2024
Epidemiology and Research Methods
Name: Epidemiology and Research Methods
Code: CMS14264M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Health Sciences
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Presentation
n.a.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Epidemiology and the basic concepts on the methodology of clinical research are essential components of knowledge and crucial for those developing activities in the management of clinical research. With this CU we intend to lay the foundation for students to understand the epidemiological and research methods that support research and experimental projects, increase their knowledge and their critical ability regarding published research results, make them autonomous in placing scientific issues, recognize the limitations of the evidence on which are based many procedures, enhance the taste for curiosity, study and evidence-based study and knowledge.
Contents
The course will be taught in an integrated manner by addressing the following topics:
• What is epidemiology and clinical epidemiology;
• Dependent and independent variables;
• Outcomes measures and Association Measures;
• Tests and statistical models;
• Confounders, Bias, Modifying effect, Interaction and Collinearity;
• Design, implementation and conduct of research studies;
• Observational studies;
• Intervention studies;
• Instruments and scales;
• Systematic literature review;
• Meta-analyzes;
• Sample size and power of the study;
• Ethics in human research;
• Stata: a tool for epidemiologists.
• What is epidemiology and clinical epidemiology;
• Dependent and independent variables;
• Outcomes measures and Association Measures;
• Tests and statistical models;
• Confounders, Bias, Modifying effect, Interaction and Collinearity;
• Design, implementation and conduct of research studies;
• Observational studies;
• Intervention studies;
• Instruments and scales;
• Systematic literature review;
• Meta-analyzes;
• Sample size and power of the study;
• Ethics in human research;
• Stata: a tool for epidemiologists.
Teaching Methods
The adopted methodology aims to motivate the student in the learning process, promoting his autonomous research capacity as well as critical thinking. The lecture classes provide the basis for exploring additional content, regardless of the student's background. Some theoretical-practical sessions are dedicated to the use of software that supports research in epidemiology, more specifically, software for the analysis of epidemiological data. The evaluation and discussion of scientific articles and the evaluation of scientific projects are relevant topics that allow the acquisition and integration of knowledge related to the theme, and as such, they are a recurring approach in sessions.
The evaluation process will therefore comprise the elaboration of a scientific project in the area of epidemiology/clinical research, carried out in groups, to be delivered in the form of a written document: (i) document with the project (70%); (ii) presentation of the project (30%).
The evaluation process will therefore comprise the elaboration of a scientific project in the area of epidemiology/clinical research, carried out in groups, to be delivered in the form of a written document: (i) document with the project (70%); (ii) presentation of the project (30%).
