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Socio-Medical Approach in Quantitative Studies
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:4.00
Study Course Accepted:14.03.2024 11:42:22
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | SL_109 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.00 | ECTS: | 3.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Mathematics; Theory of Probability and Mathematical Statistics | Target Audience: | Life Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Ieva Reine | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Statistics Unit | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | 23 Kapselu street, 2nd floor, Riga, statistika rsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67060897 | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 8 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 16 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 4 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 8 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 24 | ||||||||
| Part-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 4 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 8 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 4 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 8 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 16 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Application of statistical and epidemiological methods relevant to health and public health issues. The importance of statistical thinking; types of data (nominal, binary, discrete and continuous variables); data summary measures; contingency tables; graphical representations; notions of probability; probability models (distributions); principles of statistical inference; parameter estimation (mean, proportion (prevalence), incidence and ratios); concepts of confidence intervals and hypothesis tests; and a general introduction to correlation and linear regression models. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The course will give students in-depth knowledge of classical statistical concepts and methods with emphasis on methods used in epidemiology and public health. The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials they need to engage in rigorous population health research. Students are trained in the conceptual, methodological, and biostatistical skills they need to conduct epidemiological research. Students develop expertise in both the foundational concepts that underlie study design and analysis and in the innovative methods that are changing and improving the practice of epidemiology. The course trains students to apply social science theories, concepts, and methods to public health practice and policy making. The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge and skills regarding the application of statistical and epidemiological methods relevant to health and public health issues. The course also aims to introduce statistical concepts and methods with emphasis on mathematical applications in epidemiology and public health. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Socio-medical epidemiology as a science, practice and craft | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | Social and economic determinants of health | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||||
| 3 | Health protection | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||||
| 4 | Medical epidemiology in the past, present, and the future: theory, ethics, context, and critical appraisal | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||||
| 5 | Fundamental influence on health and diseases in populations | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Theory and practice, planning the epidemiological research in health care | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | Setting the priorities of health and health care | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Study designs and principles of data analysis: a conceptually integrated suite of methods and techniques | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||||
| Topic Layout (Part-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Socio-medical epidemiology as a science, practice and craft | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | Social and economic determinants of health | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||||
| 3 | Health protection | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Medical epidemiology in the past, present, and the future: theory, ethics, context, and critical appraisal | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Theory and practice, planning the epidemiological research in health care | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Study designs and principles of data analysis: a conceptually integrated suite of methods and techniques | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | • Read the compulsory literature to prepare for lectures and classes according to the plan. • Participate in lectures and exercise work. • Pursue independent project work. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | Fulfillment of the criteria at a minimum of 65 percent level is needed for a completion of the course. Written exam (50%) with a presentation of the project work (50%) at the end of the course, critically assessing the methodology used in it. • The written exam must be passed by minimum score 50 points out of 60. • The evaluation range for the participation and presentation of the project work: not accepted – 0 %, accepted – 30 %, excellent – 40 % of the final examination score. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | The course will provide in depth knowledge about the classical statistical concepts and methods with emphasis on methods used in epidemiology and public health, including theory, ethics, context, and critical appraisal. The students will gain knowledge about research that includes studies of the mechanisms behind social differences in health, evaluations of the impact of medical care and society on the health as well as planning and evaluation of programs aiming to prevent ill health in different population groups. The course will provide extended knowledge on the theory and practice, planning epidemiological studies in health-care sector, as well as how health advocacy encompasses direct service to the individual or family as well as activities that promote health and access to health care in communities and the larger public. | ||||||||
| Skills: | After successfully completing this course students should be able to assess and discuss on health-related statistical methods used in different fields like medicine, anthropology, ethics, history, psychology, and sociology, as well as analyse the appropriateness of the methods used. The students also will able to plan studies and assess: 1) quality and equity in medical care; 2) collaboration for health and 3) health in working life and vocational rehabilitation. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | The students will be competent to: • apply social science theories, concepts, and methods to public health practice and policy making. • identify relevant social and economic determinants of health in different types of studies as well as other research fields. • account for the most common types of epidemiological studies. • identify and discuss the pros and cons of various epidemiological methods. • account for the most common statistical methods on epidemiological data. • practically plan, implement and explain statistical and epidemiological methods to solve a research problem. • determine which statistical method is most appropriate for a given problem in one of the above fields. • discuss factors and interventions in the health- and welfare system. • discuss on priorities in health and health care and plan the monitoring of the interventions. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Clayton, D. and Hills, M. Statistical models in epidemiology. 2013. | ||||||||
| 2 | Brauer, F. Mathematical epidemiology: Past, present, and future. 2017. | ||||||||
| 3 | Bhopal, R.S. Concepts of epidemiology: Integrating the ideas, theories, and methods of epidemiology. 3rd edition. 2016. | ||||||||
| 4 | Honjo, K. Social Epidemiology: Definition, History, and Research Examples. 2014. | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Davidson, A. Social Determinants of Health: A Comparative Approach. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2019. | ||||||||
| 2 | Kirkwood, B.R. Essential of Medical Statistics. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons, 2003. | ||||||||
| 3 | Dawson, B. and Trapp, R. Basic & Clinical Biostatistics. 4th ed. McGraw-Hill Medical, 2004. | ||||||||
| 4 | Woodard, M. Epidemiology: Study Design and Data Analysis. 2nd ed. Chapman & Hall, 2004. | ||||||||
