Epidemiology
I. Course Description
This course will provide the student with an introduction to epidemiologic
approaches to disease prevention and control, and factors influencing health
status. Measurement and examination of morbidity, mortality rates and ratios
will
be emphasized. Descriptive epidemiology will be focused upon primarily in this
course. We will briefly examine analytical epidemiology and its importance in
the
field of public health.
II. Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Define epidemiology and how it is used as a tool to assess the health
status of populations.
2. Describe the difference between "health" and the “absence of disease".
3. Describe the composition of a rate, in terms of numerator and denominator and
the
relationship between them.
4. Describe the natural of history of disease.
5. Describe the levels of prevention and the appropriate application of each
level.
6. Distinguish the difference between epidemic, endemic and pandemic
disease.
7. Define multiple causation of disease and state the interrelationship of
host, agent, and environment.
8. Describe the difference between a rate, ratio, and proportion.
9. Define and calculate incidence and prevalence rates and the utility of
each type of rate.
10. Define and calculate crude, specific, and adjusted rates.
11. Describe sources of date on community health and the advantages and
limitations of each source.
12. Understand the utility of descriptive and analytic epidemiology. State the
differences between observational and experimental studies. Describe
case control and cohort studies; retrospective and prospective studies
and their advantages, disadvantages.
III. Required Textbook
An Introduction to Epidemiology 4th Edition by Thomas C. Timmreck, Jones, and
Bartlett; Boston 2002
IV. Tentative Course Outline
Assigned Readings and Topics
| January 17 | Introduction to Epidemiology |
| January 24 | Chapter 1-Foundations of Epidemiology |
| January 31 | Chapter 2-Practical Disease Concepts in Epidemiology |
| February 7 | Exam 1 |
| February 14 | Chapter 3-Selected Historical Developments in Epidemiology |
| February 21 | Chapter 4-Epidemiological Measures of Health
Status Mortality Rates – Review for Exam 2 |
| February 28 | Review for Exam 2 |
| March 6 | Exam 2 |
| March 13 | Chapter 6-Epidemiology Vital Statistics and Health Status Indicators |
| March 20 | Chapter 8-Research Methods, Study Design, and
Analytic Studies; Review for Exam 4 |
| March 27 | Spring Break |
| April 3 | Exam 3 |
| April 10 | Chapter 10- Field Epidemiology; Ebola Video |
| April 17 | Chapter 11 – Chronic Disease Epidemiology |
| April 24 | Review for Exam 4 |
| May 1 | Review for Exam 4 |
| May 8 | Exam 4 |