EPID 7133 – Epidemiologic Research Methods I (3 Credits)

This course will focus on epidemiologic methods - primarily methods used in observational studies using existing data, cohort studies, case-control studies and randomized controlled trials. With respect to cohort studies, topics covered include cohort identification, ascertainment of exposure status, follow-up of cohort members, measuring outcomes, sources of bias and interpretational issues. Case-control topics include issues around defining cases and controls, control of confounding, and sources of bias/systematic error. Topics around randomized trials include randomization procedures, defining and assembling treatment/intervention arms, selecting study subjects and approaches to data collection. Other topics covered in this course include surveillance and ecologic studies. Pros and cons of all study designs will be discussed, in part through readings of published papers. Fundamentals of data analysis will also be addressed, but a detailed discussion of that material will be covered in EPID 7134