At the end of the course, the student will:
- Understand the concept of causation; how this differs at a population, versus individual, level; and the difference between a ‘simple’ association and a ‘causal’ association;
- Understand different measures of disease occurrence;
- Appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of different epidemiological study designs; understand when to use them; and the appropriate analytic approach in each case;
- Understand different methodological considerations in epidemiological investigations, including: validity, reliability, bias and confounding; and
- Have developed skills in critical appraisal and interpretation of epidemiological research.
Topics to be covered in the course include:
- Causality and associations
- Measures of disease occurrence
- Study design and analysis
- Populations
- Sampling
- Validity and reliability
- Sensitivity and specificity
- Bias and confounding
- Critical appraisal.
As is required at Masters Level, knowledge and regurgitation of the facts delivered in the lectures is not sufficient to warrant a pass and students will have to demonstrate an applied understanding of the concepts and subject areas that are explained. Students should take responsibility for their own learning: while the lectures outline the main theoretical and epidemiological principles, thereafter students are expected to expand on this with further reading – either from the recommended textbooks, or from other epidemiology literature / papers, as detailed in the lectures. Students are also expected to practise the application of epidemiological theory and principles by engaging in regular homework assignments and assigned coursework, as this consolidates teaching from the lectures.
