Further Epidemiology And Statistics MED5021

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: School of Health and Wellbeing
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes

Short Description

This course builds on the concepts and methods introduced in the Master of Public Health introductory core courses on statistical methods and epidemiology including:

the application of more advanced, but commonly used, methods of analysis of data; practical experience of the application of these methods to the analysis of data using an appropriate statistical computing package and the application of epidemiological principles as applied to specific areas including cardiovascular disease, cancer and psychiatric disease.

Timetable

Classes will be of 2 hours duration and there will be ten classes held over 10 weeks. In addition there will be 2 x 2hr computer practicals using an appropriate statistical software package

Requirements of Entry

A minimum of C3/12 grade in course MED5021 Introduction to Statistics

Excluded Courses

MED5430 Further Epidemiology and Statistics (online version)

Assessment

A written assignment related to an epidemiological investigation and a statistical computing exercise in the form of short answer exercises.

Course Aims

To build on the concepts and methods introduced in the Introduction to Statistical Methods course and the Introduction to Epidemiology course.

To introduce students to the application of more advanced but commonly used methods of analysis of data; to give students practical experience of the application of these methods to the analysis of data using a suitable statistical computing package.

To demonstrate the application of epidemiological principles and interpret the rationale for and results of statistical analyses applied to specific areas, including: cardiovascular disease, cancer, psychiatric disease, medical genetics and lifecourse epidemiology.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Critically debate epidemiological principles within health research and apply and interpret the results of appropriate analyses.

Analyse epidemiological issues specific to disease areas including psychiatric disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer and describe sources of data available.

Critically examine the concept of life-course epidemiology, analyse the development of this approach and discuss how it differs from conventional epidemiological studies.

Determine the contexts for which each of the following methods of analysis is appropriate: multiple linear regression; Poisson regression; negative binomial regression; random, foxed and mixed effects meta-analysis; Kaplan Meier Survival Plot; log rank tests and Cox's proportional hazard regression

 
Apply a statistical package to carry out analysis of data using the above methods and be able to interpret and critically evaluate the output from the package.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.