This unit introduces the concept of clinical epidemiology and provides students with core skills in clinical epidemiology at an introductory level. Topics covered include asking and answering clinical questions; basic and accessible literature searching techniques; study designs used in clinical epidemiological research; confounding and effect modification; sources of bias; interpretation of results including odds ratios, relative risks, confidence intervals and p values; applicability of results to individual patients; critical appraisal of clinical epidemiological research literature used to answer questions of therapy (RCTs and systematic reviews), harm, prognosis, diagnosis, screening and clinical guidelines.

This capstone unit of study will address the practical application of the knowledge gained from the previous units to provide the student with the skills that will form the basis of future professional practice. Students will become competent in the use of sleep scoring software to score and interpret a variety of shorter sleep study recordings in order to develop a working understanding of the polysomnographic features of clinical syndromes. This will culminate in scoring full sleep studies and demonstrate an ability to link the findings to the clinical syndromes. This unit includes a requirement to submit a literature review of a chosen topic and give a formal presentation of this work.

This unit of study aims to develop an understanding of normal human sleep across the lifecycle and introduces common sleep breathing disorders and analysis of sleep recordings. Normal sleep and respiratory physiology will be discussed, as well as the methods used for measurement. This will be followed by an overview of obstructive and central sleep apnoea, and its causes. Current scoring guidelines for sleep stage scoring and respiratory event scoring will be explored and their practical application will be demonstrated using short examples of sleep studies. Learning will include regular short answer quizzes, as well as broader written assessments.

This unit of study aims to develop a thorough understanding of the relationship between sleep and the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Topics will include respiratory and cardiovascular control and breathing during sleep. This is followed by a detailed focus on sleep disordered breathing and the role of sleep disordered breathing in other medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart failure. Learning will include regular short answer quizzes, as well as broader written assessments.

This unit of study aims to develop an understanding of non-respiratory sleep disorders and their treatment in adults and children, including behaviours during sleep such as NREM parasomnias and REM behavior disorder. Other topics include insomnia, narcolepsy and the effects of degenerative brain disorders and psychiatric conditions on sleep. The effects of pharmacological agents and other drugs on sleep will also be addressed. Learning will include regular short answer quizzes, as well as broader written assessments.

This unit of study will develop an advanced understanding of the assessment and treatment of sleep disorders for children and adults. It builds upon the Introduction to Sleep Disorders and the Breathing Disorders of Sleep units and aims to provide a thorough understanding of the clinical presentation and polysomnographic features of sleep disorders, as well as the various available therapies. Treatment options including positive airway pressure, oral devices, lifestyle modification, surgery and non-invasive ventilation will be discussed. The role of pharmacological agents, as well as behavioural modifications for the treatment of circadian disorders and insomnia are also discussed. Learning will include analyzing short sleep recordings, as well as short and long written assessments.

This unit of study will develop an advanced understanding of sleep neurophysiology, building on topics introduced in the first four units of the course. Topics will cover neural and motor pathways and the neurotransmitter systems that influence, and are influenced by, sleep and wake. This unit will include more advanced topics in chronobiology and circadian rhythm, and the impact of sleep on body systems. Learning will include regular short answer quizzes, as well as broader written assessments.

This unit of study will introduce the student to a broader understanding of sleep and sleep pathophysiolology across a wide range of clinical areas. The focus of this unit will be on the most recent advances in sleep knowledge and developing fields of sleep research and clinical practice. Modules will include genomics and genetics, the role of dentistry and ENT surgery, pregnancy and sleep, implications of sleep disordered breathing in other areas of medicine, and emerging technologies for diagnosis and treatment. Learning will include regular short answer quizzes, as well as broader written assessments that encourage the student to look into the future.

Candidates will work on an independent research project in an area of specific interest relevant to their master's degree. The project may take the form of analysis of an existing data set, a systematic review of the literature, a case series, survey or other project acceptable to the project supervisor. In some streams, critical care for example, projects may be available for students to select. It is essential, where there is the use of patient information or recruitiment of patient study subjects, that appropriate ethics approval is gained from the governing body where the project will take place. The candidate will be guided through the steps required to plan and execute a substantial research project, and prepare a scholarly work which may be a paper for publication. A candidate must enrol in a minimum of 12 credit points of project units of study in order to submit their final written work.

Candidates will work on an independent research project in an area of specific interest relevant to their master's degree. The project may take the form of analysis of an existing data set, a systematic review of the literature, a case series, survey or other project acceptable to the project supervisor. In some streams, critical care for example, prjects may be available for students to select. It is essential, where there is the use of patient information or recruitment of patient study subjects, that appropriate ethics approval is gained from the governing body where the project will take place. The candidate will be guided through the steps required to plan and execute a substantial research project and prepare a scholarly work which may be a paper for publication. Where appropriate students will prepare a work suitable for publication. A candidate must enrol in a minimum of 12 credit points of project units of study in order to submit their final written work.

Candidates will work on an independent research project in an area of specific interest relevant to their master's degree. The project may take the form of analysis of an existing data set, a systematic review of the literature, a case series, survey or other project acceptable to the project supervisor. In some streams, critcal care for example, projects may be available for students to select. It is essential where there is the use of patient information or recruitment of patient study subjects that appropriate ethics approval is gained from the governing body where the project will take place. The candidate will be guided through the steps required to plan and execute a substantial research project and prepare a scholarly work which may be a paper for publication. A candidate must enrol in a minimum of 12 credit points of project units of study in order to submit their final written work.