Epidemiology module (GM51011)

Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution, patterns, and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. Epidemiological information is used to plan and evaluate strategies to prevent illness, understand the drivers of health, and support the control and prevention of diseases.

This module will introduce you to foundational principles of epidemiology, the major research designs used to collect data, and approaches to analysis and interpretation.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• explore foundational principles of epidemiology
• learn about the major research designs used to collect data in epidemiology
• explore the approaches to analysis and interpretation in epidemiology research

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

• summarise the basic principles of epidemiology, including concepts such as mortality and morbidity, association and causation, standardisation of data, measures of risk, bias, and confounding
• evaluate the applicability of concepts such as the determinants of population size (including birth, death, and migration) in understanding the growth of populations
• critically evaluate the major study designs used in epidemiology and the applicability of each in understanding the distribution of disease in populations

Assignments / assessment

• written assignment (40%)
• two-hour unseen closed-book written examination (60%)

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures (online and in person)
• tutorials with worked examples
• talks by invited speakers