e-learning @ Divine Word University: Courses

Epidemiology and statistics are both distinct branches of science where in epidemiology the student learns Epidemiological Methods of investigations of diseases, learns to count diseases in populations using measures such as mortality, morbidity, incidence, prevalence etc. they also learn about different epidemiological patterns of common medical problems such as HIVAIDS, Pneumonia, Maternal Mortality etc.

In statistics, the students are introduced to the very basic forms of statistics such as the Measrues of Spread or Central Location, Measures of Dispersion, Measures of Association (association vs causation), Significant Tests (relative risks & chi-square tests), Theory of Probability as well as a briefing on Regression Analysis. 

These two units are taken simulataneously and do have similarities between them since for example; statistical understanding is a neccessity in the application of Epidemiological principles.

Both these two units come in handy in the unit HM303 which is Research Methods.

The major assessment will be when a student completes an exam, however complementary assessments will be carried regularly covering each major topic within the unit.

Mexy Kakazo

The unit aims to introduce to students basic theories and principles in microeconomics or price theory. Microeconomics studies the behaviour of individual decision- making units such as consumers, resource owners and business firms in a free-enterprise economy. Furthermore t he unit will explain to the students how individual decision-making units will influence the price and quantity of goods, services and resources that will be available in the market.  PNG is a market economy but majority of health services is owned, managed and funded by the government.  Health managers can learn from private entities to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of health services.

In Health care services, Health Economics is defined as "the science of choice". The reasons for choice are essentailly two fold. First our health resources are finite and second, our health needs are infinte. The finite resources and inifinite needs come into conflict and therefore choices have to be made. 

We are compelled to choose what services to provide and in what quantity. Equally important what not to provide. We also have to choose how these services will be delivered.

In an ideal situation, we would like to proivde the best health care services to every one. But in reality, scaricity dictates that we make careful choices to maximise the health benefits.

We use Health Economics to bring about Effectiveness, Efficiency and Equity in Health care services.