Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2023 - HSCI 805 G100

Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods (3)

Class Number: 4948

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2023: Wed, 2:30–5:20 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.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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 website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.