BMTRY736

BMTRY 736 : Foundations of Epidemiology (Epidemiology I)

DESCRIPTION

This course provides an introduction to basic epidemiologic principles including measurements of disease occurrence, study designs (cohort, case-control, randomized clinical trials) and calculation of risk. Lecture material is supplemented with exercises and discussion of examples from the epidemiologic literature and presentations of epidemiologic studies by guest speakers.

.TOPICS:

• Two Models: (1) Person-place-time (2) Host-agent environment
• Data Summarization, Validity, Reproducibility
• Variation in Measurement (Biologic vs. measurement error)
• Displaying data (tables, graphs, charts)
• Study Designs
• Goals of Randomization in Clinical Trials
• Causality, Evaluating Exposure-Disease Association
• Screening & Diagnostic Tests
• Predictive Value (+ and -)
• Biases
• Quantitative Measures: Frequency Ratios, Proportions, Rates Prevalence vs. Incidence
• Estimation of Risk, Cumulative Incidence, Actuarial Method (Life Table), Incidence Density
• Rates: Crude, Specific, Adjusted, Mortality Rates-sources
• Standardization-Direct, Indirect Methods, Population standards
• Measure of Association, Absolute vs. Relative Risk
• Measure of Potential Impact, AR, PAR, PAR%
• Statistical Testing
• Descriptive studies
• Case-Control Studies
• Cohort studies
• Intervention studies
• Effect Modification
• Confounding, Effects of Confounding

PREREQUISITES AND OFFERINGS

None.  Typically offered each year in the fall semester.