EPID6420

Epidemiology A - Basic Methods

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2012

Callaghan CampusSemester 1
WebLearn GradSchool.comSemester 1

Previously offered in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

Introduces students to the basic concepts of epidemiology. Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in specific populations, and the application of this knowledge to the evaluation and control of health problems in the community.

ObjectivesModule 1: to understand how epidemiologists judge cause and effect, and the potential biases that can affect this process. To understand the difference between confounders and effect modifiers.
Module 2: to understand the measures used to describe the health of populations and the pitfalls associated with these. Includes prevalence, incidence, crude and specific rates, ratios, odds, and direct and indirect standardisation.
Module 3: to understand the design of case-control, cohort and randomised controlled studies and their analyses, including relative risks, odds ratios, attributable risk, number needed to treat, aetiologic fraction, population attributable risk and population attributable risk percent.
Module 4: to become familiar with different frameworks for critical appraisal of an article.
Module 5: to understand the steps in investigating an epidemic, including attack rates.
ContentLearning modules covered in this course include:
Module 1: Causation and bias
Module 2: Health indicators
Module 3: Study Designs
Module 4: Critical Appraisal
Module 5: Epidemic investigation
Replacing Course(s)n/a
Transitionn/a
Industrial Experience0
Assumed Knowledgen/a
Teaching MethodsEmail Discussion Group
Lecture
Assessment Items
Essays / Written AssignmentsThree marked Assignments. MA1 and MA2 worth 15% and MA3 worth 30%
Examination: Take HomeTake home examination worth 40 %
Contact HoursEmail Discussion Group: for 2 hour(s) per Week for Full Term