Epidemiology and biostatistics

The course is a compulsory course within the Master's Programme of Public Health.The course can also be offered as a freestanding course on advanced level.

The course can be part of the following programme: 1) Master's Programme in PublicHealth Science (M2PHP)

Qualification for admission to the course requires professional degree/Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits in a health science, social science, science, economics, arts or engineering field of education and English B /English 6/ English level 2 or equivalent.

The course focuses on two main components in public health science: biostatistics and epidemiology.

Biostatistics includes application of statistics within public health science to the collection, summarization, and analysis of data, as well as the interpretation of results and drawing conclusions. In the course, students will learn to handle and summarize different types of data, as well as to understand and apply appropriate biostatistical concepts and methods—such as probability distributions, estimates and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and regression—that are relevant to various fields of study.

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in defined populations. In the course, students will learn to understand the principles, methods, strengths, and limitations of various types of epidemiological study designs. Students will also learn to plan public health research and interpret epidemiological findings.

Finally, the course prepares for more advanced courses in biostatistics and epidemiology and it gives students the opportunity to begin planning research questions for their upcoming thesis.

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

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe key concepts and various study designs in epidemiological research, including their strengths and weaknesses.
• Explain basic concepts and principles of hypothesis testing and estimation, and describe various statistical methods and their application in public health research

Competence and skills

• Select appropriate measures of disease occurence and associations, and calculate and interpret them.
• Propose and discuss the design of epidemiological research, based on the choice of method and potential threats to validity.
• Independently summarize data and perform appropriate statistical analysis using statistical software, as well as interpret and present the results in writing.

Judgement and approach

Critically review and evaluate epidemiological research and statistical results, including internal and external validity, relevant ethical considerations, and the conclusions that can be drawn.

Lectures, seminars, computer labs, individual work, and group work.

Language of instruction: English

The course will be examined through:

• Two individual written examsTvå individuella skriftliga tentamina,
• Five computer exercises
• Three seminars
• A group project, including written and oral presentation

Absence from any of the required computer exercises or seminars should be supplemented in accordance with the course leader’s instructions. If students miss more than 40% of the required sessions for the project assignment, they must redo the project with a new assignment. If they miss less than 40%, they will be given a make-up assignment for each session they miss. If they miss the final presentation, they must give an individual presentation at a later date.

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 required computer exercises and seminars, as well as the project assignment, are graded as Pass (G) or Fail (U); the individual written exams are graded as High Pass (VG), Pass (G), and Fail (U).

To receive a Pass (G) for the course, the student must have earned a Pass on both written exams as well as on the required components (computer exercises, seminars, and the project assignment).

To receive a Pass with Distinction (VG) for the course, students must receive a Pass with Distincion on both written exams and a Pass on the required components (computer exercises, seminars, and project assignment).

The course evaluation is carried out in writing and orally with the students. The course leader is responsible for analyzing the evaluations and giving propositions for improvement. The analysis and propositions of development is shared with the students through the program council and the learning platform. 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.