Postgraduate - UnitMPH1040 - Introductory epidemiology

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

To be taken concurrently with MPH1041 together they are prerequisites for clinical epidemiology elective units. Contents: rates, sources of data, descriptive & analytical epidemiology, epidemiological study designs, critical appraisal of literature, screening, prevention, exposure assessment, outbreak investigation, confounding & bias.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Understand the differences between descriptive and analytical epidemiology;
2. Explain the concepts of study question, study population, sampling strategy, exposure assessment, bias and confounding;
3. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of different epidemiological study designs and apply this knowledge to the selection of appropriate study designs;
4. Critically analyse epidemiological papers from the medical research literature in order to identify the main study question/s, study design, study populations and sampling strategy using epidemiological principles;
5. Evaluate the inadequacy of exposure assessment in epidemiological studies and appreciate the consequences of poor exposure assessment;
6. Interpret the results of epidemiological studies, solve problems relating to the use of the epidemiological concepts, parameters and study designs and calculative relative risks, incidence rates and odds ratios from simple data.

Assessment

Assignments (25%)
Examination (75%)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Dianna Magliano

Contact hours

2 contact hours per week for on-campus students.

Off-campus attendance requirements

2 day compulsory on-campus block for off-campus students.

Co-requisites

MPH1041

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/pgrad