Leader: Associate Professor Maximillian De Courten

Offered

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

Synopsis

Features of chronic diseases relevant to epidemiological study. Traditional study designs (cross-sectional surveys, case-control, cohort RCTs), including strengths, weaknesses, methodological limitations and practical issues. Introduction to methodological issues in exposure assessment and outcome assessment. Evaluation of screening for chronic disease. Introduction to disease registries, their purpose, benefits and limitations, starting a registry, and the use of registries for clinical practice improvement. Introduction to the concept of translational evidence and epidemiological modelling, its purpose and use in chronic disease and tools used.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, the successful student will:

1. understand the principles underlying the epidemiological study of chronic disease;
2. appreciate the methodological difficulties inherent in epidemiological studies of chronic disease;
3. develop an overview of the epidemiologic literature on chronic disease.

Assessment

Written assignments.

Contact hours

15 contact hours over 2 days

Prerequisites

MPH1040 and MPH1041 or MPH1030 and MPH1031