Reference no: EM133877373

Epidemiology and Statistics

Assessment Overview

For Assessment task 2 you will be provided with a list of four peer-reviewed research articles. You will need to select one from the list and conduct a systematic and objective critical appraisal to evaluate its trustworthiness, relevance, and findings. This task requires a strong understanding of epidemiological and statistical concepts covered in this unit.

This assessment is designed to develop students' ability to critically evaluate epidemiological research and apply key public health principles in a structured and evidence-based manner. This assignment required student to focus on all the topics and activities covered throughout this Term.

To support the appraisal process, students will be given a validated critical appraisal checklist (tool) to systematically extract and assess key information from the article. Based on this analysis, students will then construct a critical appraisal report that synthesises their findings.

For this assessment, students must submit both the files:

A 1,500-word critical appraisal report (graded but the title, abstract and the reference list are excluded from the word count).

COMPONENTS OF THE CRITICAL APPRAISAL REPORT
TITLE: Concisely describes the critical appraisal report topic
Summarise the research article topic and extent of the review
Is in 15 words or less
ABSTRACT: Provides a concise and accurate summary of the report in 150 words, by considering
Structured or non-structured
Content: background. Methods, findings and conclusion
INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND: Relevant introduction and background information of the research topic
Highlighted and assessed scientific background and rationale for the study
Specific objectives mentioned
Highlighted prespecified hypothesis/es to be tested?
METHODS of the study
Study design: study design is stated, and justified the appropriateness to the study objective/s and/or hypothesis addressed, any limitation of the study design mentioned
Participants: sample size calculation and justification; criteria, sources and methods of case ascertainment mentioned; methods of control selection, control matched. Any limitation of the matched control discussed (if any)
Sources of biases and confounders identified and specified control strategies
Analysis: Statistical methods and appropriateness of analysis, discussion on the methods of controlling of confounders documented
Ethical approval sought, and ethics approval authority mentioned Hire best assignment help and experienced tutors now!
Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles applicable and mentioned

Main findings presented, both descriptive and analytical epidemiological outcomes with 95% CI
and p-values
Outcome findings, with adjusted values presented
Appropriate presentation of results, e.g., described with relevant table and charts; results are
easy to follow
Consistency of the findings with existing literatures, interpretations of findings and the implications of the findings discussed
Representativeness and generalisability of the findings discussed and commented on

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: precise, relevant and realistic
Identified key findings of the study
Future direction of the research discussed
Recommendations provided
Any conflict of interest?

REFERENCES AND REFERENCING: Correct citations and acknowledge the original sources of evidence
Statements and ideas are referenced appropriately
Reference list is accurate and complete
APA7.0 format/style used for referencing and reference list

Assessment 2 is Critical Appraisal of an Epidemiological Research Report.
Students will select a peer-reviewed epidemiological study article from a list 4 articles (available in the week 8) to critically appraise systematically and objectively
the trustworthiness, relevance and results of the
published paper. For this appraisal task, students need to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the epidemiological and statistical concepts that are covered during the unit teaching period.
To guide students with the critical appraisal process, a validated critical appraisal checklists (tools) is provided to extract the critical information from the
article. Based on the information student extracted from the selected article and recorded on the appraisal checklists, the student will construct a critical appraisal report.