Module Details

Module Code: BIOL9016
Title: Applied Epidemiology
Long Title: Applied Nutrition & Health Epidemiology
NFQ Level: Expert
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2023/24 ( September 2023 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 4211 - Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: This module is designed to enable students to better conduct nutritional epidemiologic research and/or to better interpret the scientific literature in which diet or other nutritional indicators are factors under study. There is an increasing awareness that various aspects of diet and nutrition may be important contributing factors in chronic disease. There are many important problems, however, in the implementation and interpretation of nutritional epidemiologic studies. The purpose of this module is to examine epidemiologic methodology in relation to nutritional measures, and to review the current state of knowledge regarding diet and other nutritional indicators as etiologic factors in disease
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Apply nutritional knowledge to identify relevant modifiable risk factors which determine health in the population.
LO2 Develop appropriate study designs and methods to examine nutritional risk factors in a target population
LO3 Extract, manage, analyse and interpret nutritional data to answer specific research questions
LO4 Employ critical-thinking skills to decipher the specific effects of overall diet and individual nutrients in complex interactions among dietary, lifestyle, metabolic and genetic exposures and clarify these in population-based data
LO5 Apply nutritional epidemiological approaches to identify challenges, to understand their determinants and to develop strategies and policies that improve health in the population
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Study design
Appropriate nutritional exposures and outcomes for epidemiological purposes will be considered in relation to specific population groups, study designs and research. Develop skills in recognising the types and sources of error in nutritional data, proposing design and analytical solutions to measurement error, and being able to assess the impact of measurement error on study findings
Diet and population health status
Appraisal of the strength of the evidence for diet and chronic disease and evaluation of the contribution of evidence from observational, experimental and intervention studies to understanding diet-disease associations. Consideration of the sources of evidence for identifying populations at risk of malnutrition (both over and under nutrition) including surveillance mechanisms
Assessment of nutritional status
Overview of the application of appropriate methods for measurement of nutritional status in public health, and also in the development and utility of the standards and references used for identifying health and nutritional status. The ability to derive food and nutrient intakes from dietary assessment will be further developed with a specific emphasis on data management and treatment
Determinants of nutritional status
Overview of how diet-disease associations are determined and how we identify changes in nutritional status in large groups or populations
Managing nutritional data
A range of data analytic exercises using nutrition focused databases e.g. IUNA, TILDA, UK biobank, NHANES, French dietary surveys
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 40
Timing Week 6 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Assessment Description
Study Proposal
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 20
Timing Week 8 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Assessment Description
Summary of proposal
Assessment Type Practical/Skills Evaluation % of Total Mark 40
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 3,4,5
Assessment Description
Data Analysis
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Delivers the concepts and theories underpinning the learning outcomes Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Application of learning to data analysis Every Second Week 1.00 2
Independent Learning Non Contact Student reads recommended books and papers and practices implementation Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 8.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Delivers the concepts and theories underpinning the learning outcomes Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Application of learning to data analysis Every Second Week 1.00 2
Independent Learning Non Contact Student reads recommended books and papers and practices implementation Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 8.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Editor(s):Julie A Lovegrove, Leanne Hodson, Sangita Sharma, Susan A Lanham-New. (2015), Nutrition Research Methodologies, Wiley, [ISBN: 9781119180425].
  • Jacobs, D.R., Temple, N.J.. (2012), Methods in Nutrition Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-894-8_1, [ISBN: 978-1-61779-8].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_SNUHA_9 Master of Science in Nutrition & Health Analytics 2 Mandatory