Epidemiology

Content Summary

There are four sections in this course:

• Section 1: Epidemiology and Important Terms
• Section 2: Models for Understanding the Infectious Process
• Section 3: Epidemiology in Practice
• Section 4: Surveillance

There are review questions at the end of each section. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these sections. In Section 3, you will have the opportunity to look at the case study of foodborne outbreak investigation. 

This course may be taken by itself, or as part of the New Public Health Administrators (NPHA) Curriculum.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for public health practitioners who do not have significant knowledge or experience in the field of epidemiology specifically for infectious disease.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss important terms and concepts for basic epidemiology practice.
• Describe the inter-related aspects of the infectious disease process and methods of breaking the chain of infection.
• Apply basic epidemiology in practice, using a case study of a food-borne outbreak as an example.
• Perform basic surveillance tasks in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Utilize your regional epidemiologist as a resource for outbreak investigations.

Pre-requisites/Learning Level

No pre-requisites

Public Health Preparedness Capabilities

• Capability 1: Community Preparedness
• Function 4: Coordinate training or guidance to ensure community engagement in preparedness efforts.
• Capability 13: Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation
• Function 1: Conduct public health surveillance and detection
• Function 4: Improve public health surveillance and epidemiological investigation systems.

Public Health Preparedness and Response Core Competencies

• 1.1 Solve problems under emergency conditions.
• 1.1.3 Prioritize problems based on level of hazard and degree of risk.
• 1.1.8 Assess information, resources and procedures necessary to address the problems in emergency situations.
• 1.4 Maintain situational awareness.
• 1.4.3 Use information and resources that identify changes in the situation and/or response.
• 1.4.7 Distinguish between critical and non-critical elements of the emergency.
• 2.1 Manage information related to an emergency.
• 2.1.5 Classify information for internal and external audiences.
• 2.3 Report information potentially relevant to the identification and control of an emergency through the chain of command.
• 2.3.2 Communicate within the organization’s defined command structure (i.e. report up, communicate down).
• 2.3.5 Communicate relevant information to personnel in a timely fashion.
• 2.4 Collect data according to protocol.
• 2.4.1 Use standardized protocol to collect data.
• 2.4.7 Organize data accurately into database or statistical packages.
• 2.4.9 Utilize primary and secondary data collection methods to inform preparedness and emergency responses scenarios.
• 2.5 Manage the recording and/or transcription of data according to protocol.
• 2.5.1 Adhere to relevant ethics guidelines, state, and federal laws regarding data collection, management, and dissemination.

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Adopted Oct 21,2021 Version)

Domain 1: Data Analytics and Assessment Skills

1.8. Assesses community health status.

Domain 6: Public Health Sciences Skills

6.1. Describes systems, policies, and events impacting public health (e.g., slavery, colonialism, John Snow and the London cholera outbreak, smallpox eradication, development of vaccines, Tuskegee Syphilis Study, fluoridation of drinking water, Jim Crow laws, establishment of Medicare and Medicaid, Americans with Disabilities Act, seatbelt legislation, banning g tobacco in public buildings, death penalty, gun violence, globalization, deforestation, climate change, COVID-19 pandemic).

6.2. Applies public health sciences (e.g., biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health services administration, social and behavioral sciences, and public health informatics) in delivering the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

6.3. Uses evidence in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.

Certificate of Completion

A certificate of completion is awarded on successful completion of this course. In order to successfully complete this course, you MUST score 70% or higher on the Posttest.

If you do not receive 70% on the posttest, you may review the material and re-take the posttest.

CEUs Offered

None

Cost

Free

Modality/format

Online Self-Pace

Length

2 hours

Course Redesign and Redevelopment

Subject Matter Experts

• Robert Niezgoda, MPH

Instructional Designers & Developers

• Alyssa Azhari

Item Writer

• Roger Hileman

Audio/Video production & Narrator 

• Melissa Richlen

LMS Coordinator

• Tim Beachy

Technical requirements

• Adobe Acrobat Reader 
• Speakers or headphones

Registration requirements

Register a free account.

Creation and/or update

February 1, 2023

Acknowledgments

The following organizations collaborated on the development of this course: Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH); University of Iowa College of Public Health, Institute for Public Health Practice (IPHP). 

There are four sections in this course:

• Section 1: Important Terms in Epidemiology
• Section 2: Models for Understanding the Infectious Process
• Section 3: Epidemiology in Practice
• Section 4: Surveillance

There are review questions at the end of modules 1 and 2. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. There is a quiz at the end of module 3. In addition, some modules contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material. 

This course may be taken by itself, or as part of the New Public Health Administrators (NPHA) Curriculum.

