Epidemiology and Statistics
Code: 102643Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Medicine | OB | 2 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Marti Cortey Marques
- Email :
- marti.cortey@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Alberto Oscar Allepuz Palau
- Gil Solanes Farres
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
It is highly recommended to have an adequate knowledge of mathematics.
Objectives
The Epidemiology and Statistics course is of the second year and is a compulsory subject of the degree of Veterinary studies. The subject introduces in the bases of the application of the statistics to the veterinary sciences and in the basic concepts of epidemiology that allow to understand the evolution of the diseases in the populations.
The objective of the subject is that the student knows the terminology and the methods used in statistics and in epidemiology.
The specific objectives are that the student knows:
- What are the basic statistical tests and in what situations can they be used.
- Apply the basic statistical tests and interpret the numerical results.
- Know the behavior of diseases and infections in animal populations.
- Design and carry out simple epidemiological studies.
- Apply the most appropriate study and epidemiological methods in each case.
- Develop the analytical and critical capabilities of an epidemiological study.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse, synthesise and resolve problems and make decisions.
- Apply scientific method to professional practice, including medicine
- Recognise and describe basic causality and causal inference, and their relationship with statistics.
- Recognise the statistical distributions of a variable.
- Calculate and interpret measures of position and dispersion applicable to a data series.
- Select, apply and interpret the most commonly used parametric and non-parametric statistical methods in veterinary science.
- Identify the pathways and methods for transmitting diseases.
- Explain the evolution of diseases in populations and the factors that determine the same.
- Apply concepts related with the transmission and maintenance of diseases in populations to the analysis of real-life situations.
- Properly evaluate the efficiency of a diagnostic test in terms of its application to a population.
- Define the epidemiological and statistical bases of evidence-based medicine.
- Distinguish the different types of epidemiological studies and their utility.
- Design and perform simple epidemiological studies, selecting the most suitable for each case.
- Apply appropriate statistical methods to different types of epidemiological studies.
- Develop the capacity for critical appraisal of epidemiological studies.
- Describe the basic foundations of disease prevention programs.
- Apply the concepts of statistics and epidemiology to the analysis of production and health parameters.
Contents
Master classes - face-to-face:
Presentation and introduction
Block 1: Basic concepts in epidemiology and statistics
Methods of transmission and maintenance of the infection
Determinants of disease
Measures of disease frequency
Temporal and spatial distribution of the disease
Descriptive statistics
Probability and random variables
Diagnostic tests
Block 2: Epidemiological studies
Population and sample, parameters and estimators. Confidence intervals
Sampling
Types of epidemiological studies
Association and impact measures
Sampling in epidemiological studies
Bias, interaction and confusion
Introduction to hypothesis contrast and p-value
Analysis of variance
Ji-square test
Linear regression
Block 3: Economics and disease control
Basic rate of reproduction of the disease and characteristics of the host and the agent that may affect it
Technical bases for disease control
Economics of the disease
Computer practices - face-to-face:
Introduction to the program R. Estad. description
Hypothesis and ANOVA tests
Problems about diagnostic methods and disease rates
Analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study
Ji-square test and regression
Classroom debate - face-to-face:
Statistical problems
Design of epidemiological studies
Analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 34 | 1.36 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Debate at class | 6 | 0.24 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Self study | 65 | 2.6 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Computer work | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Development of works | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
The teaching methodology will involve classes that we will try to be as participatory as possible.
We will also do synchronous practical classes in which students will have to obtain the statistical and epidemiological parameters of different databases.
At the same time, students will have to prepare some problems that will later be discussed in class and any doubts that may arise will be solved and they will have to prepare two oral presentations that will be discussed in the classroom.
*The proposed teaching methodology may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.”
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation on analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study | 0,15 | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Statistical exam | 0,3 | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Oral presentation on design of epidemiological studies | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Epidemiology exam | 0,4 | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Assistance and deliverables of statistical practices | 0,05 | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
Continuous Evaluation
Attendance at practical classes (face-to-face or synchronous) is mandatory to pass the subject.
The final grade is calculated based on:
1. Statistical exam (30% of the mark). The exam will be of short questions and problems.
2. Epidemiology exam (40% of the mark). The exam will be of test and/or short questions.
3. Three exercises (30% of the mark).
3.1 Assistance and deliveries of the statistical practices (5% of the mark)
3.2. Oral presentation on design of epidemiological studies (10% of the mark)
3.3. Oral presentation on analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study (15% of the mark)
To pass, you must get a minimum of 5 in each of the exams. In the last week you will be able to make up the exam and the two analysis papers of a database. In case of having to go to make up, the student will have to present himself for the part that has below 5. Students who, having passed, want to raise their grade, must take into account that only the last exam will be evaluated.
A student who does not appear in the synthesis and resit exams will be considered non-evaluable
The commission of any irregularity in an assessment act (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI, unless this use is expressly authorized in the teaching guide), which may lead to a significant variation in the grade, means that this act will be graded with a 0. In the event that the teaching guide provides that in order to pass the subject it is an essential requirement to have obtained a minimum grade in this assessment act or that several irregularities occur in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject is 0. Apart from this, a disciplinary process may be initiated against the student who incurs any of these irregularities.
Single Evaluation
The single evaluation consists of a test that includes an exam on the statistics part, with a weight of 35%, and another exam on the epidemiology part, with a weight of 40%. On the same day, there will be an oral presentation of the work on the design of epidemiological studies with a weight of 10%, and another on analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study (15% of the mark). The grade obtained that day in these tests is 100% of the final grade of the subject.
To pass the subject you need to get a 5 from the statistics part and another 5 from the epidemiology part.
The single evaluation test willcoincide with the same date fixed in the calendar for the last continuous evaluation test and the same recovery system will be applied as for the continuous evaluation. Students who, having passed, want to raise their grade, must take into account that only the last exam will be assessed.
A student who does not appear in the synthesis and resit exams will be considered non-evaluable
Bibliography
Thrusfield, M. (2005) Veterinary Epidemiology. (4ª ed.) Ed. Willey Blackwell. Online available in the UAB library.
Delgado, R., Probabilidades y estadística para ciencias e ingenierías, Delta Publicaciones 2008
Milton, J.S, . Estadística para Biología y Ciencias de la Salud. Mc- Graw Hill Interamericana (2001).
Petrie A.Watson P., Statistics for Veterinary and Animal Science (3d. ed.) Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
Software
R (https://www.r-project.org/)
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 2 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 2 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 3 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 4 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 5 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 6 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |