qualitative, quantitative, or both types of data collection methods, and the approach they used to test their hypotheses.

Discuss how similar epidemiological methods have been used to understand one current public health issue (not one for each individual). Discuss the key research studies used to understand the risk factors associated with the problem or disease. Two potential examples include lung cancer (Doll and Hill, 1950) or cardiovascular disease and the Framingham Heart Study (Drawber, Meadors, & Moore, 1950; Kannel, 2000).

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

 

PUB540 Principle of Epidemiology

Week 2 Assignment  

Oswego Outbreak Case Study

Read the "Oswego Outbreak Investigation," located in the Topic Materials.

Part 1

Complete the following:

Using the line listing in the Excel "Oswego Line Listing Workbook," calculate the attack rate ratios for each food item using the table in the Excel "Oswego Attack Rate Table." Create a separate 2x2 table for the food item you think is responsible for the outbreak and interpret the attack rate ratio for this food item. Refer to the "Creating a 2x2 Contingency Table" resource for guidance.

Using the line listing in Excel "Oswego Line Listing Workbook," construct an epidemic curve by the time of onset of illness. What does this curve tell you regarding the average incubation period, source, and transmission?

Using the incubation range and clinical symptoms, identify potential infectious agents that could be responsible for the outbreak (refer to the Topic Material, "Compendium of Acute Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases"). Discuss your rationale.

Part 2

In a 500-750 word paper, evaluate the situation and present your findings. Including the following:

Does this case meet the definition of an "outbreak?" Why or why not?

Identify the steps required to investigate an outbreak. How did these steps help in investigating the Oswego event? Include the relevant information needed for each step to be successful.

Discuss the possible routes of transmission for the expected agent.

Based on this information, what control measures would you recommend? State whether they are primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention strategies.

General Requirements

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

PUB540 Principle of Epidemiology

Week 3 Assignment  

Measuring Morbidity: Prevalence and Incidence

Read the scenario below and complete the assignment as instructed.

Scenario

In Community X (population 20,000), an epidemiologist conducted a prevalence survey in January of 2012 and reported an HIV prevalence of 2.2%. Over the next 12 months, the department of health reported an additional 50 new HIV cases between February 2012 and January 2013. The total population stayed constant at 20,000.

Part 1

How many people had HIV in January 2012? Present or describe the formula you used to arrive at your answer.

Calculate the incidence rate assuming no HIV-related deaths over the 12-month period. Present or describe the formula you used to arrive at your answer. Be sure to clearly indicate the numerator and denominator used in your calculation and include an appropriate label for the rate.

In a summary of 200-250 words, interpret the results and discuss the relationship between incidence and prevalence. Discuss whether or not the epidemiologist should be concerned about these new HIV infections, assuming a previous incidence rate of 0.5 per 1,000 person-years prior to this updated risk assessment.

Part 2

A rapid test used for diagnosing HIV has a sensitivity of 99.1% and a specificity of 90%. Based on the population prevalence of 2.2% in 2012, create a 2x2 table showing the number of true positives, false positives, false negatives, and true negatives. Calculate the positive predicative value and negative predictive value for this test. Refer to the "Creating a 2x2 Contingency Table" resource for guidance.

In 200-250 words, discuss whether or not the epidemiologist should recommend this test as part of a universal HIV screening program. Provide rationale for your recommendation applying the positive and negative predictive values. Present or describe the formula you used to arrive at your answer.

General Requirements

APA style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

 

PUB540 Principle of Epidemiology

Week 4 Assignment  

Multicausality: Confounding Assignment

These estimates include the influence of other extraneous variables, such as confounders. Confounding is often considered a type of bias, but it is a real relationship that requires an adjustment in the study design or analysis. Understanding how to identify confounding is important as most associations have multiple causal factors. Recognizing if a study adjusted for the appropriate confounding variables is important to determine the validity of the association. To assist your proficiency with the concept of confounding, and how it ultimately affects public health, this practice assignment has been provided.

Complete Problems 1 to 4 from the "Multicausality: Confounding - Assignment" by Schoenbach, located in your Topic Materials. Check your answers against the solutions presented in the "Multicausality: Confounding - Assignment Solutions" Topic Material.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

 

PUB540 Principle of Epidemiology

Week 5 Assignment  

Effectiveness of Studies Used in Epidemiology

A premise of epidemiology is that health outcomes are not random occurrences within a population, but are linked to particular risk factors and diseases. Epidemiologists utilize a range of study design methods to evaluate evidence-based associations to understand and improve health outcomes. Use the specific Excel worksheets, located in the "Excel Study Design Workbook,” to complete this assignment.

Part 1: Study Design Comparison

Using the "Study Design Comparison Worksheet," compare and contrast the characteristics of the different types of study design types discussed in this course. You will be able to use this as a reference throughout the program.

