Course syllabus for Applied Epidemiology 2 - Determinants of Health

Tillämpad epidemiologi 2 - sjukdomars bestämningsfaktorer

Specific entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits in public health science, healthcare or other relevant social sciences subject area. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

That the student has completed courses with approved results equivalent of 45 credits at the Master's Programme in Public Health Sciences specialisation Public Health Epidemiology.

Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• identify and account for how determinants for public health problems are studied and be able to reflect and account for strengths and weaknesses in different study designs,
• identify and account for the specific requirements that can be set on the design when studying determinants of health in different contexts,
• compile and critically review current scientific literature, with regard to determinants for public health problems, and be able to communicate knowledge of the determinants of diseases,
• carry out and interpret statistical analyses of population based data to describe determinants for health.

Content

During the course, comprehensive presentations will be made of how to apply different epidemiological methods to study different public health problems in practice. The course comprises determinants in a broad perspective, from micro to macro level. Different methodologies will be described, for example twin studies and nested case-control. Statistical methods applicable for the study of determinants will be presented. The teaching will to a large extent be based on current research projects. Strong emphasis will be given on methods for studies in different populations.

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures, literature studies, individual work and group assignments. The student shall create a portfolio. The assignments for the portfolio consist of questions that should be answered with support of data analyses, lectures, seminars and literature. At least two times during the course, the student shall present their work orally. For the oral presentations the student should prepare questions as a discussant on a fellow student's presentation that should be discussed in the group.

Examination

The exam is the portfolio. Portfolio constitutes 7 assignments of which 6 are graded. Grading criteria will be distributed along with the assignments. The final grading is based on a summary of all assignments. The grades used are not passed, pass, pass with distinction.

Mnadatory parts
Compulsory attendance at seminars. Absence is compensated by additional written assignment concerning the part of the course that the absence applies to. The assignment is submitted no later than 3 weeks after the day of absence to the course coordinator. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated for absence in accordance with the course director's instructions, the student's results for the course/respective part will not be registered in LADOK.

Limitation of number of occasions to get examined
The student has the right to write the exam six times. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor.

The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in will not be counted as an examination.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Transitional provisions

The course has been cancelled and was offered for the last time in the fall semester of 2019. Examination will be provided until the spring semester of 2022 for students who have not completed the course.

Other directives

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee for Higher Education.

The course language is English.

Literature and other teaching aids

• Aschengrau, Ann.; Seage, George R., Essentials of epidemiology in public health, Sudbury, Mass. : Jones and Bartlett, c2003. - xi, 468 p. ISBN: 0-7637-2537-4 (pbk.), LIBRIS-ID: 8965801,
• Global Health: An Introductory textbook, Lindstrand, Ann; Bergström, Staffan; Rosling, Hans; Rubenson, Birgitta; Stenson, Bo, Studentlitteratur AB, 2006 - 326 ISBN: 9144021984,
• Rothman, K, Epidemiology. An introduction., Oxford University Press, 2002