IHP 330 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview Epidemiology is the science that allows public health practitioners to study the patterns, causes, and effects of health conditions in defined populations. Public health practitioners rely on epidemiology to understand the risks and protective factors associated with health conditions, and to identify health disparities and specific populations at risk for disease. Studies in epidemiology inform the development of public health policy and targeted interventions to prevent disease and reduce health disparities.

For your final project, you will complete an epidemiological research study report based on the provided research study, “Salmonella in the Caribbean.” Epidemiologists in the field are often tasked with developing recommendations to address specific health issues, and part of that process is analyzing what other communities and epidemiologists have already done to address the issues. In your epidemiological research study report, you will analyze a health issue, the population impacted, and the prevention strategies used. You will then develop a research question and determine an appropriate research design to further investigate the issue.

The final project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Four and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

IHP-330-01: Draw connections between health disparities within specific populations and social and behavioral determinants

IHP-330-02: Determine key epidemiological principles of disease by analyzing health research studies

IHP-330-03: Determine patterns and trends of disease causation in specific populations by analyzing health data IHP-330-04: Differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies for how they address key factors impacting health issues of

specific populations IHP-330-05: Select epidemiological research designs to investigate disease and improve the quality of health for specific populations

Prompt For your final project, you will develop an epidemiological research study report on the provided research study, “Salmonella in the Caribbean,” which investigates a public health issue impacting a specific population. In your project, you will analyze the population impacted by the public health issue to accomplish the following:

Make connections between social and behavioral determinants and disparities.

Analyze the health issue to determine key epidemiologic principles and identify patterns and trends. Examine the levels of prevention used in the research study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the conclusion to your research study report, you will develop a research question to further investigate the public health issue and population, and to determine an appropriate research design to investigate the research question.

Specifically, you must address the critical elements listed below. Most of the critical elements align with a particular course outcome (shown in brackets).

I. Population: In this section of your report, you will summarize key elements of the research study and analyze the population impacted by the health issue.

A. Summarize the people, places, and times represented in the research study to provide context for your report. B. Describe three social and behavioral determinants strongly associated with the public health issue in the research study. Be sure to cite

specific examples from the research study to support your description.

C. Describe three known disparities associated with the health of the specific population. Be sure to cite specific examples from the research study to support your description.

D. Explain how the identified social and behavioral determinants relate to the disparities you identified, and explain your reasoning.

II. Health Issue: In this section of your final project, you will analyze the health issue in focus in the research study. You will draw conclusions about the health issue through your review of the research study and by conducting outside research on the topic.

A. Describe the risk factors associated with the public health issue. Support your description with evidence from the research study and your independent research.

B. Describe the mode of transmission of the public health issue. Support your description with evidence from the research study and your independent research.

C. Determine the incidence and prevalence of the health issue using the data from the research study to perform the appropriate calculations. D. Determine the mortality rate of the health issue using the data from the research study to perform the appropriate calculations. E. Interpret the odds ratio to determine the strength of association between the potential sources of exposure and the disease. F. Using your research and analysis, draw connections between the population and public health issue. Consider where you identified common

elements, what you learned about the public health issue by studying the population, and what you learned about the population by studying the public health issue.

III. Levels of Prevention: In this section, you will describe the prevention strategies used by the epidemiologists in the research study. You will identify a strategy for each level of prevention and differentiate between the strategies.

A. Describe a primary prevention strategy represented in the research study, and explain how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population.

B. Describe a secondary prevention strategy represented in the research study, and explain how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C. Describe a tertiary prevention strategy represented in the research study, and explain how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population.

D. Explain how the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies differ in how they address the key factors impacting the health issue in the research study.

IV. Conclusion: Now that you have analyzed the research study, you will develop a research question to further investigate the specific health issue and population, select an appropriate research design, and explain the importance of the research to the field of public health.

A. Using your analysis of the research study, develop a research question to further investigate the specific public health issue and impacted population.

B. Determine whether an observational or experimental research design would be more appropriate to investigate your research question. Be sure to justify your determination.

C. Explain the importance of further research for improving the quality of health in the specific population. What is the potential benefit?

Milestones Milestone One: Health Issue

In Module Three, you will analyze the health issue in focus in the provided research study. You will draw conclusions about the health issue through your review of the research study and by conducting outside research on the topic. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two: Population

In Module Five, you will summarize the key elements of the research study and analyze the population impacted by the health issue. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

Final Submission: Epidemiological Research Study Analysis

In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your final project should be 4–6 pages, double spaced, with one-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, and APA formatting and citations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Population: Summarize

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and summary demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of the epidemiologic principles in the research study

Summarizes the people, places, and times represented in the research study to provide context for the report

Summarizes the people, places, and times represented in the research study to provide context for the report, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not summarize the people, places, and times represented in the research study to provide context for the report

6.4

Population: Social and Behavioral Determinants

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into social and behavioral determinants of public health issues

Describes three social and behavioral determinants strongly associated with the public health issue in the research study

Describes three social and behavioral determinants strongly associated with the public health issue in the research study, but response is missing one or more determinants or has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not describe three social and behavioral determinants strongly associated with the public health issue in the research study

6.4

Population: Disparities

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into the disparities associated with public health issues

Describes three known disparities associated with the health of the specific population

