| CODE | FSN2006 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Basic Principles of Epidemiology | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Epidemiology is the cornerstone of public health. It employs a quantitative approach to study the health of populations rather than individuals. This study-unit will allow students to gain knowledge and understanding of the methods that are used to identify the causes of poor health, to measure the strength of association between causes and outcomes, to evaluate interventions and monitor changes in population health over time. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to provide an introduction to the key approaches of epidemiological research and to the role of epidemiology in providing an evidence- base for appropriate public health policy, planning and practice. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the key aspects of epidemiology; - Explain the complex factors involved in the study of causality; - Evaluate the basic study designs used in epidemiology and compare their strengths and weaknesses; - Differentiate between descriptive and analytical approaches to epidemiological study; - Explain bias, random error, and confounding and discuss how they affect epidemiological studies and what can be done to minimize their effects; - Describe a public health problem in terms of person, place and time; and - Describe the applications of epidemiology and its role in society. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Evaluate studies based on their epidemiological design; - Draw appropriate inferences from epidemiological data; and - Critically read, write and discuss scientific concepts and methods. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text: - Bailey SL, Handu D. Introduction to Epidemiologic Research Methods in Public Health Practice, 2013: Jones & Bartlett Learning. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Petra Jones |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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