Public Health in Pandemics (PUBH7116)

Course overview

This course is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the role of public health in identifying and responding to emerging infectious diseases in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This course will cover:

Communicable disease control including surveillance, outbreak investigation and interventions
Public health impacts both direct and indirect
Broader social, economic and health impacts in the population

This course is run over 5 days, Monday 25 to Friday 29 November 2024 inclusive. The course will run each day during this period between 9am-4.30pm. Students enrolled in both In Person and External mode will be required to attend (either online or on-campus) during these hours. Some assessment items will be held during the 5 day block with the remaining assessment due during the semester. External students will interact via Zoom.

This course is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the role of public health in identifying and responding to emerging infectious diseases in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course will cover: Communicable disease control including surveillance, outbreak investigation and interventions; Public health impacts both direct and indirect; Broader social, economic and health impacts in the population.

NB: Students will need to bring a laptop to participate in this course.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Entry for postgraduate coursework at UQ, or work experience in population health, or an interest in communicable disease control.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

Additional timetable information

This course is run over 5 days from Monday through to Friday. The course hours are 09:00 - 16:30 (with breaks).

• Day1: Start of the Pandemic - history, available tools, initial response
• Day 2: Initial Actions and Failures - Disease control and characterising uncertainties, understanding infrastructure, differences in responses
• Day 3: The Second Wave - Why do we get a second wave and how is the response different?
• Day 4: Communication sets a new agenda - Short and long term behaviour change, what will the new normal look like?
• Day 5: Preparation and presentation of group debate

This course will be conducted at The University of Queensland's Herston campus External students will interact via Zoom or may attend in person if they wish.

All sessions must be attended synchronously by students, e.g. face to face (for In Person) or on Zoom (for external).

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NB: students will need to bring a laptop to participate in this course.

Aims and outcomes

This course is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the role of public health in identifying and responding to emerging infectious diseases in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course will cover: Communicable disease control including surveillance, outbreak investigation and interventions; Public health impacts both direct and indirect; Broader social, economic and health impacts in the population.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Individual reflection vlog

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia

Category

Reflection

Weight

8%

Due date

25/11/2024 6:00 pm

26/11/2024 6:00 pm

27/11/2024 6:00 pm

28/11/2024 6:00 pm

First four days of course.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L05, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Late submission

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Allocated debate topic

• Identity Verified
• Team or group-based
• In-person
• Online

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Oral

Category

Role play/ Simulation

Weight

30%

Due date

29/11/2024

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Late submission

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Written personal reflection

Mode

Written

Category

Reflection

Weight

12%

Due date

6/12/2024 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L05, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Late submission

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Online Open Book Assessment

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

50%

Due date

13/01/2025 - 17/01/2025

Open book

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Due between 13 January 2025 9am to 17 January 2025 2pm.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Late submission

Please refer to the Policies and guidelines

Course grading

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

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

Feedback

Two-way feedback is given high priority in the School of Public Health.

Feedback to students

General feedback will be available on coursework throughout the semester. This feedback is available to the course cohort during classes, as well as on an individual basis outside classes. Any course participant who is having difficulty with the course or balancing the coursework with other commitments is encouraged to consult the course coordinator as early as possible. For a detailed explanation of the feedback you are entitled to, you should consult the policy on Student Access to Feedback on Assessmentﾠhttps://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.10.02-assessment.

Entitlement is balanced with responsibility. As a student you have a responsibility to incorporate feedback into your learning. Course Coordinators will endeavour to give timely feedback to students on assessment items. Major written and presentation items will be marked according to stated criteria. The marked criteria sheet with provision for written feedback will be returned to students. Collective feedback to the class, once the work has been marked, will be given where appropriate. Feedback regarding online assessment activities e.g quiz, discussion will be provided online in either a general or individual form or both depending on the nature of the assessment item. Students are welcome to make an appointment with the Course Coordinator to view and/or discuss marked assessment items.

There are certain steps you can take if you feel your result does not reflect your performance. Please refer to https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result

Feedback from students

Feedback from students about the course is welcomed via:

1. Blackboard Discussion Boards dedicated to Course Feedback on individual course sites
2. Email to the course coordinator or program director
3. Feedback surveys completed during the semester including the SECaT (Course Evaluation) survey conducted late in the semester.

Querying Resultﾠ

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.

Additional learning resources information

Pre-readings and appropriate web sites will be placed on blackboard for students to access.ﾠ This will be available prior to the commencement of the course or on day 1 of the course with required readings for the course.

Pre reading

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Struben DOI 10.1002/sdr.1660ﾠ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33041496ﾠﾠ

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: simulation-based assessment of outbreak responses and postpeak strategies

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Morens et al 10.1128/mBio.00812-20ﾠ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7267883/pdf/mBio.00812-20.pdfﾠﾠﾠ Pandemic COVID-19 joins history's pandemic legion

Varadarajan, 2020 Wall Street Journalﾠ https://www.wsj.com/articles/epidemiologists-stray-from-the-covid-herd-11603477330ﾠ Epidemiologists stay away from the COVID herd

Halpin https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107153165.012ﾠ Ch 11 Outbreak Investigations (in Practical healthcare Epidemiology)

Peterson 2006ﾠ https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/precautionﾠ Conference Paper: Precaution: Principles and practice in Australian environmental and natural resource management

Duckett 2020 https://theconversation.com/4-ways-australias-coronavirus-response-was-a-triumph-and-4-ways-it-fell-short-139845

Leslie et al 2020 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002672ﾠ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32718949ﾠﾠ Integrating the social sciences into the COVID-19 response in Alberta, Canada

Crooks et al 2020 10.5694/mja2.50704ﾠ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32691433ﾠ First Nations peoples leading the way in COVID-19 pandemic planning, response and management

SIlve 2020ﾠ 10.1111/1753-6405.13041ﾠ COVID-19 in the public housing towers of Melbourne: upholding social justice when invoking precaution

Allegrante et al 2020ﾠ 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.05.004ﾠﾠ Preventing COVID-19 and Its Sequela: "There Is No Magic Bullet ... It's Just Behaviors"

Popkin et al https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13128ﾠ Individuals with obesity and COVID-19: A global perspective on the epidemiology and biological relationships

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/11/17/the-world-will-soon-have-covid-19-vaccines-will-people-have-the-jabs

Ellerton 2015 https://theconversation.com/this-is-why-you-will-lose-your-argument-42679

Lipton et al https://nyti.ms/2zLALxv The CDC waited its entire existence for this moment. What went wrong?

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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

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/node/218/1 

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 for Disability (SAPD) 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 SAPD, 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?p=1#1 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 ECP 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 Electronic Course Profile (ECP) 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.

School of Public Health (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.