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Here is the Spring 2022 Syllabus

Course Description

Occupational disease surveillance is the systematic and ongoing data collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on occupational diseases for the prevention of morbidity and mortality. The total occupational diseases and injuries were 3.5 million reported by private industry employers in the United States, 2019. Incidence of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses among private industry employees were 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2019. Total estimated costs of injuries and illnesses were 250 billion in 2011.

This course is focused on practical applications of epidemiology in surveillance activities to selected occupational diseases (e.g., asbestosis, silicosis, etc.). This course is one credit hour to be taught during the Winter pre-term period during the week of January 4-8, 2022 for about 4 hours per day. The first objective is for the student to learn about occupational diseases in terms of the magnitude of occupational diseases (incidence, prevalence, mortality), causes and risk factors, surveillance data and systems, analysis of surveillance data using epidemiologic methods and also dissemination of surveillance information to the public as well as government and local health agencies. The second objective is for the student to learn how to access the selected national occupational diseases surveillance data available and analyze using the computer. The third objective is for the student to get experience in reviewing and critiquing published articles relevant to occupational diseases surveillance and writing a summary of the selected topic from published articles in occupational diseases surveillance.

Concentration Competencies

Describe distributions of morbidity, mortality, and risk factors in terms of magnitude, time, place, and population.
Differentiate among the strengths, limitations, and differences and similarities of various study designs.
Interpret individual published epidemiologic studies in which the major epidemiologic study designs are used.
Interpret epidemiologic results in a causal framework.
Communicate epidemiologic information in a written scientific report.

Course Learning Objectives

Learn basic principles of occupational diseases surveillance. Occupational diseases (occupational cancer, asbestosis, silicosis, etc.) can affect morbidity and mortality in the United States. You will learn the reason why surveillance of occupational diseases is important in disease control and prevention.

Learn the disease surveillance systems and access the selected national occupational diseases surveillance data available using a computer. You will learn the surveillance systems by different occupational diseases in the United States.

Learn analyzing and interpreting disease surveillance data. You will learn descriptive or analytic analysis of the surveillance data and methods to tracking the surveillance data of occupational diseases over time.
Learn how surveillance information of occupational diseases can guide to the development of control and prevention of these diseases. You will learn the process of providing surveillance information to develop the guidelines for the control and prevention of occupational diseases.

Course Hours and Location

Tuesday – Saturday (Jan. 4-8), 10:00 – 11:50 p.m. and 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Room: TBD

Instructor Modules