HNE-24806 Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures28
Learning supported by IT
Practical extensively supervised10
Self-study
Course coordinator(s)prof. dr. JM Geleijnse
Lecturer(s)prof. dr. ir. E Kampman
prof. dr. JM Geleijnse
dr. SS Soedamah-Muthu
prof. dr. ir. P van 't Veer
Examiner(s)prof. dr. JM Geleijnse

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

MAT-15303 Statistics 1 + MAT-15403 Statistics 2.

Contents:

The course teaches the basic concepts, measures and study designs used in epidemiology and public health. It contains lectures on study design and methodological issues, lectures by epidemiologists working in various disciplines and ICT-based modules to practice knowledge on study designs, standardization, and calculations of basic epidemiological and public health measures.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to:
- be familiar with the field of epidemiology and public health and the work of scientists in this field;
- know the prevalence, incidence and main determinants of major chronic diseases (cancer, cardiovascular diseases);
- be able to compute basic measures used in epidemiology and public health, including the incidence proportion, incidence rate, prevalence, various measures of association, (population) attributable risk, and DALYs;
- be able to recognize basic study designs used in epidemiology and public health, including ecological study, cross-sectional study, cohort study, case-control study and randomized controlled trial;
- be able to recognize selection bias, information bias, confounding and effect modification and indicate the major (dis)advantages of the various study designs;
- know the difference between internal and external validity of epidemiological findings;
- have knowledge about precision and the meaning of the p-value and 95% confidence interval;
- be able to perform direct and indirect standardization of public health data;
- be able to compute various measures used in clinical epidemiology, including sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic value.

Activities:

The student will:
- prepare and follow lectures, using the prescribed written study materials;
- perform regular self tests;
- conduct the ICT-based practica.

Examination:

Computer-based test with 55 multiple choice or multiple response questions.

Literature:

Webb Penny; Bain, Chris. (2010). Essential Epidemiology: An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. 465 p. ISBN: 978-0521177313.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: BVGNutrition and HealthBSc1AF
BGMHealth and SocietyBSc1AF
Restricted Optional for: MNHNutrition and HealthMScC: Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology1AF
MNHNutrition and HealthMScB: Nutritional Physiology and Health Status1AF
MNHNutrition and HealthMScA: Epidemiology and Public Health1AF
MCHCommunication, Health and Life SciencesMScB: Health and Society1AF
MinorPeriod
Compulsory for: WUNHEBSc Minor Nutrition and Health1AF