Health Medicine and Society II (HMSII)

Biomed 224

Spring 2011

Health Medicine and Society II (HMSII)

Research Methods in

Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC)

Course Director:

Pyser Edelsack, LMSW

Director Field Education

Health Medicine and Society II (HMSII)

Research Methods in

Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC)

The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education is unique among the nation's medical schools in its mission to prepare students to become community-oriented primary care physicians who will develop the skill set and sensitivities required to work in medically underserved areas. This mission is supported through an intensive sequence of courses in Health Medicine and Society (HMS) and the Patient-Doctor sequence.

Health Medicine and Society (HMS)

Year 2

Through their work in the Health Medicine & Society and Patient-Doctor sequence students prepare for their future service as physicians who play many different roles:

As clinicians who provide integrated, accessible health care services through a sustained partnership with patients.

As medical professionalswho apply the tools of scientific reasoning to the practice of medicine and the promotion of health within communities.

As scientists who engage in clinical, behavioral and epidemiologic research.

As agents of change who work with communities and organizations to improve health through action at the political and health systems levels.

Research Methods in CHI and COPC-HMS II

COURSE DESCRIPTION SPRING SEMESTER - 2011

Research Methods in Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) is a one-semester course focusing on quantitative data collection and descriptive epidemiology skills fundamental to community-based medicine. The student will learn and apply the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct a Community Health Assessment (CHA).

This course employs lectures, workshops, field exercises, and a population laboratory with demographic, socioeconomic and health data on New York City and State neighborhoods.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.COPC Workshops there are seven (7) workshops scheduled (15%).

2.CHA Drafts there are five (5) drafts required (10%).

3.Examinations =Descriptive Epidemiology Examination (20%) on March 15,2011.

Community Survey (Pass/Fail): during finals week.

4.Community Health Assessment (Term Paper55% of final grade).

Students are expected to check the course WEB site on Blackboard and check e-mail as part of weekly preparation for lecture and workshop. The course is graded A (85%), B (70%). In order to pass the course, students must pass each of the four (4) course components.

Attendance is required at all lectures and workshops in the schedule. Please bring a calculator with you to all classes, workshops and examinations. You are responsible for all assigned readings even if not discussed in class.

1.COPC Workshops - there are seven(7) workshops scheduled worth 15% of the final grade. The content for each workshop is posted in the Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) section of the course WEB site. Prior to each workshop students are required to printout the materials for that week’s workshop. The workshops are designed to produce learning, instead of delivering instruction. This necessitates that each student come to their workshop prepared to learn rather than receive instruction. The workshop leader's role is to act as a facilitator/coach interacting with the group. Attendance, preparation and participation are required. There will be a quiz on the assigned readings posted on the Blackboard Web site. This quiz must be completed prior to the scheduled workshop. If you do not complete a quiz you will receive a zero (0) for that quiz and there are no make-up quizzes offered. The final grade for the workshops will be based on your preparation of CHA assignments (5 details posted on the Web site), participation and overall quiz average (5 quizzes posted on Web site). The 15 points are allocated for each workshop as follows:

2.CHA Drafts - there are five (5) drafts required worth 10% of the final grade. A detailed description of each draft is posted in the Community Oriented Primary Care section of the course WEB site. Student Peer Review Teams will be expected to review and comment on each other’s drafts. A detailed guide for reviewing drafts is posted on the course WEB site.

3.Examinations There will be one examination given in the course:Descriptive Epidemiology Examination on March 15, 2011 at 2pm. This examination will emphasize the material presented in the COPC lectures, workshops and readings. The examination will cover Descriptive Epidemiology, and Community Health Assessment. You must bring a calculator to the examination. The grade on this examination will count for 20% of the final grade in the course. A score of 70% (B) will be passing on the examination.

Integrity is fundamental to the profession of medicine. Students will be asked to sign an honor code at the conclusion of each quiz and examination stating that they have neither given nor received assistance on the examination and that they have no knowledge of others having done so. If you are caught cheating on an examination you will be given a failing grade for the examination, and for the course and will be referred to the Ethics Committee.

4.Community Health Assessment (Term Paper) 55% of final grade. Each student will prepare a Community Health Assessment (CHA). The CHA is an analysis of a defined community (ZIP Code) with regard to demographic, socioeconomic and health factors. The paper will count for 55% of the final grade. Students who receive a failing grade because of lateness will not be given the opportunity to re-write their paper. The Community Health Assessment will be due May 3, 2011 in Harris 400 before 4pm.

HMS II SCHEDULE

Lecture Tuesday3:30 – 4:20PM Room: NAC 1/202

Workshops Wednesday 10:00-11:50AM

Thursday10:00-11:50AM

Friday 10:00-11:50AM

COPC Lecture & Workshop Readings are posted on Blackboard 8.0

OBJECTIVES - Upon completion of this course, the student will have mastered the following:

Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC)

1. Summarize the components of COPC.

2. Describe the 5 key questions of COPC.

3. Apply the principles of COPC to Community Health Assessment.

Epidemiology

1. Calculate and interpret the rates, ratios, incidence, and prevalence used to describe the morbidity and mortality of a population.
2. Calculate and interpret crude, specific and age adjusted rates.
3. Describe and use the major community health data sources: census, vital statistics, morbidity, and hospital admissions/discharges.
4. Discuss the limitations of ecological data sets used to measure demographic and health status.
5. Construct appropriate tables and figures (age pyramid, stacked bar chart, pie chart) for presenting and analyzing the data selected.
6. Perform a literature review about a health problem with regard to relevant person, place and time variables.
7. Describe the characteristics of person, place and time variables.

