PH-112 Introduction to Epi-Info and Computing for Public Health

Course Description: This course familiarizes students with the use of computers and information technology which are essential tools to enhance their academic research and writing skills.  The students will also learn how to use the Epi-Info program, a statistical software for research data management, which is frequently used in public health practice. 

• CA 100 or concurrently

A. PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOs):

The student will be able to:
 Recognize, describe and discuss the basic public health science facts and principles;

1. List and discuss the essential public health functions and their interrelationships at community and district level;
2. Describe and discuss adult, children and family health issues;
3. Discuss and demonstrate an understanding and practice of some generic public health competencies;
4. Demonstrate proper public health skills for public health practice in the community as a state or local public health officer;
5. Discuss and demonstrate community and cultural sensitivity in the health care environment;
6. Describe and discuss the health determinants and problems of adults, children and families;
7. Demonstrate proper cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid techniques;
8. Demonstrate the ability and discuss how to make a community diagnosis based on the determinants of health;
9. Identify and demonstrate good public health practice; and
10. Have had work experience at a public health facility at community and district levels.

B. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs) - GENERAL:

The student will be able to:

1. Understand basic concepts of selected applications, including e-mail technology usage, Internet – the World Wide Web and its search tools
2. Utilize COM-FSM resources and other on-line databases for information searching
3. Be familiar with Microsoft (MS) Office and its major programs: Word, Excel, Access, Power-Point and Outlook and some basic principles of information management
4. Operate Epi-Info program for data collection and management in surveys and health research.

SLO	PLO1	PLO2	PLO3	PLO4	PLO5	PLO6	PLO7	PLO8	PLO9	PLO10	PLO11
1				ID
2				ID
3				ID
4				ID

I = Introduced
D = Demonstrated
M = Mastered

C. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME (SLOs)–SPECIFIC:

The student will be able to:

General SLO 1. Understand basic concepts of selected applications, including e-mail technology usage, Internet – the World Wide Web and its search tools.

Student Learning Outcome	Assessment  Strategies
1.1 Navigate internet to search for different sources of information	Individual assignments Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
1.2. Use Smart Search Strategies	Individual assignments Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
1.3. Use emails	Individual assignments Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric

General SLO 2. Utilize COM-FSM resources and other on-line databases for information searching.

Student Learning Outcome	Assessment  Strategies
2.1. Use the COM-FSM library catalogue	Individual assignments Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
2.2 Use electronic journal databases; health and medical  databases	Individual assignments Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric

General SLO 3. Be familiar with Microsoft (MS) Office and its major programs: Word, Excel, Access, Power-Point and Outlook and some basic principles of information management.

Student Learning Outcome	Assessment  Strategies
3.1. Use computer MS programs for academic purposes, i.e.       writing assignments, project reports and preparing  presentations	Group discussion  and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Practical demonstration to be graded on a specified rubric
3.2. Use Excel for basic data analyses and presentations	Group discussion  and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Practical demonstration to be graded on a specified rubric
3.3. Describe the main features and uses of the MS Access program	Group discussion  and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Practical demonstration to be graded on a specified rubric
3.4. Prepare slides for presentations, using Power-Point	Group discussion  and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Practical demonstration to be graded on a specified rubric
3.5. Describe the main features and functions of the Microsoft Outlook software	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Practical demonstration to be graded on a specified rubric

General SLO 4. Operate Epi-Info program for data collection and management in surveys and health research.

