Course in Evidence for Public Health Responses: Statistical Methods in Epidemiology

Course Content

The following subjects are covered during the course:

• Planning epidemiological field survey
• Research questions, protocol development, data analysis plan, field manual
• Sample size calculations and sampling methods
• Analysis of complex survey data: clustering and weighting
• Linear and logistic regression in Stata and building multivariate models

Content

This course covers a comprehensive array of statistical methods essential for evidence-based public health responses. You will begin by learning the practical aspects of planning epidemiological field surveys, including the formulation of research questions, the development of a protocol, field manuals, and the formulation of data analysis plans.

Next, you will delve into statistical components, including sample size calculations and various sampling methods to ensure the statistical precision and representativeness of research findings.

The course will then explore advanced techniques for analysing complex survey data, such as clustering and weighting, to extract meaningful insights.
Moreover, you will learn to build linear and logistic regression models in Stata. You will learn to construct epidemiologically sound multivariate models operationalizing and selecting variables based on relevant conceptual frameworks.

This course is tropEd accredited and can be followed as a stand-alone course or as a specialisation course of the Master in Public Health and Health Equity programme.

Learning methods

Engagement in this course will involve a combination of interactive lectures, practical workshops, case studies, and group discussions. Participants will apply theoretical knowledge through hands-on exercises in Stata-based real-world datasets and research questions. Feedback and guidance from experienced instructors will facilitate an immersive learning experience, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities essential for driving evidence-based public health responses

Assessment:

For participants who wish to receive a certificate of completion of the course, including the ECTS credits, the assessment is required.

If you do not wish to do the assessment, you can receive a certificate of attendance of the course.

Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Formulate research questions for epidemiological field surveys based on stakeholder information needs, develop protocols, data analysis plans, and field manuals to ensure comprehensive planning and execution
• Calculate appropriate sample sizes and select sampling methods to ensure the statistical precision and representativeness of survey data in public health research
• Analyse complex survey data using relevant statistical techniques such as clustering and weighting
• Apply linear and logistic regression techniques in Stata to conduct simple and multiple regression analyses, and construct multivariate models based on epidemiologically sound conceptual frameworks