Community Health Assessment (Term Paper)

1. Observe and describe housing conditions, transportation, commercial areas, community facilities (churches, cultural institutions, etc.), open space, and people.
2. Locate and describe major health/social service providers serving the defined population.
3. Locate and interview community members and professionals to describe the major health concerns of the community.
4. Choose the data necessary to describe the health of a defined population. Describe how the data are collected and the limitations in using the data for Community Health Assessment.
5. Aggregate and present the data selected to describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms, levels of health and illness, the health care needs and medical care resources in the community.
6. Create the appropriate tables, charts and graphs to present the above data.
7. Describe the relationship between such factors as education, employment, housing, transportation, environment, income, and the distribution of disease with regard to person, place and time.
8. Use all the data collected to measure health concerns relevant to the defined population.
9. Apply information from the epidemiologic and medical literature to the health concerns in a defined population.
10. Observe the gaps in community resources and services.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY and PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR

Integrity is fundamental to the profession of medicine. Students found to have practiced academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism) or unprofessional behavior (see list of Professional Behaviors posted on the course WEB site) may receive a failing grade in the course. A key to professional behavior is process and accountability. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the course director if they anticipate any difficulties meeting the course requirements for any reason. All students who are accused of or found to have cheated or plagiarized will be reported to the Ethics Committee of the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.

Examinations

Exams: Students will be asked to sign an honor code at the conclusion of quizzes and examinations stating that they have neither given nor received assistance on the examination and that they have no knowledge of others having done so. Students who are caught cheating by faculty will receive a failing grade for the examination. If the course director is made aware of cheating in any form either by a specific individual or at the class level, the matter will be referred to the City University of New York Medical School Ethics Committee for investigation. If after investigation a student is found to have cheated on an examination, they will receive a failing grade in the course.

Written assignments-papers, essays etc.

You must have read all material cited on your reference list. Citing references you have not read is dishonest and grounds for failure. Copying material from another student, or having your paper written in part or in full by someone other than yourself is dishonest and grounds for failure.

A number of web sites have been created that define plagiarism and provide tips to avoid plagiarism. For example, the web site

defines plagiarism, provides paraphrasing, and instruction on how to avoid plagiarism.

Plagiarism includes such practices as: a) Using whole passages word for word and presenting them as one’s own work; b) Paraphrasing the ideas of another without proper citation; c) Use of terms, phrases and ideas resulting from the work of another without proper referencing.

SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS AND PAPERS - Submission of late assignments and papers, without penalty, requires advance permission of the Course Directors. All requests for late submission must be made in writing at least five (5) days prior to the due date. Retain a paper copy of all materials submitted. The Department will take every precaution, but cannot be responsible for lost papers. Damaged diskettes will not be an acceptable excuse for late material or late papers or no copy. Do not slip your paper under the door.

THE POPULATION LABORATORY

This laboratory has been developed to assist students in the preparation of their Community Health Assessment and analysis of Community Project Data. The laboratory allows students to access the most current health and demographic information on New York City/State and their neighborhoods. In addition, the Population Laboratory enables students to organize the data for analysis through the preparation of maps, charts and tables. The laboratory utilizes the Infoshare Data System, which is also available on the Internet.

INFOSHARE Infoshare Online Account: citycollege

User ID: CUNY02.

If you have any questions about the course, do not hesitate to ask. Office Hours for the course are by appointment. To schedule an appointment:

Pyser Edelsack= H-400 or call 212-650-8224, or email .

1. Modified by the Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, 2006/8. *

Reassessment*

Students will be given the opportunity for reassessment in the following components: Examination (Descriptive Epidemiology), Community Health Assessment. Barring exceptional circumstances, to be discussed with the Course Director, students who score below 50% on either component will not be eligible for reassessment.

Students who after reassessment fail one component of the course must repeat the entire course.

Students who take a make-up examination(s) or rewrite a paper(s) will not receive a final course grade of "A".

Students who are repeating the course may receive a grade of "A" if their final average is equal to or greater than 90%.

Examination: Students who fail the examination will be given a make-up examination after one week of self-study and participation in a review session.

Community Health Assessment (CHA): Students who fail the CHA will be given the opportunity to reassess the CHA. Students will complete the reassessment in August after completing HMS III. Students who are re-writing their paper must meet with the Course Director within one week of the grade posting to develop a plan for revising their failing paper. The final grade for the CHA for students who reassess the CHA is the average of the reassessment grade and the original failing grade below 70. This average must be 70 points or above to pass the course.

* The Office of Academic Affairs will determine eligibility.

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