VET SC 3516RW - Veterinary Epidemiology & Evidence-Based Medicine III

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

This course provides the basics of veterinary epidemiology applied to evidence-based veterinary medicine, clinical research and population health management. Participants will learn how to measure and compare the occurrence and spread of disease in groups or population of animals. These skills will be used to appraise scientific evidence about the aetiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of diseases to make evidence-based decision in clinical practice. Basic training in research methodology will also be covered to learn how to design a clinical study and generate new scientific evidence. Finally, participants will learn how to investigate disease spread within and between populations in order to manage health of animal populations.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET SC 3516RW
    Course Veterinary Epidemiology & Evidence-Based Medicine III
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites (STATS 1504 and VET SC 3512RW)
    Restrictions Available to BSc (Veterinary Bioscience) students only
    Assessment Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM) & Clinical Research Skills (CRS) assessments, final examination
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Peter Atkinson

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Explain the fundamental veterinary epidemiology concepts. 
    2 Apply the structured approach of evidence-based veterinary medicine.
    3 Apply basic knowledge in research methodology.
    4 Describe fundamental disease ecology concepts.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3, 4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3, 4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    2, 3, 4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 3, 4
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    2-3hrs of lectures and 4-6hrs of tutorials/workshops per week

    Students will have required pre-reading each week that will form the basis of the weekly quiz

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    The course content will include the following:

    Veterinary Epidemiology
    Disease causation
    Measures of disease frequency
    Measures of association and effect
    Selection, information & confounding bias

    Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine
    Asking a foreground clinical question
    Sourcing and selecting scientific evidence relevant to their clinical question
    Appraising and amalgamating the selected scientific evidence
    Apply the best current evidence to an individual patient
    Audit processes and outcomes in clinical practice

    Clinical Research Skills
    Causal inferences and hypothesis building
    Study design
    Ethical and legal approvals
    Sample size calculation and sampling approaches
    Proposal writing

    Disease Ecology
    Modes of disease transmission and spread in populations
    Temporal, spatial, and demographic pattern of disease in populations
    Control of disease spread
    Detecting disease in populations
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting HURDLE Learning Outcome Assessment Due
    Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM) assessment Summative 25% No 1, 2 Two assessments between weeks 4 & 8
    Clinical Research Skills (CRS) assessment Summative 25% Yes 1, 3 One assessment between weeks 10 - 11
    Final examination Summative 50% Yes 1, 2, 4 November Examination Period

    An exemption to the hurdle requirements of the Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy has been approved by the Faculty of Sciences for 2022.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    HURDLES: To pass this course students must attain:

    1.  A minimum of 50% on the Clinical Research Skills assessment
    a.  Students must attain a minimum of 40% on the Clinical Research Skills assessment to be eligible for additional assessment in the form of a resubmission

    2.  A minimum of 50% on the final exam
    a.  Students must attain a minimum of 40% on the final exam to be eligible for an additional examination which will be in the form of an oral examination

    Assessment Detail
    Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM) assessment (25%): Students will undertake 2, 2hr in-class assessments which can include a combination of MCQ, short or long answer questions that cover the Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine component of the course.

    Clinical Research Skills (CRS) assessment (25%): Students will deliver a group assignment with approximately five students per group by completing written tasks related to clinical research skills.

    Final Examination (50% of the final grade): Students will undertake a 3 hr written assessment at the end of semester. The examination will cover all aspects of the course, with the exception of the Clinical Research Skills content. Questions may include a combination of MCQ, short or long answer questions.

    Submission
    Late Submission

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A mark of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

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    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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