Module 3: Applied Analytic Methods : Epidemiology II

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  EPIDEMIOLOGY 2 - ANALYTICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

   

   

  Instructors

  Joseph Ntaganira, MD, DTM, MPH, MSc, PhD

  Full Professor

  B.P. 7616 KIGALI

  Email: jntaganira@ur.ac.rw or jntaganira@nursph.org

  Tel: 078 886 4720

   

  Francine Birungi, MD, MPH

  Lecturer

  B.P. 5229 KIGALI

  Email: fbirungi@nursph.org or fbirungi@ur.ac.rw

  Tel: 078 846 2574

   

  Contact Hours: 15

   

  Purpose

  The purpose of this course is to introduce MPH/MSc candidates to basic epidemiology principles, concepts, and methods. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, permitting students to demonstrate their competencies through both individual work and group interactions. Competencies are evaluated on students’ ability to define and identify determinants of disease, threats to internal validity and external validity, describe and use epidemiologic analytical study designs.

   

  Objectives

  1. Students should be able to define the different theories of causality.
  2. Students should be able to contrast the difference between cause and association
  3. Students should be able to define and identify the major sources of errors, bias, and confounders in epidemiological research.
  4. Students should be able to compare and contrast the key study designs used in epidemiological research.

  1. Describe and use analytical studies: case-control, cohort, experimental study designs, randomized, controlled trials (clinical and community trials)

  6. Students should be able to identify an epidemiological research problem and elaborate the research question appropriate to addressing that problem.

   

  Expected learning outcomes

  By the end of the course unit, the learner should be able to:

  a)       Define and use measures of association

  b)       Discuss the theories of causality of Koch, Bradford Hill and Rothman

  c)       Define types of bias and identify their impact

  d)       Describe methods of reducing bias

  e)       Describe the properties of a confounding factor

  f)         Describe methods to identify a confounder

  g)       Describe ways to control confounders

  h)       Describe and use epidemiological studies (Analytical studies).

   

   

  Content

  -    Measure of association

  -    Theories of causality

  -    Types and impact of bias

  -    Understanding and controlling confounders

  -    Analytical studies: case-control, cohort, experimental study designs, randomized, controlled trials (clinical and community trials).

   

  Schedule

  	Date	Topic	Readings
  1	08/02/2016	- Course overview -  Measures of Association	Hennekens: p30-p53 & p73-p100 Gordis: p227-p246
  2	15/02/2016	- Measures of Association: Exercises
  3	22/02/2016	- Causality - Internal validity: Bias	Hennekens: p272-p286 Gordis: p227-p246
  4	29/02/2016	- Internal validity: Confounding & Effect Modifier	Hennekens: p297-p326 Gordis: p247-p264
  5	07/03/2016	- CAT #1 - Epidemiologic Study Designs: Cohort Study - Epidemiologic Study Designs: Case-Control Study - Epidemiologic Study Designs: Intervention study	Hennekens: p132-p214 Gordis: p131-p264
  6	14/03/2016	Group presentations - Group # 1: Epidemiologic Study Designs: Descriptive Study - Group #2: Epidemiologic Study Designs: Cohort Study - Group #3: Epidemiologic Study Designs: Intervention study - Group #4: Epidemiologic Study Designs: Case-Control Study	Hennekens: p132-p214 Gordis: p131-p264
  7	21/03/2016	- FINAL EXAM

   

   

  Learning and teaching methodology

  Lectures, group discussion, Assignments, and seminars. All students will be expected to attend each class fully prepared to participate actively in discussions.

   

  Instructional materials/equipments

  Textbooks, journals, flipchart, handouts, case studies.

   

  Assessment

  Continuous assessment (CATs) - 50%; End of module 1 examination - 50%; Total - 100%

   

   

  References

  1.          i.            Gordis, Leon (2009). Epidemiology (4^th ed.). Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia, Pia.
  2.       iii.            Webb, Penny (2005). Essential Epidemiology. Cambridge University Press, New York.
  3.       iv.            Germstman, B, Burt (2003). Epidemiology kept simple: an introduction to traditional and
  4.         v.            Lilienfield, Abraham, M. (1994). Foundations of epidemiology (3rd ed.). OUP New York.
  5.       vi.            Moon Graham (2000). Epidemiology: an introduction. Open university Buckingham.

  2. Charles H. Hennekens, Julie E. Buring, SherryL.Mayrent, Epidémiologie in  médecine, Limppincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, USA.

   

  OTHER READINGS

  • Causality

  ü  Kaufman JS, Poole C. Looking back on “Causal thinking in the health sciences”. Annu Rev Public Health 2000;21:101-119.

  ü  Susser M. Glossary: Causality in public health science. J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:376-378.

   

  • Cohort studies

  ü  Checkoway H, Pearce N, Dement JM. Design and conduct of occupational epidemiology studies: I. Design aspects of cohort studies. Am J Ind Med 1989;15:363-373.

  ü  Checkoway H, Pearce N, Dement JM. Design and conduct of occupational epidemiology studies: II. Analysis of cohort data. Am J Ind Med 1989;15:375-394.

   

  • Case-control studies

  ü  Maclure M, Mittleman MA. Should we use a case-crossover design?

  Annu Rev Public Health 2000;193-221.

  ü  Pearce, Checkoway H, Dement J. Design and conduct of occupational epidemiology studies: III. Design aspects of case-control studies. Am J Ind Med 1989;15:395-402.

  ü  Pearce, Checkoway H, Dement J. Design and conduct of occupational epidemiology studies: IV. The analysis of case-control data. Am J Ind Med 1989;15:403-416.

   

  • Confounding

  ü  Greenland S, Morgenstern H. Confounding in health research. Ann Rev Public Health 2001;22:189-212.

   

  • Available courses on the Internet

  http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/courses/epi3.htm

  http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow.htm

  http://www.mrc.ac.za/supercourse/courses/epi/htm

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    Measures of association File

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    Causality File

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