Learning Objectives

Content

Activity

Time

Describe concepts of epidemiology

Definition of epidemiology

Epidemiologic approach

Descriptive epidemiology in terms of  time, place and person

History – Evolution of epidemiology

Uses of epidemiology

Natural history of disease

Lecture

1

Define, calculate and interpret measures of morbidity

Measurements in epidemiology: Rate, Proportion and Ratio

Measures of disease frequency:

Cumulative incidence, Special incidence rates:

Uses of incidence , Prevalence Rate:

Point prevalence/ Period prevalence

Relationship between incidence and prevalence

Uses of prevalence

Lecture

1

Define, calculate and interpret measures of mortality

Measures of mortality:

Crude death rate

Specific death rates: age, sex & cause

Proportionate Mortality

Proportionate Mortality Ratio

Lecture  

1

Describe different epidemiological study designs, uses and limitations

Classification of study designs

Descriptive studies, Case control studies

Cohort studies, Cross sectional studies

Lecture

2

Calculate and interpret measures of effect

OR, RR, AR, ARP, Mean difference

CI, 95% CI for effect measures

Interpretation / application of effect measures

Lecture

1

Describe and critically read a research paper on controlled trial

Experimental studies:

Difference between experimental and quarsi-experimental studies

Different types of exp. Study designs

Community trials/ Drug trials

Before and after designs,

Pararalled group designs

Phase I, II, III, and VI trials

Selection of experimental group

Selection of control group/s:

Application of simple randomization – advantages /disadvantages

Single / double blinding,Intention to treat analysis

Lecture

1

Describe a screening test

Screening criteria

Sensitivity, specificity, FPR, FNR, Predictive value

Likelihood ratio

Lecture

1

Describe factors considered to determine causation of disease

Causal criteria

Lecture

1

Describe quality of data

Selection bias, information bias and confounding bias

Reliability

Validity

Lecture

1

Describe “Evidence Based Medicine” (EBM)

Definition of EBM and EBPH. level of evidence,

Advantages of systematic review and Meta-analysis

Steps involved in designing a systematic review

Interpretation of a forest plot

Lecture

1

Explain the importance of qualitative research

Different between quantitative and qualitative research

Focus group discussions

In depth interviews

Lecture

1