Clinical Epidemiology

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

Subject Dates: 4th, 11th April, 2nd, 9th May, 2014

120 hours

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 Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

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.

This subject covers intervention studies including randomised controlled trials and cluster trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of trials and the validity and reliability of diagnostic and screening tests. It also covers formulating research questions, determining what type of trial is appropriate, designing trials and critically appraising trials. Practical aspects include development of a research protocol, including ethical aspects and study management.

This subject complements Observational Epidemiology, which focuses on the observational designs used in clinical and public health research.

On completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:

1. Design randomised controlled and cluster trials used in clinical and public health research
2. Write research protocols including sample size calculations for randomised controlled and cluster trials
3. Critically appraise reports of trials, including performing systematic reviews
4. Perform and interpret meta-analyses of trials
5. Design studies to investigate the validity and reliability of diagnostic and screening tests and analyse data to assess the validity and reliability of the tests.
6. Discuss the ethical implications of experimental designs in clinical and public health research

One 1,500 word written assignment (30%) due in week 8 of semester

One 20-minute group oral presentation (10%) held during the last day of teaching

One 3,000 word written assignment (60%) due during the first week of the University's end of semester examination period.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.