Postgraduate Course: Introduction to databases and information systems (HEIN11048)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course introduces students to the practical application of current databases and information systems for dealing with data from the health information exchanges, health insurers, and other stakeholders in the health, social and care services sector. The course will focus on the practical application, database and information systems regarding underlying design limitations and assesses their implications on the management and organisation of health and social care service delivery. |
| Course description |
Data is one of the most important assets of health, social and care services and plays a central role in the management and organisation of service delivery resources. For health, social and care services data to be turned into meaningful information and knowledge that enables and supports decision making, administration and service user data must be collected, stored, secured, maintained, accessed, processed and analysed. Databases are structured datasets. Information systems are complex software programs that allow health, social, and care service professionals to perform these tasks efficiently, reliably, safely, and securely. But without a critical understanding of what databases and information systems are and how they work together within and across health, social, and care service settings, these powerful tools can be less useful. This course introduces the principles underlying the design, implementation and use of databases and information systems in the health, social and care services context.
Course outline
Databases and information systems provide technology and support that enable information exchange for health, social and care services professionals, enterprises, and the care sector. The course will introduce databases and information systems used in the health, social and care services sector. In later weeks, the course will focus on databases, relational database management systems, the SQL (Structured Query Language) used in programming and managing data held in database management systems, information systems, and socio-technical issues associated with the use and implementation of databases and information systems. Finally, the course will explore the integration and linkage of data across information systems across the health, social, and care services and the future landscape of health, social, and care service databases and information system. Students will also get hands-on experience writing SQL commands to filter, sort, manipulate, manage and summarise real-world health, social and care services data held in a relational database management system from the beginning of the course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
| Course Start Date |
08/08/2022 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 5,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1,
Online Activities 35,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5,
Formative Assessment Hours 5,
Revision Session Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
46 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 % |
| Feedback |
Feedback is information provided to the students about their learning relative to learning outcomes. The two main types of feedback are formative and summative. Formative feedback involves feedback given during an assessment, while summative feedback is provided after an assessment has been completed.
Formative feedback will be provided throughout the course, for example, during live question and answer sessions, quizzes, and discussion boards. A formative task will also be offered before the student submitting their summative assessed course work. All assignments will be marked, and feedback is provided within fifteen working days (where possible).
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of databases and information systems and the context in which they are used in healthcare and social service organisations.
- Apply logical, analytical, and problem-solving skills to use the SQL programming language to query databases and identify and resolve database and information system issues affecting health and social care system interoperability.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with specialists and non-specialists about changing database and information system requirements as technologies or expectations change and their socio-technical context and processes of implementation and use.
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Reading List
Books:
R. Martinho, R. Rijo, M.M. Cruz-Cunha and J. Varajão (2013) Information systems and technologies for enhancing health and social care.
T M Connolly and C E Begg (2014) Database systems: a practical approach to design, implementation and management.
Articles:
H. Mouratidis, G. Manson and I.Philp (2003) Analysis and design of the eSAP: an integrated health and social care information System. Health Informatics Journal 9 (2):89-92.
M.D. Witham, H. Frost, M. McMurdo, P.T. Donnan and M. McGilchrist (2014) Construction of a linked health and social care database resource: lessons on process, content and culture. Informatics for health and social care 40: 229-239.
C. Cooper, M. Rogers, A. Bethel, S. Briscoe and J. Lowe (2015) A mapping review of the literature on UK-focused health and social care databases. Health information and libraries journal 32 (1): 5-22.
Specific journal articles will be included in the course information at the start of the course.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1) Mindsets:
Enquiry and lifelong learning
Students on this course will be encouraged to seek out ways to develop their expertise in databases and information systems. They will also be encouraged to strive for excellence in their professional practice and to use established and developed approaches to resolve database and information system problems as they arise in health and social care organisations and enterprises.
Aspiration and personal development
Students will be encouraged to draw on the quality, depth and breadth of their experiences to expand their potential and identify areas in which they wish to develop and grow. Students will also be encouraged to understand their responsibility within, and contribute positively, ethically and respectfully to the health and social care community while acknowledging that different students and community members will have other priorities and goals.
Outlook and engagement
Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning. Students will be asked to use on their initiative and experience, often explicitly relating to their professional, educational, geographical or cultural context to engage with and enhance the learning of students from the diverse communities on the programme. Students will also be asked to reflect on the experience of their peers and identify opportunities to enhance their learning.
2) Skills:
Research and enquiry
Students will use self-reflection to seek out learning opportunities. Students will also use the newly acquired knowledge and critical assessment to identify and creatively tackle problems and assimilate the findings of primary research and peer knowledge in their arguments, discussions and assessments.
Personal and intellectual autonomy
Students will be encouraged to use their personal and intellectual autonomy to critically evaluate learning materials and exercises. Students will also be supported through self-directed learning, discussion boards and collaborative activities to critically evaluate concepts, evidence and experiences of peers and superiors from an open-minded and reasoned perspective.
Personal effectiveness
Students will need to be effective and proactive learners that can articulate what they have learned, and have an awareness of their strengths and limitations, and a commitment to learning and reflection to complete this course successfully.
Communication
Effective data scientists' practitioners in the health and social care sector require excellent oral and written communication, presentation and interpersonal skills. The structure of the interactive (problem-based learning examples, discussion boards and collaborative activities) and assessment elements incorporate constant reinforcement and development of these skills.
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| Keywords | Databases,SQL,data querying,query languages,information systems |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Miss Michelle Evans
Tel: (0131 6)51 5440.
Email: michelle.evans@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Laura Miller
Tel: (0131 6)51 5575
Email: Laura.Miller@ed.ac.uk |
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