Student Learning Outcome	Assessment  Strategies
4.1. Describe a series of sub-programs available in Epi-Info and discuss their functions	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes
4.2. .Design a questionnaire to be used in outbreak investigations, community health surveys, and other epidemiological studies	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
4.3. Identify appropriate check code functions to be used in the MakeView sub-program to minimize errors, to perform automatic calculations and to automate the data entry process	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
4.4. Discuss the use of Relational Database and it advantages and disadvantages	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes
4.5. Design a Relational Database and demonstrate its  practical application in “relating” records in one data set using unique identifiers	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
4.6. Operate the Enter sub-program to display the constructed View, construct a data table, control data entry process, use the specified settings and check code, search and match records	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
4.7. Conduct basic data analyses using the Analysis sub-program from data collected in Epi-Info or imported from other common data formats	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
4.8. Demonstrate ability to export Epi-Info collected data to other database formats	Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
4.9. Present analyzed data using relevant tools, i.e. frequency tables, charts, graphs; and interact with EpiMap for displaying geographic data	Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes Practical demonstration to be graded according to a specified rubric
4.10. Identify and perform relevant statistical tests in data analyses and to interpret the results	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes
4.11. Briefly discuss the Nutstat sub-program, its application in recording and evaluating nutritional anthropometry	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes
4.12. Discuss the importance of data management and apply some management functions available in the Epi-Info software	Group discussion and oral reports to be graded according to a specified rubric Individual assignments Direct and multiple choice questions in examinations and quizzes

D. COURSE CONTENTS

1. Computer use for academic purposes:
   1. Word processing software (MS Word)
   2. MS Excel
   3. MS Power-Point
   4. MS Access, Outlook


2. Information technology:
   1. Internet Explorer
   2. COM-FSM resources:
      • Library catalogue
      • Electronic journals and databases on health
3. Epi-Info statistical software
   1. An overview
   2. Creating the data entry program – the Make View program
      1. Design a new form or a view (questionnaire)
      2. Add text and numeric fields within the view
      3. Specify a list of legal values within a view
      4. Insert a grid, the automatic way to deal with repeating data within a view
      5. Insert large text (multilane) within the view
   3. Creating the data entry sub-program – Checking and controlling the data entry
      1. Insert commands to customize the data entry process
      2. Calculate an age from two dates
      3. Enter dates and verify that the age is computed
      4. Move from page to page of the view
   4. Creating the data entry sub-program – Using Check Code to automate data entry and reduce errors
      1. The use of Check Code
      2. Assess Check Code
      3. Use Check Code to set additional parameters to guide data entry
      4. Other functions provided by Check Code
   5. Creating a Relational Database
      1. Process of creating a relational database.
      2. Data entry in the parent and related view
      3. Functions of Back and Home buttons
   6. The Enter sub-program – Entering data and editing records
      1. Open an existing view and database
      2. Navigate from record to record
      3. Search for particular records
      4. Study a sample surveillance view with related views available
   7. The Analysis sub-program – Conducting simple data analyses
      1. Read a view or a data file or table
      2. List the contents of the database
      3. Obtain the FREQuency of values for a field
      4. Cross-tabulate with the TABLES command and obtain the resulting epidemiologic statistics
      5. Choose how “Yes” and “No” are displayed
      6. Define a new variable and assign it a value
      7. Use an IF statement to determine and assign case statuses
      8. SELECT a subset of records to process
      9. RECODE values to the group and age field
      10. WRITE data to another file or table
      11. READ a non access file
      12. READ related tables in a view and analyze data from more than one table
   8. Overview of data management
      1. Microsoft Access databases
      2. Epi Info 2002 Views; Data tables
      3. Microsoft Access links
      4. What are related tables, and why use them
      5. Creating related tables and entering data in related tables
      6. Analyzing related tables
      7. Analyzing data in non Epi Info files
      8. Importing Epi Info 6 files and using Check Code
      9. HTML Output Files
      10. Backing up data files

E. Methods Of Instruction

Lectures: hands-on lectures and practice conducted in the computer lab

F. Required Text(s) And Course Materials

McGraw-Hill (2000). MS Office 2007 Integrated Activities: A Comprehensive Approach, Text-Workbook, 1st Edition or most recent edition.  Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. (or most recent edition).
Access to a computer with Epi Info™ Version 3.5.1 software installed (free download from http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/)

G. Reference Material

Oja D & Parsons JJ. (2007) New Perspectives on Computer Concept, 10th Edition or most recent edition.  Course Technology. USA. (or most recent edition)
Dean A., Sullivan K., Delhumeau C., Zubieta J. (2002) Epi Info 2002: Manual. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta. (or most recent edition).

H. Instructional Cost

None

I. Evaluation

None

J. Credit-By-Examination

None