Advanced Epidemiology

Through the teaching forms, the obligatory group work and in combination with the exam the students will learn about major topics and modern methods in epidemiology and will train their ability to apply these methods individually and in small groups.

On completion of the course, the student must be able to:

• Define in depth general study designs like ecological, cohort, case control and cross-sectional studies, randomized controlled clinical trial and more specific epidemiological designs like case cross-over case time control and explain the strengths and weaknesses of these designs
• Explain major topics like bias, DAGs and causality in epidemiologic projects

• Discuss and evaluate the correct use of epidemiological work methods (descriptive, analytic epidemiology) and effect measures epidemiological of articles published in international journals
• Interpret, appraise, evaluate the correct use and apply present concepts in study design 
• Discuss and appraise random and systematic errors and bias (selection bias, information bias and confounding) in epidemiological studies and explain methods that take them into account in design and if possible, in analysis
• Choose and use correct internet tools for corresponding presentation or calculation for e.g., DAG or sample size 
• Write a study protocol

• Systematically and critically analyses the literature in order to prepare a review or a meta-analysis
• Apply skills for planning and conducting epidemiological investigations and write a study proposal

The teaching is organised in such a way as to support SDU’s underlying principle for active learning and activating teaching, as well as the Faculty of Health Science’s implementation of this principle - the FAIR principles.

The following forms of instruction and work may be applied in the course: classical lectures, exercises and group work. 

The following forms of feedback may be applied in the course: Teacher feedback, peer feedback (one on one or group), self-evaluation.  

The activities in the course are primarily aimed at achieving learning objectives and preparing students for the form of examination. The specific forms of instruction and work as well as forms of feedback is made clear in the lesson plan on itslearning.