Introductory Course in Epidemiology & Medical Statistics (based in London)

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Course

In London

£ 3,450 VAT inc.

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Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Level

    Intermediate

  • Location

    London

  • Duration

    3 Weeks

Epidemiological research is an important tool to assess health effects in populations and can be used to optimise disease surveillance, facilitate outbreak investigation and provide vital evidence for the evaluation of changes in health policy. This is a concentrated three week course which will take students through from the basic principles of epidemiology up to the application of statistical methods, such as logistic regression using Stata software.


This course has been running since the 1980’s and includes lectures from many prominent professors from the School with long term practice in epidemiology and/or medical statistics in high, middle and low income countries . It has a large and varied group of alumni, with many attendees joining on the recommendation of previous participants.

The School houses a large academic group of epidemiologists, statisticians and demographers, and promotes an inter-disciplinary approach to teaching and research. The course will be taught through lectures and interactive practicals by staff who have teaching and research experience extending across the major diseases of developed and developing countries. Whilst attending the course, students are encouraged to engage with academic life at the School through attendance of lunchtime and evening seminars.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
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Start date

On request

About this course

During the three weeks students will learn about the design and interpretation of epidemiological studies and the statistical methods that underpin many of the founding principles. Much of the content corresponds with that which is taught during the internationally renowned MSc Epidemiology at the School. This short course is intended to be an intensive introduction to epidemiology and medical statistics and at the end of the three weeks students will understand the common pitfalls associated with study design, be able to choose the most appropriate analytical methods to verify stated hypotheses and feel confident to undertake basic statistical analysis using Stata software.

The course is relevant to clinicians and other graduates who work in medical research units, academic departments or health services. No previous formal training in epidemiology or statistics is required. Those who are confident in these methods may prefer to consider the Advanced Course in Epidemiological Analysis in September. Both courses are intensive and a good command of the English language is essential.

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Subjects

  • Statistics
  • Teaching
  • School
  • Medical
  • Medical training
  • Epidemiological
  • Sampling
  • Power
  • Practicals
  • Design
  • Cohort

Course programme

The three weeks include more than 30 hours of taught lectures and 45 hours of practical sessions, including 10 hours of computer practicals.

The topics to be covered will include:

Design and analysis of epidemiological studies, including sampling and power calculations as well as different types of trial design i.e. case-control, cohort, cross-sectional, intervention studies and clinical trials.

Statistical methods in epidemiology, including t-tests, chi-square tests, Mantel-Haenszel analysis, age standardization, linear and logistic regression and survival analysis.

Data analysis using Stata software.

Epidemiological principles of research, including examples of infectious disease epidemiology, undertaking systematic reviews and translating evidence to policy.

Teaching will be undertaken through lectures, seminars and practical sessions. The practical sessions will involve analysis, interpretation and discussion of epidemiological issues or data in small groups and participants will make use of the computer facilities available in the School. Stata will be the statistical software package used to gain an understanding of concepts.

Comprehensive information is given to participants but the following books are recommended for those interested in further reading:

  • Webb P and Bain C. Essential Epidemiology: An introduction for Students and Health Professionasl. Cambridge University Press. 2011.
  • Bailey L, Vardulaki K, Langham J and Chandramohan D, Introduction to Epidemiology, Open University Press, 2005 (Understanding Public Health, Series editors: Nick Black and Rosalind Raine)
  • Essentials of Medical Statistics (2nd Edition); B Kirkwood (Blackwell Publishing, 2003)
Methods of assessment

There will be no formal examination, but a Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to those completing the course.

Additional information

This course will also run in The Gambia on 11-29 November 2019.

See related categories

Introductory Course in Epidemiology & Medical Statistics (based in London)

£ 3,450 VAT inc.

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