LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY Department of Health and Exercise Science Fall 2011

Transcription

1 LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY Department of Health and Exercise Science Fall 2011 Course: HLED 467 Principles of Epidemiology (3 units) Instructor: Khaled Bahjri, MD, MPH (Assistant Professor) Office: Taylor Street Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA Telephone:(909) Ext 3 (909) (Cell) kbahjri@llu.edu Office Hours: Office hours by appointment Time: Tuesdays 6:00 8:40 p.m. Location: HES Office Annex Room #1 Course Description: Distribution and determinants of health events in human populations. Assessments of environmental conditions, lifestyles, and other circumstances influencing disease. Measures of disease occurrence and frequency, and use of these measures in health care. Major types of epidemiological investigations. Interpretation of statistical associations. Study of how to read and critically evaluate scientific literature. Presentation of own literature study. Textbook (Recommended): An Introduction to Epidemiology (5th ed), by Ray M. Merrill GRADING: Quizzes/labs: 20% Mid-term exam: 30% Oral presentation/written report: 20% Final Exam: 30% Grades A-F will be assigned as follows: = A = A = B = B = B = C = C = C = D = D 59.9 and Less = F

2 Quizzes and tests CANNOT be made up at a later time, unless a physicians statement is presented certifying illness at the time of the test. Failure to take a quiz, will automatically give a score of zero on that quiz. Failure to take the mid-term or final exam will jeopardize the student s chance of having the course approved. The University provides reasonable accommodations for students with documented physical or learning disabilities. Contact the Office of Disability Services for evaluation and guidance on such matters at (951) The office is located in La Sierra Hall, Suite 100. Students with such documented disabilities that require reasonable accommodations in order to participate in course activities or meet course requirements should contact the instructor during posted office hours or by appointment during the first two weeks of the quarter. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Introduction to Epidemiology (HLED 467) is a 3-unit course designed to provide a general introduction to the basic concepts and methods of epidemiology. After completing the course, students will be able to: 1. Explain the basic vocabulary, concepts and methods of epidemiology. 2. Discuss the development of epidemiology and the contribution of several historical examples of epidemiologic research to public health. 3. Describe the applications of epidemiology to the investigation of current public health problems and in clinical settings. 4. Calculate and interpret basic measures of disease occurrence in populations such as incidence, prevalence and other crude and specific measures of mortality and morbidity. 5. Calculate and interpret absolute and relative measures of effect including risk difference and relative risk. 6. Describe the basic methods for investigating and controlling an outbreak of a health problem in a community. 7. Describe the contribution of person, place, and time factors to the current understanding of disease causation. 8. Describe models of causation and the criteria for causal association. 9. Discuss the major types of study designs and their strengths and limitations. 10. Describe confounding and other common sources of bias and the methods used to control these biases. 11. Discuss the general principles and problems of mass screening for chronic diseases. 12. Define and calculate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value positive and predictive value negative. 13. Critically read and interpret results of population research published in professional journals.

3 HLED 467 Course Schedule Date Title Recommended Textbook Reading September 27 Orientation Merrill Ch. 1 Introduction to Epidemiology Levels of Prevention October 04 Statistical Methods in Descriptive Epidemiology Merrill Ch. 4 October 11 October 18 October 25 November 01 November 08 Quiz 1 Descriptive Epidemiology Population Health and Disease Indicators Quiz 2 Screening for Disease Quiz 3 Critical Evaluation of Journal Articles Review for Mid-term Exam Quiz 4 Merrill Ch. 5 Merrill Ch. 6 Merrill Ch. 12 Mid-term Exam List and copies of Journal Articles Due Go over Midterm Overview of Study Designs Case studies, Ecologic, Cross-Sectional Studies Merrill Ch. 4 November 15 Case-Control and Cohort Studies and Merrill Ch. 7 Experimental Studies Quiz 5 November 22 NO LECTURE November 29 Data Interpretation, Bias, Confounding Merrill Ch. 7 Causation in Epidemiology Quiz 6 December 06 Group Presentations Review for Final Exam Quiz 7 December 13 Final Exam Group Papers/Presentations due

4 Research Project Presentations HLED 467 Instructions 1. Select your group, group leader and research topic ( to the lecturer by October 11) a. There will be a maximum of 4 groups with 5 members per group at the most. b. Start to think now about your topic. See suggested topics below from which you can choose. c. Selection of topic will be on a first come first serve basis d. Each group will research a topic and critique 3 relevant and appropriate journal articles, give an oral presentation and write a group submitted paper. 2. Research should be on human beings 3. Select 3 journal articles dated between 2005 and 2011 for critical review 4. A list and copies of journal articles (for approval by lecturer) are due on October Critical Evaluation of Journal Articles on October Journal articles should be complete studies NOT just REVIEWS 7. Choose a variety of study designs* (Include at least case-control or cohort study) 8. Each member of the group should participate in the presentation or written report and their role noted (research, PowerPoint, presentation, writing, editing). 9. Presentations will be for 20 minutes per group with an additional 5 minutes for Q & A. Suggest that the PowerPoint presentation have between 8 20 slides 10. The written report (and copy of PPT should be submitted electronically by December The paper should be between 1,500 to 2,000 words excluding cover page and references Single space and 1" margins. 12. One page summary must be handed out to each student prior to the presentation 13. Information from presentations will be on the final. Suggested Topics 1. Dietary fat and breast cancer 2. Exercise and hypertension 3. Folate (Folic acid) and colon cancer 4. Ionizing radiation and leukemia among radiologists 5. Oral contraceptives and cervical cancer 6. Oral contraceptives and Hypertension 7. Alcohol and breast cancer 8. Soy and breast cancer 9. Cell phones and brain tumors 10. Childhood and risk of obesity 11. Sleep and obesity 12. Fractures in children 13. Sun exposure and skin cancer 14. Exercise and healthy aging 15. Religion and heart disease * Types of study designs Cross sectional studies Ecologic studies Case-control Cohort Randomized Trials

5 Written Report and Presentation HLED Title (Cover page to include group members and their role in the Group Research Project research, PowerPoint, presentation, writing, editing) 2. Background What is known about the topic at hand? What remains to be answered? Why is the research important? What is its influence on clinical and public health policies? Biological mechanism as to how the exposure is related to the disease (outcome). 3. Article 1. Methods: Type of study design Inclusion/Exclusion criteria Sample size Process of subjects selection Exposure assessment Follow up strategies Outcome assessment Results: Measures of effect Findings Discussion: Strengths and weaknesses 4. Article 2. (as for article 1) Methods: Results: Discussion: 5. Article 3. (as for article 1) Methods: Results: Discussion: 6. Overall Discussion/ Recommendation 7. Bibliography 8. Electronic copy of PowerPoint presentation

6 One Page Summary (To be distributed to class prior to presentation) Group members (Role): Topic: Article 1. Title: Type of study: Measure of effect reported: Conclusion: Article 2. Title: Type of study: Measure of effect reported: Conclusion: Article 3. Title: Type of study: Measure of effect reported: Conclusion:

7 Evaluation Form for Oral Presentations Group # Research Topic: Attendance: Beginning Time: End time: One page summary: Content: Audio visual: Presentation: Time Frame: Q & A: Participation in Project: Presentation = 70% of the research project Written Report = 30% of the research project