Describes three known disparities associated with the health of the specific population, but response is missing one or more disparities or has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not describe three known disparities associated with the health of the specific population

6.4

Population: Determinants Relate

to the Disparities

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws insightful connections between social and behavioral determinants and known disparities

Explains how the social and behavioral determinants relate to the disparities identified with reasoning

Explains how the social and behavioral determinants relate to the disparities identified with reasoning, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not explain how the social and behavioral determinants relate to the disparities identified with reasoning

6.4

Health Issue: Risk Factors

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and support demonstrates keen insight into the risk factors associated with public health issues

Describes the risk factors associated with the public health issue, supporting description with evidence from the research study and from independent research

Describes the risk factors associated with the public health issue, supporting description with evidence from the research study and from independent research, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not describe the risk factors associated with the public health issue

6.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health Issue: Mode of Transmission

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and support demonstrates keen insight into the mode of transmission of public health issues

Describes the mode of transmission of the public health issue, supporting description with evidence from the research study and from independent research

Describes the mode of transmission of the public health issue, supporting description with evidence from the research study and from independent research, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not describe the mode of transmission of the public health issue

6.4

Health Issue: Incidence and

Prevalence

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and response demonstrates complex grasp of how to determine the incidence and prevalence of a disease by analyzing health data

Determines the incidence and prevalence of the health issue using the data from the research study and performing the appropriate calculations

Determines the incidence and prevalence of the health issue using the data from the research study and performing calculations, but calculations are inappropriate, or determination has gaps in detail, clarity, or logic

Does not determine the incidence and prevalence of the health issue using the data from the research study

4.8

Health Issue: Mortality

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and response demonstrates complex grasp of how to determine the mortality rate of a disease by analyzing health data

Determines the mortality rate of the health issue using the data from the research study and performing the appropriate calculations

Determines the mortality rate of the health issue using the data from the research study and performing calculations, but calculations are inappropriate, or determination has gaps in detail, clarity, or logic

Does not determine the mortality rate of the health issue using the data from the research study

4.8

Health Issue: Odds Ratio

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and determination demonstrates keen insight into interpreting trends and patterns of disease causation

Interprets the odds ratio to determine the strength of association between the potential sources of exposure and the disease

Interprets the odds ratio to determine the strength of association between the potential sources of exposure and the disease, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, or accuracy

Does not interpret the odds ratio to determine the strength of association between the potential sources of exposure and the disease

4.8

Health Issue: Connections

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses research and analysis to make especially cogent connections between the population and public health issue

Draws connections between the population and public health issue based on research and analysis

Draws connections between the population and public health issue based on research and analysis, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not draw connections between the population and public health issue

4.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Levels of Prevention: Primary Prevention

Strategy

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates keen insight into how primary prevention strategies address key factors impacting health issues of specific populations

Describes a primary prevention strategy represented in the research study, explaining how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population

Describes a primary prevention strategy represented in the research study, explaining how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, or accuracy

Does not describe a primary prevention strategy represented in the research study

4.8

Levels of Prevention: Secondary Prevention

Strategy

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates keen insight into how secondary prevention strategies address key factors impacting health issues of specific populations

Describes a secondary prevention strategy represented in the research study, explaining how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population

Describes a secondary prevention strategy represented in the research study, explaining how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, or accuracy

Does not describe a secondary prevention strategy represented in the research study

4.8

Levels of Prevention: Tertiary Prevention

Strategy

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates keen insight into how tertiary prevention strategies address key factors impacting health issues of specific populations

Describes a tertiary prevention strategy represented in the research study, explaining how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population

Describes a tertiary prevention strategy represented in the research study, explaining how it addresses key factors impacting the health issue of the specific population, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, or accuracy

Does not describe a tertiary prevention strategy represented in the research study

4.8

Levels of Prevention: Prevention Strategies

Differ

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates keen insight into how different prevention strategies address key factors impacting health issues of specific populations

Explains how the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies differ in how they address the key factors impacting the health issues in the research study

Explains how the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies differ in how they address the key factors impacting the health issues in the research study, but with gaps in detail, clarity, or accuracy

Does not explain how the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies differ in how they address the key factors impacting the health issues in the research study

4.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: Research Question

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and research question is especially well-crafted for examining the specific public health issue and impacted population

Develops a research question to further investigate the specific public health issue and impacted population based on analysis of research study

Develops a research question to further investigate the specific public health issue and impacted population, but question is illogical or not based on analysis of research study

Does not develop a research question to further investigate the specific public health issue and impacted population

6.4

Conclusion: Research Design

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and justification demonstrates keen insight into the appropriate use of research designs to investigate disease for improving the quality of health

Determines whether an observational or experimental research design would be more appropriate to investigate the research questions, justifying determination

Determines whether an observational or experimental research design would be more appropriate to investigate the research questions, justifying determination, but response has gaps in detail, clarity, accuracy, or support

Does not determine whether an observational or experimental research design would be more appropriate to investigate the research questions

6.4

Conclusion: Importance

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates keen insight into how the investigation of disease can improve the quality of health for specific populations

Explains the importance of further research for improving the quality of health in the specific population

Explains the importance of further research for improving the quality of health in the specific population, but with gaps in logic or detail

Does not explain the importance of further research for improving the quality of health in the specific population

6.4

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to- read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

4

Total 100%