Inhalt

Abstract:

The course teaches the basics of epidemiology with a focus on application. The theoretical concepts will be presented by an example study and the individual phases of an epidemiological study will be run through from the perspective of an intern in a scientific team.

At the end of the Applied Epidemiology course, students will be able to:

• Define the role and importance of epidemiology for public health.
• Calculate basic risk measures related to the health of populations.
• Describe the application and structure of three of the most common study designs in observational epidemiology.
• Identify individual phases and potential sources of error when conducting an epidemiological study.
• Explain relevant statistical methods in the analysis phase of an epidemiological study.
  
  

Gliederung:

I. Introduction: CASUS, course structure and certificates

II. What is epidemiology and why is it important?

• Definition of epidemiology and examples from the past and the present
• Health and populations
• The epidemiological research process

III. Measuring and comparing population health

• Measures of disease frequency: Incidence and Prevalence
• Measures of association and impact
• Average values and distributions of health risks in the population
• Study designs in epidemiology

IV. Conducting an epidemiological study

• Planning an epidemiological study
• Fieldwork
• Potential sources of error
• Statistical analyses and interpretation

V. Closing and evaluation of the acquired knowledge

Detaillierter Inhalt:

The 1st chapter is an introduction to the course. The learning objectives are communicated, the course structure is presented and the functioning of the learning platform as well as the examination modalities are explained.
The 2nd chapter explains what epidemiology is and what significance it has for the health of the population by demonstrating examples from the past and current fields of work. Since epidemiology looks at the relationship between health and population, demographic processes such as fertility, mortality and migration are used to illustrate the composition of society, how this is measured, how this is changing and what all this means for the health of a population. At the end of the chapter it is presented, how and why epidemiological studies examine health risks in the population explaining the typical epidemiological research process. Here the difference between observational studies and intervention studies is important, the former being the subject of this course.
Before the implementation of a concrete study is presented from the perspective of an intern at an epidemiological institute, the 3rd chapter first explains the basic measures and study designs for the investigation of health risks. First for refreshment, the basic terminology of prevalence and incidence is repeated and examples are calculated. Then the calculations of different risk measures are presented using the 2x2 table. The basics of descriptive statistics are repeated and their importance is illustrated using current health statistics. The three most frequent study designs in the descriptive and analytical practice of epidemiology are presented.
In the 4th chapter, participants are guided step by step through the process of an epidemiological study by interactively participating in the planning and implementation of an example study. The first steps are to formulate the concrete research question, to search for suitable scientific literature and to make ethical considerations. Furthermore, it is presented what has to be considered when selecting participants, creating measuring instruments and deciding on the form of the survey. In addition, the chapter shows the implementation of a pilot study, data collection, data entry and data preparation illustrating how the field phase of an epidemiological study can look like. Possible pitfalls are also illustrated. Specifically, in addition to random errors, sources for systematic errors in the selection of study participants and the creation of measuring instruments are shown. In addition, the chapter explains the problem of confounding. Finally, effect modification and representativeness are presented. As a final step, the chapter shows how to analyze the data collected in an epidemiological study. The procedures of the analytical statistics are introduced. The topic of causality is also a topic here.
The 5th chapter summarizes the course contents and gives 10 final tips for avoiding errors in epidemiological studies. The participant is tested in a final quiz based on the learning objectives formulated in the 1st chapter. There is also the possibility of working on an additional task, for which participants receive individual feedback and a graded certificate.

Lern-/Qualifikationsziele:

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Lehrveranstaltungstyp:

Kurs

Interaktionsformen mit Betreuer/in:

E-Mail

Interaktionsformen mit Mitlernenden:

E-Mail

Kursdemo:

zur Kursdemo

Nutzung

Kurs ist konzipiert für:

LMU/TUM:

• PhD program Medical Research - International Health
• Humanmedizin (StEx), u.a. Projektsemester Modul 6

TUM:

• Gesundheitswissenschaft (B.Sc.)

Formale Voraussetzungen:

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Erforderliche Vorkenntnisse:

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Hinweise zur Nutzung:

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Kursumsetzung (verwendete Medien):

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Erforderliche Technik:

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Nutzungsentgelte:

für andere Personen als (reguläre) Studenten der vhb Trägerhochschulen nach Maßgabe der Benutzungs- und Entgeltordnung der vhb

Rechte hinsichtlich des Kursmaterials:

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Verantwortlich

Anbieterhochschule:

Uni München (LMU)

Anbieter:

Prof. Dr. Katja Radon

Autoren:

Katja Radon

Luisa Merz

Felix Forster

Daloha Virginia Rodriguez Molina

Betreuer:

Dr. Bernarda Espinoza Castro

Prüfung