Part 2: Article Comparison

Consider an area of interest that you want to explore as a potential topic for your Epidemiological Profile project. Search for two articles that fit any two of the four study designs (randomized trial, cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional) pertaining to the interest area you chose. Review the articles provided in the "Study Design Resource Document" to practice identifying articles for each study design. (Do not use the actual articles listed in the "Study Design Resource Document" for this assignment.) Complete the "Article Comparison Worksheet" to compare the study design characteristics in each of your two articles. Include details of any gaps in the characteristics or identify if information is missing.

General Requirements

Upon completion of both worksheets, submit the "Excel Study Design Workbook."

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

APA style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

 

PUB540 Principle of Epidemiology

Week 6 Assignment  

Calculating Odds Ratio

Data can be qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative data is helpful to generate a hypothesis and gather information if little is known about an expected association. Focus groups, key informant interviews, and case studies are types of qualitative data collection methods used to identify common themes from which to build a hypothesis. Quantitative data collection and analysis is used to test a hypothesis and make comparisons to determine the direction and strength of a potential association. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is cross-sectional panel survey used to collect quantitative data on adult behaviors and risk factors. It is one of the largest U.S. health data collection efforts. The data can be used to analyze associations on a state or country level. Follow the steps to obtain a 2x2 contingency table (also known as a "cross tabulation") crossing binge drinking with depression.

Retrieve the "BRFSS Web-Enabled Analysis Tool" resource provided in the Topic Materials.

Select "Cross Tabulation."

Select "2015" for the year.

Select "Arizona" for the state.

Select "Alcohol Consumption: Binge drinkers (males having five or more drinks on one occasion, females having four or more drinks on one occasion)" for Step 2 Select Row.

Select "Chronic Health Conditions: Ever diagnosed with a depressive disorder, including depression, major depression, dysthymia, or minor depression" for Step 3 Select Column.

Skip Steps 4 and 5.

Select "Sample Size" for Step 6 Select Statistics and run the report for the cross tabulation.

Part 1

Using the data from the cross tabulation results, calculate the odds ratio for depression among those exposed to binge drinking. Interpret the odds ratio and discuss if the odds ratio is a good estimate of the relative risk in this situation. Why or why not? Show your 2x2 table and all calculations. Present or describe the formula you used to arrive at your answer.

Part 2

Use the Topic Material, "BRFSS Web-Enabled Analysis Tool," located on the CDC website, and run a report for two variables of interest to you. Create a 2x2 table and calculate the odds ratio for this association. Interpret the odds ratio and discuss the public health importance of the association. Show your 2x2 table. Present or describe the formula you used to arrive at your answer.

Refer to the "Creating a 2x2 Contingency Table" resource for guidance in creating 2x2 contingency tables.

General Requirements

APA style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

 

PUB540 Principle of Epidemiology

Week 7 Assignment  

Benchmark - Epidemiologic Profile Assignment

An epidemiologic profile is a summary of a significant public health issue, or issues, in your community, county, state, or country. An epidemiological profile helps to coordinate activities and policies from various agencies and organizations to improve health.

Review the available data, reports, and documents for your locale. Assess how the methods of epidemiology (study designs, data collection, measures of association, etc.) are used to determine who needs what services, where the services are needed, and how those services should be delivered. Define your community as your city, metropolitan area, or county and write a 2,000-2,250 word epidemiological profile (word limit excludes references and title page).The profile can be a general profile that provides a landscape picture of several significant chronic and infectious diseases in your defined community, or it can be a specific profile that targets one health issue, such as diabetes, asthma, STDs, flu, heart disease, obesity, alcohol abuse, or other drug use. Include the following:

Executive Summary

Describe the purpose of the epidemiologic profile and the health issue(s) it addresses. Discuss its importance to the community and how it will be utilized.

Summarize the key findings from your review of available data, reports, and documents for the community.

Introduction

Describe the defined community and population using demographic and socio-economic information and data.

Briefly describe the history and cultural background of the community.

Explain any unique contextual information that pertains to the public health of the defined community.

Describe any key public health projects, grants, or existing epidemiology-related working groups or committees in the community/county.

Description of Available Data

Identify at least two different data sources relevant to your profile. Discuss data from these sources and their relation to the issue or community.

Discuss the methods used in the data collection process (data source and organization providing the data; how often the data are collected; data limitations including response rates, missing data, selection of participants, etc.). Potential data sources and databases might include the following depending on what is available for your community or county:

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data

Youth risk behavioral survey

Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) program data

CDC Wonder (multiple data sources)

County health rankings data (multiple data sources)

Alcohol-related disease impact data

Demographic health survey data (international)

Global school-based student health survey (international)

Local evaluation reports from the department/ministry of health or other nonprofit organizations

Interpretation of Results Regarding Key Health Issue

Size and magnitude of the measures

Trends and comparisons

Economic costs

Discussion of Problems and Strategies

Discuss disparities, limitations, and gaps in the information available regarding the health issue(s).

Describe potential public health strategies to address these gaps.

Use graphs and tables where appropriate.

Conclusion

You are required to cite to at least five sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and public health content.

General Requirements

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency:

MPH

2.1 Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.

MSN Public Health Nursing

6.2 Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.