OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of this course is to learn the basic principles of epidemiology with an emphasis on how to interpret epidemiological data. Students will also gain an appreciation of important epidemiological features of key illnesses and conditions. By the end of the course, students should be aware of the ability of research to address important health issues and be able to recognize good quality work. It is NOT an objective that students would be able to actually design a research project - that will require additional study. It is also not an objective that students will be able to analyze epidemiological research. However, they should be able to participate in a meaningful way in the application of epidemiological information in the development of prevention programmes, programme evaluation, etc. They should also be able to critically appraise published reports in order to determine their value and meaning.
Within these broad goals, students will be addressing the following objectives:
- To develop the attitude that data drives conclusions, not the other way around;
- To be able to tell good from bad research;
- To be aware of sources of data about the health status of Canadians, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of this data;
- To understand the basic approaches to epidemiological research and be able to describe the advantages and disadvantages of the various design options;
- To understand the major threats to the validity of epidemiologic research and to be able to recognize basic strategies to control these problems.
- To be able to define and understand the main measures of mortality, morbidity and study group comparison.
- To understand the basic principles of investigation of a disease outbreak.
TIMING
The course will be offered over a one week period in August: August 17-21, 2009. It will be taught between 0900-1230 and 1330-1700 on Monday through Friday.
LOCATION
All classes will be taught in Roger Guindon Hall on the Health Sciences campus of the University of Ottawa. RGN is near the Ottawa Hospital (General Campus) and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The primary lecture room will be room 3248.
TEXTBOOK
The main textbook for the course is:
Greenberg RS, Daniels SR, Flanders WD, Eley JW, Boring, JR III. Medical Epidemiology, 4th edition. Lange Medical Books, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2005. ISBN: 0-07-111746-6
Another book which could be of interest is:
Gordis L. Epidemiology, 3rd edition. Elsevier Inc, Philadelphia, 2004. ISBN: 1-4160-2530-8
COST
Registration is $550 Can and includes:
- A copy of the course textbook (which will be mailed to you in adavnce of the course if registration is completed by July 31, 2009),
- Paper and CD versions of all Powerpoint presentations used during the course
- Twice daily nutrition breaks.
- Two pizza lunches.
