Epidemiology
Objectives
At the end of the Curricular Unit, students should be able to:
1. Describe the origin, purpose, phases and applications of epidemiology in health, public health and areas of application;
2. Calculate, describe, compare, interpret and communicate epidemiological measures of frequency;
3. Define, calculate, interpret and report epidemiological risk measures;
4. Describe and detail types of epidemiological studies, indications, conditions, calculation and interpretation of obtained measures and threats to their validity;
5. Define and differentiate screening types, justify their relevance, implementation conditions and assessment of quality and effects, including calculation and interpretation of test validity;
6. Identify and describe sources and types of error, implications and ways of eliminating or minimizing them in the planning, implementation, analysis, interpretation and communication of epidemiological studies, including causal inference and communication to specific targets
General characterization
Code
429
Credits
4
Responsible teacher
Carlos Manuel Matias Dias,Carlos Manuel Matias Dias,Inês Santos Estevinho Fronteira
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - 112
Teaching language
Available soon
Prerequisites
Available soon
Bibliography
Available soon
Teaching method
¿ Differentiated format in accordance with the contents of each in-class session, with of learning sessions of theoretical exposition aided by audio-visual materials, and theoretical-practical sessions of analysis, debate and resolution of case studies in the class-room guided by the teacher but with intervention of students;
¿ Individual resolution of worksheets on some thematic areas.
¿ Individual worksheets with written presentation (30% of the final mark);
¿ Individual written test for learning evaluation (70% the final mark).
Evaluation method
Available soon
Subject matter
1. History of epidemiology: relations with Health and Public Health.
2. Definition and areas of application of epidemiology.
3. Definition, calculation, comparison description, interpretation and communication of epidemiological measures of frequency;
4. Definition, calculation, description comparison, interpretation and communication of epidemiological risk measures;
5. Description, design and types of epidemiological studies. Indications and conditions for application. Calculation and interpretation of obtained measures, threats to validity;
6. Definition and types of screening, criteria and conditions for implementation and biases.
7. Definition, calculation and interpretation of validity indices of screening tests;
8. Role and types of error: definitions, sources, identification; implications, elimination or minimization of error. Biases and confounding;
9. Criteria for causality and causal inference;
10. Communication of epidemiological results to specific audiences.
Programs
Programs where the course is taught: