Epidemiology and biostatistics

Code:

UC276

Acronym:

EB

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Enfermagem: Disciplina e Profissão
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Community and Public Health Nursing

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MECSP	13	Official Syllabus	1	-	6	60	168
PGESP	5	Official Syllabus	1	-	6	60	168

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

• Understand the evolution of epidemiology and its core concepts.


• Understand the importance of epidemiological studies in public health analysis.


• Understand the process of epidemiological surveillance.


• Describe the methodological aspects of the main epidemiological study designs.


• Be familiar with health metrics.


• Apply the principles of Statistics in epidemiological analysis.

Learning outcomes and competences

• The student is able to explain the evolution of epidemiology and its core concepts.


• The student is able to analyse the importance of epidemiological studies in public health assessment.


• The student is able to understand and apply the process of epidemiological surveillance.


• The student is able to identify and describe the methodological aspects of the main epidemiological study designs.


• The student is able to interpret and use health metrics in the analysis of epidemiological data.


• The student is able to apply statistical principles in the analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data.

Working method

Presencial

Program

• Epidemiology and historical perspective


• Definitions of epidemiology and related basic concepts


• Epidemiological surveys


• Basic methods in epidemiology


• Descriptive, analytical, and experimental epidemiology


• Statistical measures supporting epidemiological research: univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics; geodemography; trends and trend projections


• Health metrics: survival analysis; disability-adjusted life years (DALY); potential years of life lost (PYLL); years lived with disability (YLD); quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)

Mandatory literature

Filho, N., & Barreto, M. ; Epidemiologia & saúde: fundamentos, métodos, aplicação, Rio de Janeiro: Editora Guanabara Koogan., 2014
Martins, C ; Manual de Análise de Dados Quantitativos com Recurso ao IBM SPSS., Braga, Psiquilibros., 2014
Pestana, M. & Gageiro; Análise de dados para Ciências Sociais. A complementaridade do SPSS, Lisboa, 6ª Ed, Sílabo., 2014
Ribeiro, J. L.P ; Metodologia de Investigação em Psicologia e Saúde, 3.a Edicao. Porto: Legis Editora/Livpsic., 2010
Rouquayrol, Z. e Curgel, M. ; Epidemiologia e Saúde, (8ªed.) Rio de Janeiro. Medbook, 2017
Tabachnick, B G, & Fidell, L S; Using Multivariate Statistics, 7th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. , 2019

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expository method (emphasising the interaction between concepts and their practical application).

Participatory method (encouraging the analysis and discussion of epidemiological studies with different methodological designs; demonstration and use of statistical software; preparation, presentation, and discussion of individual or group work).

Guidance for students in constructing databases (individual or group work).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	50,00
Exame	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	108,00
Frequência das aulas	60,00
Total:	168,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must have attendance of 75% or more in TP and OT classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

The CU has two components, each requiring a minimum grade of 9.5.
The theoretical component, weighted at 50%, is assessed through an exam. The TP and OT component, also weighted at 50%, includes continuous assessment (20%) and a group project (30%).