Health data and questionnaires

The course is a compulsory course within the Master’s Programme of Applied Biostatistics (M2STA).

The entry requirements of the course include a professional degree/Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits in health sciences, natural sciences, economics, or engineering, and a course in statistics or quantitative methods of at least 7,5 credits. Further, R-programming of at least 2 credits or equivalent, English B/English 6 or equivalent, and Matematik 3b/3c or equivalent are required.

In this course, we focus on health and healthcare-related registry data and questionnaire-based measurement scales for analysis, research, and quality monitoring.

We go through the process of developing health-related measurement scales and how their quality and applicability are assessed, based on aspects from psychometrics, regarding the validity, reliability, and other types of measurement properties of a measurement scale, both from classical and modern test theory. The course explains different types of effect measures, with a particular focus on interpretation relative to measurement error and analysis of change, and discusses methods for identifying differences that are important for the area of application. Aspects of numerical and ordinal variables will be discussed, with a particular focus on the choice of statistical methods in measurement theory.

The course covers analysis workflow based on register data and provides practical skills in project and data management of register data using relevant software. We take a closer look at linking and processing different data sources as well as at some standardized classifications/terminologies such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The course discusses administrative registers, health data registers, quality registers and survey data.

The course covers ethical, legal, sustainability-related, and practical aspects of using registry data and large cohorts, including issues of resource use, data security, documentation, archiving, and long-term management. Furthermore, methodological challenges and opportunities in the analysis of sociodemographic factors are discussed, with the aim of, for example, revealing possible inequalities in health and access to care. Applications in research as well as policy and follow-up work are addressed.

The course will also discuss various forms of support, such as consensus documents on how register- and cohort-based studies should be reported in scientific contexts and the ethical aspects of this.

The course is sustainability focused.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Identify and compare different types of register-based data sources in healthcare and explain how standardized vocabularies and validated measurement scales are used to structure and interpret such information.
• Explain legal and ethical aspects of using personal data in healthcare, including rules for data protection and information security.
• Describe the characteristics of health-related measurement scales and different types of effect measures.

Competence and skills

• Implement an analysis workflow based on register data, including data management, linking, quality checks, documentation, version management, handling of missing data, and visualization and presentation of results.
• Select appropriate measures to evaluate measurement properties such as reliability and validity of a measurement scale.
• Formulate and explain the basic steps in the process of constructing a measurement scale based on a questionnaire. 

Judgement and approach

• Critically evaluate the quality, reliability, and applicability of register-based health data, survey data, and measurement scales.
• Reflect on ethical aspects of handling, linking, and sharing such data, as well as different ways of documenting and reviewing a study, considering both reproducibility and comprehensibility.
• Critically review and evaluate statistical results regarding the validity, reliability, and other measurement properties.
• Discuss social and economic aspects of sustainability in relation to the secondary use of health-related data and other registers, including how this can contribute to resource-efficient knowledge development, equal health, and responsible use of existing data sources.

The course combines lectures, seminars, computer labs and literature studies.

Language of instruction: English

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). The compulsory elements (3.5 credits) are graded Pass (G) and Fail (U), the individual written exam (4 credits) is graded Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

To obtain the grade Pass on the course, the grade Pass is required on both the compulsory elements and the written exam. To obtain the grade Pass with distinction on the course, the grade Pass is required on the compulsory elements and the grade Pass with distinction on the individual written exam.

The course evaluation is carried out in the form of an anonymous questionnaire. A compilation of the questionnaire is done by the course coordinator. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

Each student needs access to a portable computer (a minimum of 8GB RAM is recommended) with R and an integrated development environment (such as RStudio or Positron) installed. The course also uses other free tools (such as git for version control) which require installation and imply administrator rights and internet connection.