Semester B, 2023-24 NURS5030EF Public Health and Epidemiology
HKMU LiPACE
Higher Diploma in Health Care (FHDHC)
Course Coordinator
NURS5030EF Public Health and Epidemiology Dr Christopher Au-Yeung
Tel: 3120-9715
Semester B, 2023-24
Email: cauyeung@hkmu.edu.hk
Course outline
Aim
To develop students’ understanding of the impacts of epidemiology, global public health and
environment.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
a. Explain the key elements of public health;
b. Analyze the relationship of health policy and health planning;
c. Analyze the impact of social determinants on public health;
d. Explain the basic concepts and terminology commonly used in epidemiology; and
e. Apply critically the epidemiological monitoring of a disease in public health.
Teaching and learning methods
Students’ learning will include lectures and seminars using interactive presentations and discussions.
The lectures provide students with understanding of the impacts of epidemiology, global public health
and environment. The seminars allow students to integrate, apply knowledge and concepts of public
health. The workshop provides students with opportunities to apply relevant knowledge and skills into
problem-based scenarios commonly encountered in health planning.
Attendance
Students are expected to achieve an attendance rate of at least 80% as per School Regulations.
Students will be deemed as absent if they:
a) Absent without prior approval or fail to provide supporting document for leave; or
b) Fail to attend the scheduled class within the first 15 minutes.
Semester B, 2023-24 NURS5030EF Public Health and Epidemiology
Assessment
Weighting Topics covered Alignment with
Learning Outcomes
Continuous Assessment: 50%
- Group Project 50% 1-6 a-e
Examination (3 hours) 50% 1-6 a-e
Total 100%
Assessment tasks will include a group project and an examination. The group project assesses
students’ abilities to apply relevant knowledge and skills into problem-based scenarios encountered in
public health and epidemiology. The examination assesses students’ problem solving skills and ability
to tackle the impacts of epidemiology, public health and environment.
Students are required to achieve a pass mark of 40% in both the continuous assessment and the
examination in order to pass this course.
If a student achieves an overall pass mark of 40% but obtains between 35% but less than 40% in the
continuous assessment or in the examination, the student can be reassessed in that failed
component.
1) Group Project (50%)
Students will be divided into groups (number of students per group will be announced in due
course) and they are required to prepare a presentation on their assigned topics. Grades will be
awarded based on both students’ presentation performance and preparation of their portfolios.
Their project portfolio has to be uploaded via Turnitin onto OLE on or before Fri 19 Apr at 1pm.
2) Examination (50%)
The examination will consist of MCQ and short-answer questions covering all topics introduced in
the course.
Semester B, 2023-24 NURS5030EF Public Health and Epidemiology
Semester B, 2023-24 NURS5030EF Public Health and Epidemiology
Texts & references
1. Barrett, D.H., & Drue Barrett, H. (2016). Public health ethics: cases spanning the globe.
Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
2. Campaign for Social Science (Great Britain). (2017). The health of people: how the social
sciences can improve population health. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
3. Gordis, L., & ProQuest. (2014). Epidemiology. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
4. Greenberg, R.S. (2015). Medical epidemiology: population health and effective health care.
New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
5. Merrill, Ray M. (2017). Introduction to epidemiology. 7th edn. Boston: Jones & Bartlett
Learning, Burlington.
6. Turnock, B.J. (2016). Essentials of public health. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
