Module overview
This module focuses on the epidemiological methods and approaches that underpin an evidence-based approach to public health research and practice. The module covers each of the main types of epidemiological study design and provides a framework for critically appraising each method, differentiating association from causation and how to draw causal inferences. The module includes sessions on epidemiological study designs, chance, bias, confounding, measures of disease frequency and risk estimation and hypothesis testing. The module provides guidance as to how to critically appraise published studies and how to design studies.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Evaluate the sources of bias in epidemiological studies including information bias and selection bias.
- Critique epidemiological research evidence demonstrating the knowledge and ability to appraise scientific validity.
- Identify the key sources of epidemiological and public health data and evaluate different types of study design and problems of measurement.
- Understand the difference between association and causation and assess causation
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Use problem solving skills for a range of situations.
- Communicate epidemiological concepts, data and information.
- Discuss ideas and scrutinize information in critical, evaluative and analytical ways.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- How to calculate and interpret measures of disease frequency including prevalence and incidence rates and risk.
- The role of chance, bias and confounding in explaining associations and be able to describe ways to deal with confounding and bias.
- Prevention and screening.
- Calculating and interpreting measures of association and effect size (odds ratios, relative and absolute risk, population attributable risk and number needed to treat).
- Observational and interventional epidemiological study designs for a range of health-related issues and concepts of causal inference.
- Interpretation of statistical estimation, hypothesis tests and inference to epidemiological data.
Syllabus
- Epidemiological associations and causal inference
- Understanding rates and risk
- Chance, bias, and confounding
- Observational study designs: Cohort, case-control, cross-sectional and ecological
- Experimental study designs: Randomised and non-randomised, complex interventions
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
- Critical appraisal
- Epidemiology in range of fields with special interests e.g., environmental, life course and nutrition
- Prevention strategies and principles of screening
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
A variety of methods will be used including lectures, active participatory methods, case studies of epidemiology in practice, e-learning/interactive tools for learning and self-assessment, practical exercises, guided reading, group study and individual study.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 40 |
| Independent Study | 160 |
| Total study time | 200 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
Assessment
Assessment strategy
The assessment includes both formative and summative elements. There will be two components to the summative assessment i) written critical appraisal and ii) multiple choice test, and one component to the formative assessment iii) group oral presentation. The multiple choice test will be a timed single attempt on Blackboard. The pass mark for the module and for both summative assessment components is 50%.
If you have failed the module, the Board of Examiners may offer you the opportunity to submit work at the next referral (re-sit) for components where you have not achieved the pass mark (50%). Marks for components that were passed will be carried forward. You must achieve the pass mark in all referred components. On passing your referrals, your final module mark will be capped at 50%.
If you are taking the module outside the MSc Public Health programme, please check the pass requirements for your programme with your programme or assessment lead as these may vary.
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Group presentation
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Oral
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: Yes
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written critical appraisal | 50% |
| Multiple choice Test | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written critical appraisal | 50% |
| Multiple choice Test | 50% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External