HNE-24806 Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health

Course

Credits 6.00

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 able to:
- describe the field of epidemiology and public health and the work of scientists in this field;
- describe a) the spread worldwide, b) time trends in prevalence and incidence, c) disease process including the role of age and sex, and d) major risk factors of major global diseases, such as cardiometabolic diseases, infectious diseases, cancer and diseases of the brain;
- calculate and interpret basic measures used in epidemiology and public health;
- understand basic study designs used in epidemiology and public health and indicate major (dis)advantages of the various study designs, including ecological study, cross-sectional study, cohort study, case-control study, and randomized controlled trial;
- explain the difference between internal and external validity of epidemiological findings;
- understand internal validity issues, i.e., selection bias, information bias, and confounding;
- have basic insight in how validity issues can affect the results while using a cohort study, case-control study, and randomized controlled trial.

Activities:

The student will:
- prepare and follow lectures, using the prescribed written study materials;
- perform regular self tests;
- practice to work with basic measures in groups
- conduct ICT 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 or 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press. 465 p. ISBN: 978-0521177313.