Study Design in Etiologic Research (face to face)

In this course the principles and practice of cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies are taught. Design, data collection and outcome measures are discussed, as well as the major advantages and disadvantages of the different study designs. Emphasis is on the application of study design in etiologic research. The course focuses on the more classical approach but also addresses modern concepts and design options, such as case-cohort designs. Various study designs are discussed, with emphasis on issues of validity.

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• Explain the principles, design and validity aspects of a cohort study, a case control study and a cross-sectional study
• Interpret the measures of frequency and association from cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies
• Calculate the corresponding measures of frequency and association (level 3) and explain these calculations
• Explain modern designs used instead of the classical case-control study (e.g. case-cohort study, case-cross-over study)
• Explain the methods for data collection in the different study designs
• Explain the specific aspects of study design in veterinary epidemiology as compared to ‘human’ epidemiology (e.g. clustering of animals and the effects this has on study design, measurement of exposure status, disease status and confounders, and the selection of the study population)
• Appraise scientific abstracts and papers on the choice of study design and debate its validity aspects
• Design an appropriate study to be used in a specific situation or to answer an etiologic study question.

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.

2 weeks, fulltime