Course Content

Teaching will consist of 1-hour lectures, 90-minute small-group practical sessions with facilitators, and seminars with guest lecturers. 

The topics to be covered will include:

• Design of epidemiological studies, including sampling, study design (i.e. case-control, cohort, cross-sectional, intervention studies and clinical trials), infectious disease epidemiology with special emphasise on COVID-19 outbreak response.
   
• Statistical methods in epidemiology, including t-tests, chi-square tests, Mantel-Haenszel analysis, standardisation, linear- and logistic regression, survival analysis, and sample size/power calculations.
   
• Data analysis using Stata 15 software
   
•  Research in context, including systematic reviews, and translating evidence to policy.

The practical sessions will involve analysis, interpretation and discussion of epidemiological issues or data in small groups and participants will make use of the computer facilities available at the Unit. 

Comprehensive information is given to participants but the following books are recommended for those interested in further reading:

• Webb P and Bain C. Essential Epidemiology: An introduction for Students and Health Professionals.  Cambridge University Press. 2011.
• Bailey L, Vardulaki K, Langham J and Chandramohan D, Introduction to Epidemiology, Open University Press, 2005 (Understanding Public Health, Series editors: Nick Black and Rosalind Raine)
• Essentials of Medical Statistics (2nd Edition); B Kirkwood (Blackwell Publishing, 2003)

Methods of assessment

There will be no formal examination, but a Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to those completing the course.