Please note: there may be some adjustments to the teaching arrangements published in the course catalogue for 2020-21. Given current circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic it is anticipated that some usual arrangements for teaching on campus will be modified to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff on campus; further adjustments may also be necessary, or beneficial, during the course of the academic year as national requirements relating to management of the pandemic are revised.

Epidemiology, Evidence and Statistics for Primary Care MED5439

  • Academic Session: 2022-23
  • School: School of Health and Wellbeing
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Available to Erasmus Students: No
  • Taught Wholly by Distance Learning: Yes

Short Description

This course equips students with the epidemiological and statistical skills needed to appraise and interpret literature appropriate to primary care development, policy and research. Student's learning is reinforced through developing their practical skills of critically appraising research papers.

Timetable

This course is made up of lectures, seminars and tutorials in the second semester.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Assessment comprising:

■ Short-answer questions (70% of final grade)

■ Set exercise of a statistical or epidemiological concept or section of a published paper (30% of final grade)

Course Aims

This course aims to produce graduates who understand the concepts of statistics and epidemiology as appropriate to primary care research, coupled with the skills to critically appraise research papers

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically discuss and evaluate the principles of epidemiology and statistics applicable to the field of primary care.

2. Define and use appropriate epidemiology and statistics for primary care research.

3. Examine and critically evaluate the principle of needs assessment and prevention in the development of primary care services.

4. Examine and critically evaluate the principles and uses of screening services in primary care.

5. Synthesise and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of epidemiological study designs for primary care research in order to critically appraise published research.

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.