Epidemiology-Research Methodology II
Learning objectives
Upon successful completion of the course the post-graduate students are expected to be able to:
- describe the types of non-interventional and interventional epidemiological studies, their advantages, limitations and special characteristics.
- formulate clear research questions
- describe the basic principles of population sampling
- select the appropriate study design based on the specific research hypothesis, define comparison groups as well as determine the exposure and outcome assessment
- interpret the findings of an epidemiological study
- identify and indicate the types of systematic and random errors during data collection and analysis
- identify and explore synergy between exposures in relation to the study outcome
- assess the methodological rigor of a published epidemiological study (interventional or non-interventional)
- use widely recognized tools for the critical appraisal of published epidemiological studies
- describe the basic principles of use and analysis of big data
- describe basic principles related to the implementation of qualitative studies
Course content
The course builds on the basic epidemiologic principles learned during the first semester of the MSc program with the aim to put in practice the concepts learned. It provides an in-depth understanding of issues related to the study design, implementation, analysis, and critical appraisal of epidemiological studies.
The following topics are covered:
- Sampling: selection of a representative sample of the population
- Weighting of results (practical session)
- Synergy (effect modification)
- Synergy (effect modification) (practical session)
- Selection of study design
- Selection of study design (practical exercise)
- Causal inference – Directed Acyclic Graphs, DAGs
- Causal inference – Directed Acyclic Graphs, DAGs (practical session)
- Data collection tools – Development of questionnaires used in epidemiological studies
- Tools for assessing measurement error in epidemiological studies
- Critical appraisal of clinical trials (Cochrane Risk of Bias tool v.2, Rob2)
- Critical appraisal of prospective studies
- Critical appraisal of case-control studies
- Critical appraisal of clinical trials (Rob2) (practical session)
- Big data – propensity scoring
- Basic principles of conducting qualitative research
- Writing an informed consent form
- Scientific manuscript submission process
- Discussion of research protocols
The teaching methods include lectures, practical sessions and interactive discussions on the development of research protocols.
Category: 2nd semester