Epidemiology

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Objectives

Contextualize the landmarks of epidemiology as a scientific area

Master and apply basic concepts in epidemiology

Use an epidemiological approach to define and measure the occurrence of the health/disease processes in populations

Describe the various types of epidemiological studies

Define causality

Identify statistical methods potentially useful in epidemiology

Recognize the importance of the sample size in epidemiology

Recognize methods of survival analysis

Identify the parameters used in the validation of diagnostic tests

Master the basic concepts in Genetic Epidemiology

Explain the contribution of epidemiology in disease prevention, health promotion and the development of health policies

General skills:

Work as part of a team

Consult scientific literature and draw up summaries based on the corresponding research

Specific Skills:

Calculate epidemiological measures

Calculate the optimal size of a sample

Apply statistical tools in the context of epidemiology

Program

Introduction to Epidemiology

Epidemiological Measures (measures of frequency and association; health Indicators; epidemiological variables)

Epidemiological studies (observational and experimental studies, types of error)

Causality (concept of cause; causal or non causal association; causal inference)

Use of statistical tools in Epidemiology (descriptive statistics, correlation and regression; parametric and nonparametric tests, generalized linear models, logistic regression, longitudinal data)

Sampling (calculation of number of samples)

Survival analysis (actuarial method, Kaplan-Meier method, logrank test, Cox regression)

Diagnostic tests (sensitivity and specificity; rate of false negatives and positives; predictive values of a positive or negative test; pretest and posttest probability of the disease; the effect of prevalence; ROC Curve

Fundamentals of Genetic Epidemiology (familial aggregation; heritability; analysis of segregation; fundamentals of linkage; association studies

Teaching Methodologies

On a weekly basis theoretical-practical sessions are conducted. Expository moments, which encourage the understanding of the contents, are kept to a small extension, being complemented with problem solving, exploration of cases and oriented article discussion sessions. In the theoretical-practical activities, the acquisition of skills through the practical application of statistical tools in epidemiology is promoted. Several exercises related to the contents taught are solved with the students, allowing students to apply the various concepts and to develop skills.

Bibliography

Cardoso, S. M. (2004). Notas e técnicas epidemiológicas, 5ª ed. Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Social, Coimbra;

Carr, S. et al. (2007). An Introduction to Public Health and Epidemiology, 2nd Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York;

Fletcher, R.W. & S.W. Fletcher (2005). Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials. 4th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore;

Friedman, G.D. (2004). Primer of epidemiology, 5ª ed. McGraw-Hill, Boston;

Friis, Gouveia de Oliveira, A. (2009). Bioestatística, Epidemiologia e Investigação. Teoria e aplicações ‐ Uma nova abordagem sem equações matemáticas. Lisboa: Lidel;

Gordis, L. (2005). Epidemiología, 3ª Ed. Elsevier, Espana;

Greenberg, R. S. et al. (2004). Medical Epidemiology. McGraw-Hill, New York;

Haines, J. L. & M. A. Pericak-Vance (2006). Genetic Analysis of Complex Traits. Willey, New-Jersey;

Kleinbaum, D.G., K.M Sullivan & N.D. Barker (2007). A Pocket Guide to Epidemiology. Springer, New York;

Code

0106031

ECTS Credits

3

Classes

  • Teórico-Práticas - 45 hours

Evaluation Methodology

  • Critical analysis of a epidemiological study: 30%
  • Frequency: 50%
  • Questionnaire on epidemiological statistics: 20%