6103 (v.7) Epidemiology and Biostatistics 582

Area:

School of Public Health

Credits:

25.0

Contact Hours:

4.0

Lecture:

1 x 2 Hours Weekly

Tutorial:

1 x 1 Hours Weekly

Laboratory:

1 x 1 Hours Weekly

Prerequisite(s):

    6102 (v.6) Health Research Methods 581 or any previous version
    OR
    304179 (v.2) Health Research Methods 481 or any previous version
    OR
    13152 (v.2) Health Research Methods 681 or any previous version
    OR
    5427 (v.6) Occupational Epidemiology and Biostatistics 581 or any previous version

Syllabus:

Epidemiological research, association and causation, rates and ratios, standardisation, bias, confounding and sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests. Principles and evaluation of clinical trials, cohort and case control studies. Multivariate analyses - simple and multiple linear regression, 2 way ANOVA, ANCOVA, repeated measures and Kappa statistics. Use of SPSS software.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to - Apply epidemiological principles to their specific area of study within public health. Recognise and utilise appropriate epidemiological procedures according to study type. Critique and review epidemiological literature. Identify the range of problems to which epidemiology can be applied in public health. Use the SPSS software package to analyse epidemiologic data. Apply multivariate statistical modelling techniques.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

Afifi A.A. and Clark V., (1996), Computer-aided Multivariate Analysis, 3rd ed., Chapman and Hall. Altman D.G., (1991), Practical Statistics for Medical Research, Chapman and Hall. Beaglehole R., Bonita R. and Kjellstrom T., (1993), Basic Epidemiology, World Health Organisation. Elwood J.M., (1998), Critical Appraisal of Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press. Friis R.H. and Sellers T.A., (1999), Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 2nd ed., Aspen. Hennekens C.H.and Buring J.E., (1987), Epidemiology in Medicine, Little, Brown and Company. Munro B.H., (2001), Statistical Methods for Health Care Research, 4th ed., Lippincott. Pagano M. and Gauvreau K., (1993), Principles of Biostatistics, Duxbury Press. Portney L.G. and Watkins M.P., (1993), Foundations of Clinical Research - Applications to Practice, Norwalk, Appleton and Lange. Rothman K.J. and Greenland S., (1998), Modern Epidemiology, 2nd ed., Lippincott-Raven.

Unit Texts:

Gordis L., (2000), Epidemiology, 2nd ed., Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co. Dawson B. and Trapp R.G., (2001), Basic and Clinical Biostatistics, 3rd ed., Appleton and Lange. And for internal students only - Biostatistics Lecture Notes for Epidemiology andBiostatistics 682 For external students only - SPSS for Windows statistical software package, Version 10 or 11 (the student version is sufficient and version 11 requires Windows XP software)

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Internal Students - Mid-Semester Test 20%, Epidemiology Assignment 15%, Final Examination 50%, Computing Test 15%. External Students - Assignments 40%, Final Exam 60%. This is by grade/mark assessment.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 2	Y		Y