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This module introduces students to the basic concepts and methods of epidemiology to help them understand, interpret, and apply basic epidemiological methods and is aimed at students who do not have any background in epidemiology.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, a student will be able to:

• Describe and apply measures of disease frequency (e.g. incidence and prevalence), measures of effect (e.g. relative and absolute risk), and measures of disease impact (e.g. population attributable fraction).
• Explain the principles, strengths and limitations underlying the following study designs: ecological, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control and intervention/randomised controlled trials.
• Identify problems interpreting epidemiologic data: chance, bias, and confounding.
• Be aware of criteria for assessing causality.
• Assess advantages and disadvantages of different preventive strategies, including screening.

Session Content

The module is expected to cover the following topics:

• Measures of disease frequency, exposure effect and exposure impact.
• Study design: ecological, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control and intervention studies.
• Interpretation of epidemiologic studies: chance, bias, confounding, causality.
• Prevention strategies, including screening.
• Epidemiology in practice.

Mode of delivery

This module is delivered predominantly face-to-face. Where specific teaching methods (lectures, seminars, discussion groups) are noted in this module specification, these will be delivered by predominantly face-to-face sessions. There will be a combination of live and interactive activities (synchronous learning) as well as self-directed study (asynchronous learning).

Previously, delivery of the module has taken place as follows:

• Practicals on Tuesday from 9.30-11am.
• Live lectures on Tuesday from between 11.30 and 12.30pm.

Assessment

The assessment for this module has been designed to measure student learning against the module intended learning outcomes (ILOs) as listed above. Formative assessment methods are used to measure students’ progress but do not count towards the final grade. The grade for summative assessment only will go towards the overall award GPA. 

This module will have a mid-term assessment which will not count towards the final grade. This will take the form of multiple choice questions and will take place online. Additionally, there will be a formative practice paper review to prepare students for the summative assessment. This will be self-marked. 

The summative assessment for this module will take place at the end of the module. In the last week of Term 1, there will be an unseen short answer question assessment made available, based on a paper review which will take place online. This will need to be completed before the first week of Term 2.

Credits

• CATS: 10
• ECTS: 5

Module specification

For full information regarding this module please see the module specification.

Please note: information based on the 2024-25 module specification subject to change for 2025-26 entry.