Fall 2021 - HSCI 805 G100

Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods (3)

Class Number: 5578

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Fri, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    HSCI 801 and 802.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Designing, conducting, analyzing, and interpreting epidemiologic research. Theoretical frameworks, concepts of inference, measures of disease occurrence and effect, study designs, issues in measurement, bias, confounding, and interaction. Critical assessment of the epidemiologic and public health literature.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • At the end of this course, students should be able to
  • Critique and analyze evidence from the epidemiological literature.
  • Understand the basic study designs in epidemiology, including studies based on individuals as units of observation (e.g. case-control and cohort studies), versus ecological studies. Control selection strategies, nested case-control studies, case-cohort studies, matching
  • Calculate measures of disease occurrence including incidence, prevalence and survival data.
  • Understand the connections between epidemiology and biostatistics (e.g. the role of bias versus random error in formulating a scientific narrative; or distinction between internal and external validity).
  • Understand and communicate the results of epidemiological studies both in writing and through oral presentation.
  • Be familiar with a handful of practical everyday examples of challenging epidemiological problems.

Grading

  • Participation and attendence 15%
  • Midterm 15%
  • Final exam 30%
  • Term paper 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics, 4th Edition, Moyses Szklo and Javier Nieto (2018)


RECOMMENDED READING:

Principles of Biostatistics, Marcello Pagano and Kimberlee Gauvreau, 2nd Ed.


Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021

Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place.  Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.