Leader: Professor M Abramson

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)
Alfred Hospital First semester 2008 (Day)
Alfred Hospital First semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Advanced understanding of epidemiology methods used to study chronic diseases. Overview of descriptive and analytical epidemiology of diseases of major public health importance in Australia. Particular methodological issues include assessing causality, bias, confounding, effect modification, exposure assessment, outcome assessment, prevention paradigms and whether epidemiology has reached its limits.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Understand and discuss the principles underlying the epidemiological study of diseases;
2. Appreciate and identify the methodological difficulties inherent in observational epidemiological studies of diseases;
3. Be able to apply general epidemiological principles to specific diseases;
4. Understand and use descriptive epidemiological measures to summarize the population impact of specific diseases; and
5. Appreciate new methodological developments in epidemiology.

Assessment

Attendance 15%
Assignments 60%
Student presentations 25%

Contact hours

2 contact hours per week

Prerequisites

MPH1040; MPH1041; ECX9720