Intended Audience

public health practitioners who do not have significant knowledge or experience in the field of epidemiology.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss important terms and concepts for basic epidemiology practice
• Describe the inter-related aspects of the infectious disease process and methods of breaking the chain of infection
• Apply basic epidemiology in practice, using a case study of a food-borne outbreak as an example
• Perform basic surveillance tasks in an appropriate and timely manner
• Utilize your regional epidemiologist as a resource for outbreak investigations

Pre-requisites/Learning Level

No pre-requisites

Competencies addressed

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals

Domain 1: Analytical/Assessment Skills

1A12. Contributes to assessments of community health status and factors influencing health in a community (e.g. quality, availability, accessibility, and use of health services; access to affordable housing).

Domain 6: Public Health Sciences Skills

6A2. Identifies prominent events in the history of public health (e.g., smallpox eradication, development of vaccinations, infectious disease control, safe drinking water, emphasis on hygiene and hand washing, access to health care for people with disabilities).

6A3. Describes how public health sciences (e.g., biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health services administration, social and behavioral sciences, and public health informatics) are used in the delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

6A6. Describes evidence used in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.

CEUs Offered

None

Cost

Free

Modality/format

Online Self-Pace

Length

1 hour

Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts

Matt Hobson

Technical requirements:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader 
• Speakers

Registration requirements

Register a free account

Creation and/or update

March 23, 2013

Course Summary

There are four modules in this course:

• Module 1: Public Health Epidemiology for Law Enforcement Officials
• Module 2: Criminal Investigation for Public Health Professionals
• Module 3: The Role of the Laboratory - Public Health and Forensic
• Module 4: Working Together on Investigations

After completing these modules, you will be presenting with three case studies. Problems and questions will be discussed and you may also involve in a discussion board for in-depth discussion regarding the case studies.

There are practice exercises at the end of each module. These practice exercises will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. There is a post-test at the end of case studies.

Intended Audience

Groups of law enforcement officers and public health professionals who want to learn how to work together in investigating disease outbreaks that are or may also be crimes, bioterrorism events, or other deliberately caused outbreaks 

Learning Objectives

Module 1: Public Health Epidemiology for Law Enforcement

After completing this module, participants will be able to:

• Define common public health terminology.
• Describe how public health agencies approach preventing and controlling infectious diseases.
• Describe how epidemiologists approach finding, investigating, and controlling outbreaks.

Module 2: Criminal Investigations and Basics of the Incident Management System

After completing this module, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the goals of law enforcement in criminal investigations.
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of various law enforcement agencies.
• List and describe the steps involved in a criminal investigation process.

Module 3: The Roles of the Laboratories -- Public Health and Forensic

After completing this module, participants will be able to:

• Describe the roles of the public health and forensic (crime) laboratories.
• Discuss public health laboratory procedures in suspected bioterrorism events.
• Discuss forensic laboratory procedures in criminal or terrorism events.
• Outline the chain of custody as it applies to laboratory specimens.

Module 4: Working Together on Investigation

After completing this module, participants will be able to:

• Define "Incident Command System." 
• Describe the components and factors affecting Incident Command System.
• Explain incident command transition considerations.
• Describe implementation of the Federal Response Plan (PDD-39, PDD-62, HSPD-5) when planning for and responding to a terrorist incident.
• List factors that contribute for joint investigations to be effective.
• Explain the different phases of sharing sensitive information for public health and law enforcement professionals.

Pre-requisites/Learning Level

No pre-requisites

Competencies addressed

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals identified:

Domain 1: Analytical/Assessment Skills

• 1A8. Collects valid and reliable quantitative and qualitative data

Domain 5: Community Dimensions of Practice Skills

• 5A5. Collaborates with community partners to improve health in a community (e.g., participates in committees, shares data and information, connects people to resources) 

CEUs Offered

None

Cost

Free

Modality/format

Online Self-Pace

Length

2.5 hours

Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts

Technical requirements

• Adobe Acrobat Reader 
• Flash Player 
• Speakers

Registration requirements

Register a free account

Creation and/or update

September 11, 2013

There are four sections in this course:

• Section 1: Important Terms in Epidemiology
• Section 2: Models for Understanding the Infectious Process
• Section 3: Epidemiology in Practice
• Section 4: Surveillance

There are review questions at the end of modules 1 and 2. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these modules. There is a quiz at the end of module 3. In addition, some modules contain practice exercises to help you better understand the material. 

This course may be taken by itself, or as part of the New Public Health Administrators (NPHA) Curriculum.

Intended Audience

public health practitioners who do not have significant knowledge or experience in the field of epidemiology.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss important terms and concepts for basic epidemiology practice
• Describe the inter-related aspects of the infectious disease process and methods of breaking the chain of infection
• Apply basic epidemiology in practice, using a case study of a food-borne outbreak as an example
• Perform basic surveillance tasks in an appropriate and timely manner
• Utilize your regional epidemiologist as a resource for outbreak investigations

Pre-requisites/Learning Level

No pre-requisites

Competencies addressed

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals

Domain 1: Analytical/Assessment Skills

1A12. Contributes to assessments of community health status and factors influencing health in a community (e.g. quality, availability, accessibility, and use of health services; access to affordable housing).

