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PHFN 615 PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY


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PHFN 615 Principles of Epidemiology

About the Course

The course is a study of the general principles of epidemiology that involves the understanding of the frequency, distribution, and etiology of acute and chronic diseases, and the method for disease surveillance and control. Emphasis is on the epidemiology of lifestyle-related diseases and how to relate epidemiology to a more clinical setting.

Who Needs This Course?

  • Graduate students:
    • MPH
  • This course may also be taken by
    • Health professionals for continuing education
    • Health professionals as a non-degree course for professional development
    • Graduate students of other schools as transfer credit

Time Investment

1.5 hours per day – 5days per week – 7.5 hours per week

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Define key concepts related to epidemiology and how epidemiology contributes to improving health.
  2. Understand the meaning of measures or quantify the occurrence of health phenomena in a population.
  3. Explain the types of epidemiological study designs (descriptive, analytic, and experimental designs) representing various ways of gathering public health data or information related to health phenomena.
  4. Identify the factors that cause and prevent acute and chronic diseases.
  5. Apply epidemiological knowledge in the behavior modification of people who have lifestyle-related problems.

Topics to Cover

Week 1 History and Scope of Epidemiology. Modes of Transmission of Diseases and Surveillance

Week 2 Occurrence and natural history of a disease, validity of screening test

Week 3 Epidemiologic Study Designs: Observational, Cohort

Week 4 Epidemiologic Study Designs: Comparing Studies and Assessing Preventive and Therapeutic Measures

Week 5 Trials: Randomization, Risk, Association, and Causation

Week 6 Bias, Confounding, Factors in Disease Causation

Week 7 Using Epidemiology to Evaluate Health Services and for Screening Programs

Week 8 Epidemiology and Public Policy, Ethical and Professional Issues in Epidemiology

 

Facilitator

SHANTHI E. SOLOMON


Dr. Shanthi E Solomon is a Public Health professor at AIIAS. She has a background in nursing and nursing education. Having completed her BS degree in nursing at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, in 1987, she worked as a Registered nurse in three countries in the Departments of Cardiac Surgery, Neuroscience, Maternal and Neonatal care, and also as an educator before completing her MS as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and PhD in Nursing with an emphasis on education. Her special interest in Public Health began in Malaysia as a Community Health Educator. With experience running public health fairs and organizing health awareness programs for parents-to-be, children, men's health, and women’s health, she knows that “Prevention is better than cure”. She has experience with Home Health care, Palliative and Hospice Care, and Community Health Nursing in both Malaysia and the USA, giving her a broad perspective in teaching Public Health courses.

Developer

KLAUS IRRGANG, DrPH


Klaus Irrgang is the original developer of this online course. He is now serving as an associate professor at Burman University in Canada. He finished his doctoral degree in Public Health at Loma Linda University, California. He served the Public Health department of AIIAS as a faculty member for several years.


Note: The developed course was later updated by Dr. Eleonor Castillo and Dr. Edward Nathan.