VET-20005 - Module Specification
Harper and Keele Veterinary School
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module introduces key epidemiological concepts and methods in the study of health and disease in animal and human populations. The module provides students with an epidemiological framework that can be applied to their wider understanding of disease causation and will assist them in making decisions on disease diagnosis, prevention and control. The topics covered provide a foundation for the study and understanding of population medicine and the concepts and principles of One Health, with emphasis on contextualisation to clinical veterinary practice and associated veterinary industries.
The module contributes to the integrated learning and teaching of Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine and critical thinking within the BVetMS curriculum.
This module addresses the following RCVS Day One Competences:
3 ¿ Demonstrate the ability to critically review and evaluate evidence, in support of practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine.
4 ¿ Apply principles of clinical governance.
5 ¿ Contribute as appropriate to the advancement of veterinary knowledge, in order to improve the quality of animal care and public health.
9 ¿ Demonstrate situational awareness through navigating, responding and reflecting on the economic and emotional context in which the veterinary surgeon operates.
13 ¿ Demonstrate ability to manage in situations where information is incomplete, deal with contingencies and adapt to change.
14 ¿ Adapt knowledge and skills to varied scenarios and contexts.
16 ¿ Promote health and safety of patients, clients and colleagues in the veterinary setting, including applying the principles of risk management to practice.
17 ¿ Communicate effectively with clients, the public, professional colleagues and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience concerned.
19 ¿ Work effectively as a member of a professional/inter-professional team, fully recognising the contribution of each professional, and demonstrate an understanding of cognitive diversity.
31 ¿ Collect, preserve and transport samples, select appropriate diagnostic tests, interpret and understand the limitations of the test results.
38 ¿ Recognise suspicious signs of possible notifiable, reportable and zoonotic diseases and take appropriate action, including notifying the relevant authorities.
39 ¿ Apply population principles in compliance with legal regulations and economic realities
43 ¿ Advise on and implement preventative programmes appropriate to the species and in line with accepted animal health, welfare and public health ad environmental standards.
44 ¿ Promote the health and safety of people and the environment.
45 ¿ Understand the principles and practice of the application of veterinary science to ensure foods safety standards throughout the production chain, including performance of post-mortem inspection of food producing animals.

The aims of this module are to
1. Explore the role and importance of epidemiology and data analysis in clinical veterinary medicine, animal health, welfare and public health.
2. Develop the theoretical knowledge and skills to apply basic epidemiological and statistical methods.
3. Apply epidemiological principles and skills to the investigation and management of disease outbreaks in research and clinical practice scenarios.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Recognise and discuss the role of epidemiology in contemporary animal health issues at the local, national and global level, with emphasis on a transdisciplinary One Health approach: 1,2
Describe the principles of qualitative and quantitative epidemiological methods and recognise the importance of related disciplines including veterinary economics and mathematical modelling and how they contribute to veterinary epidemiology: 1,2
Describe the different types of epidemiological study, their strengths and weaknesses and how these studies are used to address different disease research questions: 1,2
Understand and apply basic epidemiological and statistical methods used to investigate the possible causes of disease, the characteristics of diagnostic tests in clinical diagnosis and disease control, the effectiveness of treatments and the importance of potential risk factors: 1,2
Interpret results of basic epidemiological and statistical methods, demonstrating awareness of the major types of bias and confounding in epidemiological studies, and discuss outcomes in the wider context of disease prevention and control: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures - 18 hours
Tutorials - 18 hours
Workshop - 4 hours
Supervised online study (GOAL) - 8 hours
Independent Learning - 102 hours

School Rules

Progression from level 4

Description of Module Assessment