Course Discription

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- Compulsory courses
Principles of Epidemiology
2 credit
Type of courses
Compulsory courses
Instructor
Chin-Kuo Chang
Course Outline
The aim of this course is to introduce basic concepts of epidemiology in study design, data collection, and preliminary analyses of health-related research with assignments and discussions involved. In the first part, the instructor will give an introduction of the roles played by epidemiology in public health and global health. In the second part, lectures about major ways of quantifying health events in the population and their usage of them for the estimation of relative risks will be given. The third part will be the considerations of causal inferences, identification and management of potential biases as the basis of fair comparisons in health-related studies. At last, the fourth part will cover the details of basic observational and intervention study designs. The assignments will be closely attached to the lectures previously given for a better understanding of the contents. Real-life examples from each aspect of global health research topics and related literature are given and illustrated in the course.

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course students should have the following core knowledge and competencies:
1. (D17-2)Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services* 
2. (D17-3)Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health 
3. (D17-5)Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc. 
4. (D17-6)Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge 

 


Course Requirements:

The slides of each lecture and scientific papers for discussion will be made available on the course website for students to download before each class.

 

CEPH Competencies Met: 

Accreditation Criteria for Foundational Knowledge
 

D17-1

Explain public health history, philosophy and values

D17-2

Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services*

D17-3

Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health

D17-4

List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other community relevant to the school or program

D17-5

Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.

D17-6

Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

D17-7

Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health

D17-8

Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health

D17-9

Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health

D17-10

Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities
D17-11

Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease 
D17-12

Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (e.g. One Health)