Assessment methods in public health nutrition, 7.5 credits

Bachelor's degree or vocational training corresponding to 180 ECTS credits (120 credits in previous Swedish system) in public health sciences, health care, or another relevant medical or social science subject area

By the end of the module each student will be able to: • Choose and defend the appropriateness of their choices of methods for each of a varied range of purposes. • Critically evaluate the uses and limitations of each of the assessment methodologies • Develop a protocol for surveys of dietary intake, body composition, and physical activity on individual and population level • Use a statistics programme and perform simple statistical analysis on a set of data • Demonstrate understanding of the principles for nutrition and physical activity recommendations and be able to evaluate and draw conclusions from study data • Competently perform selected assessment methods in practical sessions

The course aims to increase the student’s competence in designing epidemiological studies and be able to assess and validate (theoretically) dietary intake and physical activity on individual and population level. The course includes study design, statistical methods used in dietary and physical activity surveys, quantitative and qualitative assessment methods for dietary intake, dietary patterns, body composition and physical activity, the validity and reproducibility of each method as well as development of study protocols and use of nutrition recommendations for evaluating dietary intakes.

The course includes lectures, group exercises, seminars, individual and group assignments, presentations and practical sessions.

a. Written exam and written reports of solutions to problems in each type of assessment method. b. Seminars and practical sessions are compulsory. Absence from seminars must be compensated for by a written assignment. Absence from a practical session must be compensated for by taking part of the same session next time it is given. c. Grades are given according to the 3-graded scale; failed/passed/passed with distinction d. Criteria for grades are handed out upon course start. Students who fail in regular examination have the right to be examined five more times. This applies to examination of all compulsory modules. Students who have passed an examination have no right to be reexamined for a higher grade. Students who have failed two times have the right to be examined by another teacher.

A student can claim to be examined according to this course syllabus also after it has been closed, maximum three times within two years after the closing.

• The course will be evaluated in accordance with the guidelines established by the board of Education • Upon course closures, the course is evaluated using Websurvey.