Teaching research and epidemiology to undergraduate students in the health sciences.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and address particular challenges in the teaching of epidemiological concepts to undergraduate students in non-clinical health disciplines.


RESULTS
Relevant pedagogical literature was reviewed to identify a range of evidence-based teaching approaches. The authors also drew on their experience in curriculum development and teaching in this field to provide guidelines for teaching epidemiology in a way that is engaging to students and likely to promote deep, rather than surface, learning. Discussion of a range of practical strategies is included along with applied examples of teaching epidemiological content.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasingly, there is a greater emphasis on improved learning outcomes in higher education. Graduates from non-clinical health courses are required to have a core understanding of epidemiology and teachers of epidemiology need to be able to access resources that are relevant and useful for these students. A theoretically grounded framework for effective teaching of epidemiological principles to non-clinical undergraduates is provided, together with a range of useful teaching resources (both paper and web-based). Implementation of the strategies discussed will help ensure graduates are able to appropriately apply epidemiological skills in their professional practice.
James
Erica L
EL
Department of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, PO Box 199, Bendigo, Victoria 3552. Erica.James@latrobe.edu.au
Graham
Melissa L
ML
Snow
Pamela C
PC
Ward
Bernadette M
BM
D040381:Education, Public Health Professional / Q000379:methods*; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013664:Teaching Materials