Epidemiology

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:7.00

Study Course Accepted:29.08.2024 11:14:33

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SVUEK_094		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Clinical Medicine; Public Health		Target Audience:		Public Health
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Solvita Kļaviņa-Makrecka
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Institute of Public Health
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 9 Kronvalda boulevard, svekrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67338307
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		0	Lecture Length (academic hours)		0	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		0
Classes (count)		8	Class Length (academic hours)		4	Total Contact Hours of Classes		32
Total Contact Hours								32
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
To understand causality in health issues, prior knowledge of the philosophical foundations of causality is required. For the student to be able to apply the principles and methods of epidemiology in practice, prior knowledge in probability theory and mathematical statistics, as well as computer skills are required. To understand the concept of diagnosis and classification, as well as the concept of norm and the nature of screening, prior knowledge of normal and pathological physiology, as well as propaedeutics is desirable. To read and analyse modern epidemiological literature, knowledge of English is required.
Objective:
The aim of the course is to promote the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the basic issues of modern epidemiology, as well as to develop students’ scientific, systematic and analytical thinking.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Definitions, concept, history of epidemiology: the concept of epidemiology, development thereof; objectives and tasks of epidemiology. Changes in the concept of modern epidemiology and the latest tasks. The theory of causality: causes of diseases and health events; multivariate theory.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
2	Measuring health. Basic epidemiological indicators. Disease incidence indicators.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Solving tasks on basic epidemiological indicators. Common and specific indicators. Types of disease incidence indicators. Standardisation, direct and indirect method thereof.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
4	Disease screening, epidemiological evaluation of the effectiveness thereof. Evaluation of screening tests.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Health information. Classification of diseases and causes of death. Health statistics.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Structure of epidemiological studies. Descriptive studies. Confounding factors. Random and systematic errors.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Selection of populations. Cross-sectional studies. Analytical studies: cohort and case-control studies.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Association indicators. Experimental epidemiological studies.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
• Work with literature. • Finding and collecting data to submit the assigned independent work. • Presentation of results of assignments and results of independent work. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
• Activity during the interactive lectures. • Solutions to class assignments. • Deadlines of submission and quality of independent works. • Correctness and accuracy of answers in the written exam.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		As a result of successfully completing the study course, the student: • Will outline the historical development and current understanding of the concept of epidemiology, identifying future challenges. • Will identify and interpret the concepts of causal factors of health and diseases, risk factors, as well as associated factors within the framework of multifactorial causality theory. • Will define the principles of measuring health events and conditions. • Will describe the types of health data, main sources thereof and factors affecting the quality thereof. • Will distinguish between robustness, correctness and performance of health measurements and tests. • Will classify the main designs of epidemiological studies. Will list their advantages and disadvantages. • Will explain the concept of confounder and deviation.
Skills:		• Will differentiate between causal and non-causal associations of factors and health events. • Will calculate indicators of health events and conditions. • Will use the direct and indirect standardisation method in comparisons of indicators. • Will calculate the correspondence, specificity, sensitivity and predictive values of tests. • Will use electronic databases to select health data. • Will assess the correctness of epidemiological studies according to their design.
Competencies:		• Will substantiate the need for empirical data in public health practice and the use thereof in defining and solving public health problems. • Will identify priority public health issues using quantitative empirical data. • Will evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and health promotion.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	M.Baltiņš. „Lietišķā epidemioloģija”. „Zinātne”, Rīga, 2003. (akceptējams izdevums)
2	R.Beaglehole, R.Bonita, T.Kjellstrom. „Basic Epidemiology”. WHO, Geneva, 2006. (akceptējams izdevums)
3	J.F.Jekel, J.G.Elmore, D.L.Katz. Jekel's Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health, 5th Edition. „Saunders”, Philadelphia, London, 2020.
Additional Reading
1	R.S.Greenberg. „Medical Epidemiology”. „Lange Medical Book”, London, 2015.
2	L.Gordis. „Epidemiology”. (6th edition). Elsevier Saunders, 2019.
3	B.B.Gerstman. „Epidemiology Kept Simple”. „Wiley-Liss”, New York, 2013.
Other Information Sources
1	PITT EDU
2	PH UCLA EDU
3	CDC
4	WHO
5	European Community Health Indicators (ECHI)