Introduction to Epidemiology (face to face)

This course provides insight in the basic terminology and principles used in epidemiology. The course starts with the history and design of epidemiological research, and the different measures of frequency and association. Also, the principles of bias and confounding are addressed.

In the second part of the course, epidemiological fields of research as covered at UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University are presented.

At the end of this course, the student

• has insight in the basic terminology and principles used in epidemiology
• has an overview of important historical developments in health sciences in general, and epidemiology in particular
• has insight in the different measures of frequency, association and impact that are commonly used in epidemiological research
• is able to calculate these measures using simple numerical examples
• has insight in the different aspects of epidemiological research (etiologic / diagnostic / prognostic / therapeutic, causal / descriptive)
• has knowledge of the different study designs used in epidemiological research
• is able to read and understand (simple) epidemiological scientific papers and recognize, in these papers, which study design was used
• is able to apply the correct measures of frequency and association belonging with the different epidemiological study designs
• understands the meaning of the terms bias and confounding
• has insight in the different fields of epidemiological research as covered at UMC Utrecht and UtrechtUniversity

Our courses are aimed at clinical researchers, nurses, general practitioners, and other health professionals who want to improve their skills in epidemiology, statistics and (clinical) research.

Please note that the Introduction to Epidemiology face to face course consists of two course weeks. During the second part (second week) of the course, epidemiological fields of research as covered at UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University are presented. We strongly advise those who are not interested in this second part of the course to follow the online version

Two weeks, fulltime

‘Epidemiology – An Introduction’ by K.J. Rothman, Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, June 2012, ISBN-13: 978-0199754557.