Applied Epidemiology 1 - Distribution of Health, 5 credits

​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.

To be eligible for the course the student is expected to have successfully completed courses equivalent to 45 credits on the Master´s programme in Public Health Science, specialisation in Public Health Epidemiology.

The course aims to give advanced knowledge of epidemiological surveillance and its application within different contexts in the public health area.

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

• define different methods of epidemiological surveillance and its critical components
• list the main fields of use of descriptive epidemiological data
• describe the data sources that are used for epidemiological surveillance in different contexts
• assess the quality of various epidemiological surveillance systems
• carry out and interpret statistical analyses of population based data to describe occurrence and distribution of health and health determinants

The course highlights epidemiological surveillance and its history, considerations in the planning of surveillance system, sources and collection of information, analysis, interpretation of data, dissemination of results and evaluation of surveillance systems as well as ethical and legal issues. The role and prerequisite in different contexts (low- middle- and high income countries and at local, regional, national and global level) of the surveillance will be illustrated. The focus of the course is the interpretation and application of surveillance data when designing public health policy concerning different topics (specific communicable and non-communicable diseases among others) and populations (e.g. Maternal and child health).

The combination of the following working methods will be employed: lectures, seminars, computer exercises and individual work and group assignments.

The course will be examined by a written individual assignment. The assignment consists of writing a public health report including analyses of data, interpretation of the results and discussing limitations of the data and of the  methods for surveillance  the selected topic (using information from the lectures). In addition, the students shall present their reports orally in the format of a brief communication directed towards a general audience. The assignment will be graded as Passed and Passed with distinction or Fail.

Compulsory participation
Compulsory attendance applies only to the examination seminar, when all students are required to present their assignments orally. The examiner assesses if and, in that case, how absence can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the student's results for respective part will not be registered. Absence from a compulsory activity may result in that the student cannot compensate the absence until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
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 had 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.

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

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

The course language is English.