HEL-3006 Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics - 10 stp

The epidemiological syllabus will provide an introduction to, and practice of the use of epidemiological concepts, epidemiological/clinical study designs, and practice in how to read medical literature in a critical manner.

Statistics will include an introduction to the commonly used analytic methods in medical literature including multi-variable analyses, and sample size calculations.

Knowledge:

The student should be able to:

- define central concepts in epidemiology, including demographic concepts

- explain the pros and cons of different study designs

- explain and calculate sample sizes (study power)

Skills and competences:

The student should be able to:

- apply central concepts in epidemiology, including demographic concepts

- identify the study design used in scientific medical papers

- select the correct type of epidemiological and statistical data analyses for a given data set

- with the help of the statistical programme package SPSS perform statistical analyses, including regression analysis, multiple regression analysis, logistic regression and survival analysis

- interpret the results from the above mentioned analyses

The students have to pass two written assignments (up to 3 500 words) before they are allowed to take the exam.

The assignments are individual exercises, and will be handed out between the first and second session on campus, and between the second and third session.

The students will have two weeks for working with the assignments, which will be graded as approved or not approved.

Assignments to be handed in on Fronter.

The final exam consists of a six hours written university based exam.

The assignments and exam can be written in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

For the exam - Grading scale: A-E equals passed, F equals failed.

There will be a re-examination if a student fails the course.

Students with valid absence from exam will be offered a re-scheduled examination.

See also examination regulations: http://uit.no/students/studies?p_document_id=172032

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.