Evaluation of Epidemiological Problem
Guidelines & Grading Rubric
PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to
• Provide learners with the opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned throughout this course
• Directly apply principles and knowledge learned in the course to problem solving of population health problems in their own geographic areas.
COURSE OUTCOMES
This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
1. Define key terms in epidemiology, community health, and population-based research.
2. Compare study designs used for obtaining population health information from surveillance, observation, community, and control trial based research.
3. Identify appropriate outcome measures and study designs applicable to epidemiological subfields such as infectious disease, chronic disease, environmental exposures, reproductive health, and genetics.
4. Apply commonly used measures of health risk.
5. Examine current ethical/legal issues in epidemiology.
6. Identify important sources of epidemiological data.
7. Evaluate a public health problem in terms of magnitude, person, time, and place.
DUE DATE
Submit to Dropbox by 11:59 p.m. MT Sunday of Week 6
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 200
REQUIREMENTS
This paper should clearly and comprehensively identify the disease or population health problem chosen. The problem must be an issue in your geographic area and a concern for the population you will serve upon graduation with your degree. The paper should be organized into the following sections:
1. Introduction with a clear presentation of the problem as well as significance and a scholarly overview of the paper.
2. Background of the disease including definition, description, signs and symptoms, and current incidence and/or prevalence statistics current state, local, and national statistics pertaining to the disease. (Include a table of incidence or prevalence rates by your geographic county, state, and national statistics.)
3. A review of current surveillance methods and any mandated reporting or methods for reporting the disease for providers.
4. Conduct descriptive epidemiology analysis of the disease including who is more frequently affected and characteristics of the population that might help in creating a prevention plan. Include costs (both financial and social) associated with the disease or problem.
5. Review how the disease is diagnosed, current national standards for screening or prevention, and pick one screening test and review its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, cost and any current national guidelines for conducting which patients to conduct this test on.
6. Provide a brief plan of how you will address this epidemiological disease in your practice once you are finished with school. Provide three actions you will take along with how you will measure outcomes of your actions.
7. Conclude in a clear manner with a brief overview of key points of the entire disease,
PREPARING THE PAPER
• Page length: 7-10 pages, excluding title/cover page
• APA format 6th edition
• Include references when necessary.
• Include at least one table to present information somewhere in the paper.
DIRECTIONS AND GRADING CRITERIA
Category Points
Possible Points Earned Comments
Scholarly Introduction (clear presentation of problem) 20
Background and significance of the disease (includes incidence or prevalence statistics) 30
Current surveillance methods 30
Descriptive epidemiological analysis (includes characteristics of the at-risk population and/or those affected by the disease and costs of the disease) 30
Screening and diagnosis (includes review of current guidelines for screening and diagnosis of the disease. In-depth review of statistics one screening or diagnostic test provided) 30
Plan of action (includes at least three evidenced based actions, supported by literature, that the student will take in their own practice and how outcomes will be measured) 30
Conclusion 20
Mechanics of writing, APA 10
Total 200 Total Points earned =
A quality paper will meet or exceed all of the criteria requirements.
GRADING RUBRIC
Assignment Criteria A
(100 – 92%)
Outstanding or highest level of performance B
(91-84%)
Very good or high level of performance C
(83-76%)
Competent or satisfactory level of performance F
(75-0%)
Poor or failing or unsatisfactory level of performance
Identification of the problem/concern 20-18 Points 17 Points 16-15 Points 14-0 Points
Comprehensively identifies the problem/concern Adequately identifies the problem/concern Identification of problem/concern is unclear or limited Identification of problem/concern is absent
Background and significance of the disease (includes incidence or prevalence statistics) 30-28 Points 27-25 Points 24-23 Points 22-0 Points
Background is complete, presents risks, disease impact and includes a review of incidence and prevalence of the disease within the student’s local area, state, and nationally. Evidence supports background. Background is complete, presents risk, disease impact and at least one set of incidence and prevalence statistics are presented and supported by evidence. Background missing one or more key points and at least one set of incidence and prevalence statistics are presented. Lack of evidence or limited presentation of the background. Background missing more than one key point and at least one set of incidence and prevalence statistics are presented, or there is no supported evidence. Unclear conclusions or presentation.
