Course Syllabus
Epidemiology: Swedish Case Studies |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2018 - DIS Stockholm |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Public Health, Pre-Medicine/Health Science |
| Faculty Members: |
Nora Döring |
| Program Director: |
Lisbeth Borbye |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays and Thursdays, 8:30 - 9:50, 1D-509 |
Faculty
|
Nora Döring MSc in Epidemiology and MSc in European Public Health from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Research fellow in health politics at Maastricht University (2011-2013). Since 2013 doctoral student in the department of Public Health Sciences at the Karolinska Institutet with a research focus on the prevention and societal consequences of childhood obesity. With DIS since 2017. |
Course Description
This course focuses on the central concepts of epidemiology and the different study designs available. Students will analyze and assess epidemiological studies of health status in the Swedish population and explore the value of the renowned Swedish population-based registers. Throughout the course, students will discuss how epidemiology contribute to the large body of public health research and inform decision making in the field.
Expected Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Define and understand the fundamental concepts of epidemiology
- Distinguish between types of epidemiological studies, and understand their ‘hierarchy’ with respect to research
- Calculate and interpret basic measures of occurrence and association and interpret the results
- Gain an understanding of the unique resources that Swedish health registers represent for epidemiological research
- Apply epidemiological thinking to critically read and appraise articles in medical literature
- Analytically asses collection and analysis of data, and evaluate the relevant hypotheses
- Discuss the public health implications of epidemiological data and research
Teaching Methods
Different teaching formats will be used. The course may be a mix of interactive lectures, class discussions, group work, student presentations and peer feedback. Traditional theoretical knowledge acquisition will be combined with problem-based learning techniques. A major part of the course will be based on debating issues, and students are expected to engage actively in oral presentations, discussions, group work and exercises.
Evaluation and Grading
To be eligible for a passing grade in this class all of the assigned work must be completed.
The factors influencing the final grade and the proportional importance of each factor is shown below:
|
Component |
Weight |
|
Participation |
15 % |
|
Presentation and Report (Group work) |
30 % |
|
Individual Presentation |
15 % |
|
Midterm Exam (In class) |
25 % |
|
Individual Assignment |
15 % |
Participation
Participation in class requires arriving on time and being prepared in relation to readings and other assignments. Your participation grade reflects the importance of being active in this course, which relies in great part on the reflections, discussions, and exercises in class. Active participation is essential in both the classroom, on study tours, and in group work. Attendance is mandatory.
Group Report and Presentation
As a group, you are expected to prepare a report (max. 20 pages, 1.5 space, font 12) in which they (1) describe the burden of a disease of their choice, (2) outline an epidemiological register-based or register-supported study. In addition you are expected prepare a 5 min pitch presentation. Report is due 30. April 2018. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.
Individual Presentation
You are expected to give a 10 min presentation on a scientific article that applies one of the study designs discussed in the course. The presentation should entail a general description of the study design and a summary and description of the article chosen. Further detailed guidelines (including dates of presentation) will be provided in class.
Mid-Term Exam
On 01. March 2018 you will have a mid-term quiz which will cover topics from lectures 1-10.You are allowed to have 1 A4 page of notes with you.
Individual Assignment
You receive a scientific article that you should critically assess applying one of the assessment tools introduced during the course. You are allowed to discuss with your classmates, the report (max. 5 pages, 1.5 space, font 12) has to be written individually and handed in the latest 06. May 2018. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.
Detailed assignment descriptions will be made available on Assignments on Canvas and/or in class.
Expectations of Students & Code of Conduct
- Laptops may be used for note‐taking, fact‐checking, or assignment in the classroom, but only when indicated by the instructor. At all other times laptops and electronic devices should be put away during class time.
- Reading must be done prior to the class session; a huge part of the class is dependent on discussions in class.
- Students need to be present and participating to receive full credit. The final grade will be affected by unexcused absences and lack of participation. Remember to be in class on time!
- Classroom etiquette includes being respectful of other opinions, listening to others and entering a dialogue in a constructive manner.
- Students are expected to ask relevant questions in regards to the material covered.
Field Studies
Department of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control of Stockholm County: How to respond to a disease outbreak? This is an important question, and epidemiologists can help to answer. it During the field study students will learn about outbreak preparedness and Sweden's strategies in responding to disease outbreaks. Date: 11.04.2018
Statistiska centralbyrån: Students will be visiting the head office of Statistiska centralbyrån (Statistics Sweden). The Swedish registers are often described as the gold mine of epidemiological research. Students will be introduced to the various registers available in Sweden, how they are administered and used for research. Date: 21.02.2018
Field studies are subject to change.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
DIS Contacts
Mark Peters, Academic Coordinator, mpe@disstockholm.se
Bettina Hornbøll, Science & Health Assistant Program Director, bho@dis.dk
Lisbeth Borbye, Science & Health Program Director, lbo@dis.dk
Required Readings
The textbook will be the students’ main reading for the course. Chapters will be assigned for individual lectures. In addition, students will read peer-reviewed scientific articles, which are made available through Canvas. Students are expected to check the calendar. For each calendar event they will find information concerning the readings.
Textbook
Leon Gordis (2013) Epidemiology 5th Edition, Elsevier
Selected peer-reviewed articles
- Sebastian Lundström et al (2015) Autism phenotype versus registered diagnosis in Swedish children: prevalence trends over 10 years in general population samples, BMJ 2015;350:h1961
- Murad et al (2016) New Evidence Pyramid, Evid Based Med 2016 21: 125-127
- Kuh et al (2013) Life Course Epidemiology, J Epidemiol Community Health 2003 57: 778-783
- Thern et al (2016) Long-term effects of youth unemployment on mental health: does an economic crisis make a difference? J Epidemiol Community Health 2017 71: 344-349
- Von Elm et al (2007) The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement Guidelines for Reporting Observational Studies, Epidemiology 18: 800-8004
- Maret-Ouda, John, et al (2017). "Nordic registry-based cohort studies: Possibilities and pitfalls when combining Nordic registry data." Scandinavian journal of public health 45.17_suppl: 14-19
- Lager, Anton, et al. "Cognitive and emotional outcomes after prolonged education: a quasi-experiment on 320 182 Swedish boys." International journal of epidemiology 46.1 (2016): 303-311.
- Hainer & Aldhoon-Hainerova (2013) Obesity Paradox Does Exist, Diabetes Care, Volume 36, Supplement 2, S276- S281
Web resources
Country specific data on the burden of disease in Sweden:
http://www.healthdata.org/sweden
“Rethinking the mammogram guidelines”
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/11/rethinking-the-mammogram-guidelines/307791/
Information about the Swedish Registers:
“Do Vaccines Cause Autism? Correlation vs. Causation” (1/2) Do Vaccines Cause Autism? Correlation vs. Causation
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|