Epidemiology I

Code:

MI304

Acronym:

EPID1

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2014/2015 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Clinical Epidemiology, Predictive Medicine and Public Health Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMED	274	Mestrado Integrado em Medicina 2007	3	-	3,5	34	94,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

To define and use epidemiological concepts and methods. To conduct epidemiological tasks, such calculate measures of frequency, standardize these measures and calculate measures of association and impact. Define the aim of a research project and design an epidemiological study. To classify the study design. To critically analyze a scientific paper. To summarize a scientific paper. To discuss random and systematic errors. To infer about causal relations.

 

 

Learning outcomes and competences

Acquisition of concepts and methods specific to the Epidemiology discipline. Familiarization with the proper language of a new scientific area. To accomplish simple epidemiological tasks autonomously, such as data tabulation and calculation of measures of disease frequency. To be able to handle some basic aspects of planning an epidemiologic investigation.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Statistics

SPSS software

 

Program

Evolution of epidemiological thought. Persons, places, time. Demographic, social and behavioural aspects of health. Measuring health and disease. Standardisation.  Observational studies – ecologic, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control. Experimental studies. Meta-analysis. Random and systematic errors. Confounding and interaction. Causal inference. Planning an epidemiological investigation – ellaboration of the scientific question, selection of participants, strategies and tools for data collection.Evolution of epidemiological thought. Persons, places, time. Demographic, social and behavioural aspects of health. Measuring health and disease. Standardisation. Experimental studies. Observational studies – ecologic, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control. Meta-analysis. Random and systematic errors. Confounding and interaction. Causal inference. Planning an epidemiological investigation – ellaboration of the scientific question, selection of participants, strategies and tools for data collection.

Mandatory literature

L.Gordis; Epidemiology, Elsevier Saunders, 5th Edition, 2013

Teaching methods and learning activities

A weekly lecture (50 min) for 12 weeks;
A weekly theoretical-practical session (120 min) for 11 weeks;

Software

SPSS
Epi Info

keywords

Health sciences > Medical sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	80,00
Teste	20,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Written examination comprising 50 multiple-choice questions covering the themes presented and discussed in classes. The weight of this examination will be 80% of the final mark. The remaining 20% will be obtained from assessment during practical sessions, taking into account the resolution of a few problems in a practical exercise and one exercise of critical appraisal of the report of an investigation published in an international medical journal.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final written examination (comprising multiple-choice and corresponding questions, weight 80%) + Two written theorico-practical evaluations (resolution of a few problems in a practical exercise and one exercise of critical appraisal of the report of an investigation published in an international medical journal, weight 20%).

Observations

BIBLIOGRAPHY
L. Gordis. EPIDEMIOLOGY, Elsevier Saunders, 4 rd Edition, 2009.
The bibliography is extended by study handouts elaborated by the teaching team, and to “classical” studies or recently published research.