Epidemiology, 10.0 Credits

About the course

Reliable epidemiologic data are instrumental for health priorities setting and health policy making. High quality epidemiological studies and surveillance allow assessment and monitoring of patterns of illnesses, diseases, and their determinants in the population. The focus of this course is on the understanding of epidemiologic concepts and study designs, as well as obtaining skills in epidemiologic data analysis and interpretation. The course starts with an overview of basic epidemiologic concepts, including epidemiologic data sources and principles of disease causation. Measures for disease frequency and comparison of disease frequency, as well as effect measures will be discussed and applied in exercises. The concept of bias, confounding, effect measure modification, and random error are introduced. Steps in epidemiological research will be discussed thoroughly, and students will learn the different types of study designs and their applications. Students will learn epidemiologic data analysis methods, including identification of effect modification, identification and control of confounding, and analysis of matched dataset. The skills for critical appraisal of epidemiologic reports will be taught. There is practical training in the use of statistical software for planning, data-management and analysis of epidemiological study.

After completing the course, the student should be able to: discuss the key components of epidemiology; describe the key aspects of measuring and interpreting disease occurrence and effect measures; formulate epidemiologic research questions and design epidemiologic studies to address different research questions; discuss different methods for epidemiologic data collection, their strengths and limitations; discuss different threats to valid and reliable epidemiologic data, including the concepts of bias, confounding, effect measure modification, and random error; utilize different statistical methods for epidemiologic data analyses; interpret, present, and communicate epidemiologic research results to different audiences; appraise epidemiologic research reports critically.

Teaching is conducted through lectures, seminars, assignments and group exercises. Seminars, assignments and group exercises are compulsory. All teaching is in English.

Level of Education: Advanced

---

2011-03-15