Observational Epidemiology

Subject Dates: 28 July (4.15 – 6.15pm) 4 Aug - 15 September (2.15 - 6.15 pm)

120 hours

POPH90142 Epidemiology & Analytic Methods 1
POPH90143 Epidemiology & Analytic Methods 2

OR

Students are expected to be familiar with the statistical package Stata

POPH90146 Study Design in Epidemiology
POPH90147 Epidemiology in Practice

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

This subject is a core subject within the Master of Epidemiology and the Master of Science (Epidemiology) and an elective within the Master of Public Health and Master of Environment.
It covers the main observational study designs used in epidemiological research: cohort studies, case-control studies including the variants of nested case-control studies, case-cohort studies and case-crossover studies, ecological studies, cross-sectional studies and descriptive studies. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of observational studies are discussed. Causal diagrams are introduced as a unifying means for identifying confounding and selection bias and interpreting associations. Other topics include: measurement of exposures, outcomes and confounders and effect modification.
Skills in critically appraising findings from observational research will build on the base of Introduction to Epidemiology. Students will apply their knowledge to designing observational studies with the aim of investigating topical problems in public health.
This subject complements the subject Clinical Epidemiology, which focuses on intervention studies in clinical and public health research.

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Design observational epidemiological studies with due regard to choosing a design to answer a specific research question, minimising bias, achieving adequate sample size and feasibility
2. Compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of the common observational study designs
3. Use causal diagrams to help plan statistical analyses and design studies
4. Use published guidelines for the reporting of observational studies to assist with designing and appraising studies
5. Critically appraise epidemiological studies, including conducting systematic reviews
6. Perform and interpret meta-analyses of observational studies
7. Calculate sample sizes for the most common types of observational studies
8. Assess whether effect modification is present and determine its clinical or public health implications
9. Assess reliability and validity of measurements of exposures and confounders and describe strategies to minimise measurement error

• Group preparation of questions on assigned weekly reading (approximately 300 words per group of 5 students) due twice during the teaching period (10%)
• Group summaries of responses to questions based on assigned weekly reading due twice during the teaching period (10%)
• One 1000 word assignment due in the third week of the teaching period (20%)
• One 1500 word assignment due three weeks after teaching period (30%)
• 1.5 hour open-book examination held during the examination period (30%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.