Data and Analytics for Quality Improvement (CIDH7303)

Course overview

This course introduces the fundamentals of data science in modern healthcare practices. You will learn the fundamental principles of data analytics for quality improvement in health care and receive an introduction to the fields of biostatistics & epidemiology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and health care econometrics. The course will help you to understand the diversity of analytic methods for quality improvement in healthcare nationally and globally. It will equip you with knowledge and skills to be an integral member of a team solving real-world healthcare problems using available data tools. You will also learn to create a longitudinal plan for ongoing engagement with data analytic tools in a dynamic clinical and technical environment.

This course is an introduction to data and analytics for quality improvement in healthcare. Over three modules, you will learn about concepts relating to ﾠbiostatistics, machine learning and AI, and causal econometrics. Youﾠ will learn how these methodologies are applied in healthcare contexts and gain an understanding of their evaluation and implementation in real world settings, with an emphasis on conceptual understanding.

The course is divided into 12 ﾠlearning weeks:

• Basic Statistics
• Data Classification, Variability, Rates and Proportions
• Measuring Difference and Change: Correlation and Regression
• Time to Event Regressions and Classification
• Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Deep Learning
• Evaluating Machine Learning and AI
• Design principles for Machine Learning and AI
• Introduction to Causal Econometrics
• Regression Analysis, Matching, and Instrumental Variables.
• Difference-In-Differences Analysis
• Real-world Digital Health Problems

The course is designed for a range of students, including those without ﾠexperience in statistics or mathematics beyond high school level.

There are two ﾠmain learning activities throughout the semester:

• Weekly web based modules containing written content, instructive videos, and a range of learning activities.
• Live web-based 2 hr video conference workshops approximately every second week.

Course requirements

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

CIDH7301 + CIDH7302

Recommended companion or co-requisite courses

We recommend completing the following courses at the same time:

CIDH7304

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

Additional timetable information

Live on-line workshops will be run on Wednesday evening from 6pm to 8pm every second week. The timetable can be found on blackboard.

Aims and outcomes

The new “Data and Analytics for Quality Improvement" will include content in: data cycles; information retrieval; basic data science and statistics; essentials of machine learning, neural networks and AI; Healthcare quality improvement; using data for process improvement; clinical governance of data and analytics; and econometric perspectives on health data analytics. The course will help students to understand the diversity of analytic methods for quality improvement in healthcare nationally and globally and equip them with knowledge and skills to solve real-world clinical scenarios using available data tools.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Five Online Quizzes

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

50%

Due date

Quizzes will open at end of each learning module and generally close 1 week later

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Late submission

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Online Exam during semester exam period

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

50%

Due date

Online Exam during semester exam period

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Late submission

Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Marks for each item in the assessment program will be added up, according to the weightings shown in the Assessment Summary. If the marks total for a student is above the cut-offs for a particular grade, they will be awarded that grade.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

The final grade awarded will be based on the results of the supplementary assessment only, and a passing grade will be awarded if, and only if, the student receives at least 50% of the marks on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Submission

Please note that all submission dates for assessments are in Brisbane time - Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Deferred Examinations

There may be exceptional circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from sitting the original exam at its scheduled date and time. Information on deferring an exam can be found on ﾠmyUQ.ﾠ

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

School of Public Health (SPH) Guidelines for late submission of progressive assessment - Preamble

To apply for an extension to the due date for a piece of progressive assessment (eg assignments, oral presentations and computer-based assignments) students should complete the online request at  https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=2#2  

Information regarding deferral of in-semester exams and end-of-semester exams is available from https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/deferring-exam 

If requesting an extension on medical grounds, a medical certificate must be provided. The extension will be approved for the number of days included in the medical certificate that the student was not fit to study or work, eg if the medical certificate is for 3 days, an extension will be approved for 3 days maximum regardless of the student's request.  

If requesting an extension using a Student Access Plan (SAP) as evidence, a maximum of 7-day extension will be approved in the first instance. Updated medical documentation, as well as a copy of the SAP, is required if requesting an extension for more than 7 days. 

The maximum time for an in-semester extension is four weeks.  

The following SPH guidelines are consistent with the UQ policy. However, the SPH Guidelines contain specific rules and interpretations for SPH courses, and requests for extension and penalties for late submissions will be judged according to the guidelines outlined in this document. You should read both the information in your my.UQ at the following link: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension and the SPH guidelines (below) before submitting a request for an extension. The SPH Guidelines apply to all courses offered by the School of Public Health unless the Course Profile explicitly states otherwise.

SPH Guidelines for late submission of progressive assessment

Initial extension for an individual item of assessment – the SPH Teaching & Assessment Support Team and/or the Course Coordinator decides.

This could be for medical or compassionate reasons, or if, in the opinion of the Course Coordinator, there are exceptional circumstances.

Acceptable and unacceptable reasons for an extension are listed at the following link, along with the required evidence to be provided:  https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=1#1

All requests should be lodged at least 24 hours prior to the due date for the assessment.

If applying for an extension after the due date and time of the assessment item, your request may not be approved. An explanation as to why your request was not submitted prior must be included.       

If approved, a new due date will be set. This would generally be no later than 7 days after the original due date, however this can be modified to take account of the circumstances of the request and the time that would have been lost from studies.

If the new due date is past the date for submission of end-of-semester results, the student will receive an INC (incomplete) result.

Second and all subsequent extensions for an individual item of assessment – the SPH Teaching & Assessment Support Team and/or the Program Director together with the Course Coordinator decides.

This would only be approved for exceptional circumstance with supporting documentation.

• Online requests must be made at least 24 hours prior to the due date from the first extension.
• The SPH Teaching & Assessment Support Team and/or the Course Coordinator will consult with the Program Director, who will make the final decision.
• If approved, the new due date would generally be no later than 7 days after the first extension due date.
• The Program Director should consider if remedial or other support should be offered to the student.
• The Program Director should provide a report on these matters as needed at SPH Examiners’ Meetings.

Please Note: In order to support course progression, extensions that total more than 14 calendar days from the original due date of an assessment item will only be approved in very exceptional circumstances. These requests are assessed and approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. 

If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty.

Penalty for late submission

Submission of assignments, practical reports, workbooks, and other types of written assessments after the due date specified in the Course Profile will receive a penalty.

The penalty will be a deduction of 10% RELATIVE PERCENTAGE per day (24 hour period or part thereof, including weekends and public holidays) or for work graded on a 1-7 scale, a deduction of one grade per day, e.g. If the original mark is 73%, then 10% relative percentage is 10% of this value, ie 7.3%, The final mark for this assessment item after applying the penalty for 1 day late submission would be 73 -7.3 = 65.7% The same outcome is achieved by multiplying the original score by .9; ie 73 x .9 = 65.7%

The penalty for multiple days late is the relative percentage multiplied by the number of days late. 

A submission that is not made within 10 days of the due date will receive a mark of 0% for that assessment item.

Where a student has sought more than one extension, the due date for calculating the penalty will be the due date for the most recently approved extension.

Submission of Medical Certificates

Students are responsible for ensuring that any medical documentation they submit is authentic and signed by a registered medical practitioner. Such practitioners can be identified via the AHPRA website. Also note that:

• Not all online medical services are staffed by registered practitioners
• If the registration status of the practitioner cannot be verified, then an alternative practitioner should be sought
• Students will be held fully responsible for all documentation they submit, even if done so in ignorance of the practitioner's registration status

Medical documentation may be subjected to an audit by the University.

SPH Assessment Guidelines

The School of Public Health assessment tasks have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. While students may us AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.

A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.