Fundamentals of Health Research and Epidemiology

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
HIMP 4430
Descriptive
Fundamentals of Health Research and Epidemiology
Department
Health Information Management
Faculty
Health Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
36
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

 4 hours/week

 

Method(s) of instruction
Hybrid
Lecture
Learning activities

In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activities such as lectures, case study analysis, independent research, exercises, training on data classification technology, participant presentations, classroom discussions, and guest speakers.  

Course description
This course introduces students to the concepts of health research and epidemiology, methods to detect bias, and approaches to determining validity and reliability. Included is the opportunity to identify a research question and hypothesis, perform a literature review, and complete a critical analysis of findings.
Course content
  • Research and epidemiology frameworks and terminology
  • Principles of scientific investigation
  • Research study design
  • Testing a hypothesis
  • Process to identifying bias in research and epidemiological studies
  • Steps in performing and critiquing a literature review
  • Design and purpose of epidemiological studies
  • Relationship between research and epidemiology within health information management
  • Process for securing and ensuring ethical research
  • Relationship between data integrity, governance, and health information management
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Define key research and epidemiology terminology;
  • Design a research study to test a specific hypothesis;  
  • Detect and describe different types of bias pertaining to research studies performed in health care;   
  • Examine the most effective methods to test validity and reliability;   
  • Design a literature review including a critical analysis of findings;   
  • Analyze epidemiological studies, identify advantages/disadvantages of each study design, and identify the various health care statistics used or generated; 
  • Explain how various epidemiological research study designs can be used in health information management;   
  • Explain how study design facilitates outcome studies;   
  • Identify the relationship between research methodology and evidence-based practice in health information management; 
  • Demonstrate the importance of ethics in research and epidemiological studies;  
  • Identify data governance and data integrity issues pertinent to research and epidemiology.  
Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives andwill be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.

This is a Letter graded course. All assignments must be completed to pass the course

Textbook materials

Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students.  A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester.

Prerequisites

HIMP 2240 and HIMP 3300 and HIMP 3340

Students in the PBD-HIM and BScHIM programs are required to maintain a minimum grade of 65% (C+) in all courses in order to progress in the program.

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None