Current surveillance methods 30-28 Points 27-25 Points 24-23 Points 22-0 Points
Current local, state, and national disease surveillance methods are reviewed, currently gathered types of statistics, and information on whether the disease is mandated for reporting, supported by evidence More than one local, state, and national disease surveillance methods are reviewed, currently gathered types of statistics, and information on whether the disease is mandated for reporting, supported by evidence One of either local, state, and national disease surveillance methods are reviewed, currently gathered types of statistics, and information on whether the disease is mandated for reporting, supported by evidence One of either local, state, and national disease surveillance methods are reviewed, currently gathered types of statistics, or only information on whether the disease is mandated for reporting, or evidence is lacking to support this area. Unclear conclusions or presentation.
Descriptive epidemiological analysis (includes characteristics of the at-risk population and/or those affected by the disease and costs of the disease) 30-28 Points 27-25 Points 24-23 Points 22-0 Points
Comprehensive review and analysis of descriptive epidemiological points of the identified disease and population most at risk, supported by scholarly evidence. Adequate review with some analysis of descriptive epidemiological points of the identified disease and population most at risk supported by scholarly evidence. Limited review and analysis of key descriptive epidemiological points of the identified disease and at-risk population. Minimal or unclear analysis of key descriptive epidemiological points of the identified disease and at-risk population.
Screening and diagnosis (includes review of current guidelines for screening and diagnosis of the disease. In-depth review of statistics one screening or diagnostic test provided) 30-28 Points 27-25 Points 24-23 Points 22-0 Points
Comprehensive review of current guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and statistics related to validity, predictive value, and reliability of screening tests is presented. Adequate review of guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and statistics related to validity, predictive value, and reliability of screening tests is presented. Limited review of guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and statistics related to validity, predictive value, and reliability of screening tests. Minimal or unclear review of guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and statistics related to validity, predictive value, and reliability of screening tests.
Plan of action (includes at least three evidenced based actions, supported by literature, that the student will take in their own practice and how outcomes will be measured) 30-28 Points 27-25 Points 24-23 Points 22-0 Points
A comprehensive plan of action specific to the student’s interests, the problem, and the geographic area is presented with 3 evidenced based actions that will be taken to address the impact, outcomes, or prevalence of the disease. An adequate, but not fully comprehensive, plan of action specific to the student’s interests, the problem, and the geographic area is presented with 3 evidenced based actions that will be taken to address the impact, outcomes, or prevalence of the disease. A limited plan of action specific to the student’s interests, the problem, and the geographic area is, outcomes, or prevalence of the disease. Three actions are presented with limited or little evidence. Actions are minimal or unclear, or lack specificity to geographic area, are not supported directly by evidence or are not direct actions the student can take in practice.
Conclusion 20-18 Points 17 Points 16-15 Points 14-0 Points
The conclusion thoroughly, clearly, succinctly, and logically presents major points of the paper with clear direction for action. The conclusion adequately and logically presents major points of the paper with clear direction for action, but lacks one major point or is not succinct. The conclusion is a limited review of key points of the paper, is not succinct, or lacks one or more major points of the paper or clear direction for action. Conclusion is unclear or significantly limited in overview of the paper.
Grammar, Spelling, APA 10-9 Points 8 Points 7 Points 6-0 Points
Grammar, APA and spelling correct with minimal errors Two to three errors in APA, grammar, spelling, and syntax and/or citations are missing Four to six errors in APA, grammar, spelling and syntax and/or citations are missing Seven or more errors in APA, grammar, spelling and syntax and/or citations are missing
Total Points Possible = 200 points