Domain 6: Public Health Sciences Skills

6A2. Identifies prominent events in the history of public health (e.g., smallpox eradication, development of vaccinations, infectious disease control, safe drinking water, emphasis on hygiene and hand washing, access to health care for people with disabilities).

6A3. Describes how public health sciences (e.g., biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health services administration, social and behavioral sciences, and public health informatics) are used in the delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

6A6. Describes evidence used in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.

CEUs Offered

None

Cost

Free

Modality/format

Online Self-Pace

Length

1 hour

Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts

Matt Hobson

Technical requirements:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader 
• Flash Player 
• Speakers

Registration requirements

Register a free account

Creation and/or update

March 23, 2013

This course is provided by the North Carolina Public Health Preparedness Center. You will need to complete a separate registration to have access to this course. Click the course title, then choose register on the course page. When you have finished, print off your certificate from North Carolina, then return to the LMS and choose Mark Complete from the action menu in the Learning Plan in your Workspace. This presentation by Dr. Ward Cates, MD, MPH, President, Family Health Institute, Family Health International, gives the viewer an introduction to descriptive epidemiology and study design. Target Audience These learning modules are applicable to all public health, medical, veterinary, pharmacy, emergency management, hospital and other professionals interested in public health preparedness. These modules are created by faculty and guest lecturers at the UNC-CH School of Public Health and are equivalent to graduate level content. Educational Objectives To understand the use of epidemiology as a quantitative basic science, a method of causal reasoning and a tool for clinical and public health action Give examples of several exposure-disease relationships and explain how they are used to determine associations To understand the three categories of study design (descriptive, analytical and experimental) and assess appropriateness, strengths, and weaknesses

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Noon. - 1:00 p.m. CDT Room 2117, Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF) The University of Iowa This presentation will also be available via streaming video on the Web. Learning Objectives: * Name three of the most common foodborne diseases found in Iowa. * Describe at least two actions that public health takes to prevent and control foodborne diseases. Speaker: Patricia Quinlisk, M.D., M.P.H., has served as the state epidemiologist and medical director for the Iowa Department of Public Health since 1994. She received her M.P.H. degree from Johns Hopkins University and M.D. from the University of Wisconsin. She serves, or has served, on numerous national advisory committees including the National Biodefense Science Board, the Institutes of Medicine committee on Implementation of Antiviral Medication Strategies for an Influenza Pandemic, and its committee on Research Priorities in Emergency Preparedness and Response for Public Health Systems. She currently is vice president of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and serves on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's MMWR editorial board.

This course is provided by the North Carolina Public Health Preparedness Center. You will need to complete a separate registration to have access to this course. Click the course title, then choose register on the course page. When you have finished, print off your certificate from North Carolina, then return to the LMS and choose Mark Complete from the action menu in the Learning Plan in your Workspace. This presentation, developed by Kim Brunette, MPH, Sarah Pfau, MPH, and Michelle Torok, MPH, was adapted by Amy Nelson, PhD, MPH for this online recording, and gives you an overview of hypotheses and study designs. Target Audience These learning modules are applicable to all public health, medical, veterinary, pharmacy, emergency management, hospital and other professionals interested in public health preparedness. These modules are created by faculty and guest lecturers at the UNC-CH School of Public Health and are equivalent to graduate level content. Educational Objectives Understand the distinction between descriptive and analytic Epidemiology, and their utility in surveillance and outbreak investigations Recognize descriptive and analytic measures used in the Epidemiological literature Know how to interpret data analysis output for measures of association and common statistical tests

This course is provided by the North Carolina Public Health Preparedness Center. You will need to complete a separate registration to have access to this course. Click the course title, then choose register on the course page. When you have finished, print off your certificate from North Carolina, then return to the LMS and choose Mark Complete from the action menu in the Learning Plan in your Workspace. This presentation, developed by Sarah Pfau, MPH, and recorded by Amy Nelson, PhD, MPH, gives you an overview of data and technology, the core of Epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigations. Target Audience These learning modules are applicable to all public health, medical, veterinary, pharmacy, emergency management, hospital and other professionals interested in public health preparedness. These modules are created by faculty and guest lecturers at the UNC-CH School of Public Health and are equivalent to graduate level content. Educational Objectives Understand the significant roles of both the human and technological elements of Epidemiological practice Recognize the diverse professionals within and beyond public health that contribute to the success of Epidemiological surveillance and investigations Recognize key sources of Epidemiological data Recognize ways in which Epidemiologists work with the Media Understand how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention serves as a resource for training, technical support, and surveillance and reporting of epidemiological data

Learn the fundmental principles to epidemiology surveillance disease reporting and outbreak in

Prion diseases are a related group of rare, fatal brain diseases that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow disease") in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. In this presentation, James Torner, UI professor and head of epidemiology, will discuss the history, epidemiology, and pathology of prions and how they affect human health.