Epidemiology (SVUEK_094)
About Study Course
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.
Prerequisites
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.
Learning outcomes
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.
• 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.
• 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.
Study course planning
| Study programme | Study semester | Program level | Study course category | Lecturers | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health, SVF | 3 | Bachelor’s | Required | Solvita Kļaviņa-Makrecka |
