Epidemiology and Statistics
Code: 102643 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2502445 Veterinary Medicine | OB | 2 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Alberto Oscar Allepuz Palau
- Email:
- Alberto.Allepuz@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Jordi Casal Fàbrega
- Lluís Quer Roca
Prerequisites
It is highly recommended to have adequate knowledge of mathematics.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The Epidemiology and Statistics course is of the second year and is a compulsory subject of the degree of Veterinary studies. The subject introduces in the bases of the application of the statistics to the veterinary sciences and in the basic concepts of epidemiology that allow to understand the evolution of the diseases in the populations.
The objective of the subject is that the student knows the terminology and the methods used in statistics and in epidemiology.
The specific objectives are that the student knows:
- What are the basic statistical tests and in what situations can they be used.
- Apply the basic statistical tests and interpret the numerical results.
- Know the behavior of diseases and infections in animal populations.
- Design and carry out simple epidemiological studies.
- Apply the most appropriate study and epidemiological methods in each case.
- Develop the analytical and critical capabilities of an epidemiological study.
Competences
- Analyse, synthesise and resolve problems and make decisions.
- Apply scientific method to professional practice, including medicine
- Apply the basics governing the transmission and maintenance of diseases in animal populations.
- Assess and undertake epidemiological studies and therapeutic and preventive programs in accordance with the standards of animal welfare, animal health and public health.
- Demonstrate knowledge and use of statistical concepts and methods applicable to veterinary science.
- Diagnose different individual and collective animal diseases, and know about prevention measures, with emphasis on zoonoses and notifiable disease.
- Value and interpret the production and health parameters of one animal group, considering the economic and welfare aspects.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse, synthesise and resolve problems and make decisions.
- Apply appropriate statistical methods to different types of epidemiological studies.
- Apply concepts related with the transmission and maintenance of diseases in populations to the analysis of real-life situations.
- Apply scientific method to professional practice, including medicine
- Apply the concepts of statistics and epidemiology to the analysis of production and health parameters.
- Calculate and interpret measures of position and dispersion applicable to a data series.
- Define the epidemiological and statistical bases of evidence-based medicine.
- Describe the basic foundations of disease prevention programs.
- Design and perform simple epidemiological studies, selecting the most suitable for each case.
- Develop the capacity for critical appraisal of epidemiological studies.
- Distinguish the different types of epidemiological studies and their utility.
- Explain the evolution of diseases in populations and the factors that determine the same.
- Identify the pathways and methods for transmitting diseases.
- Properly evaluate the efficiency of a diagnostic test in terms of its application to a population.
- Recognise and describe basic causality and causal inference, and their relationship with statistics.
- Recognise the statistical distributions of a variable.
- Select, apply and interpret the most commonly used parametric and non-parametric statistical methods in veterinary science.
Content
Master classes - in non-contact format
Presentation and introduction
Block 1: Basic concepts in epidemiology and statistics
Methods of transmission and maintenance of the infection
Determinants of disease
Measures of disease frequency
Temporal and spatial distribution of the disease
Descriptive statistics
Probability and random variables
Diagnostic tests
Block 2: Epidemiological studies
Epidemiological surveys
Population and sample, parameters and estimators. Confidence intervals
Sampling
Types of epidemiological studies
Association and impact measures
Sampling in epidemiological studies
Bias, interaction and confusion
Introduction to hypothesis contrast and p-value
Analysis of variance
Ji-square test
Linear regression
Block 3: Economics and disease control
Basic rate of reproduction of the disease and characteristics of the host and the agent that may affect it
Technical bases for disease control
Economics of the disease
Tutorials - in non-contact format
There will be non-contact tutorials to resolve doubts about the different topics
Computer practices - non-contact:
Hypothesis and ANOVA tests
Ji-square test and regression
Computer practices - face-to-face (if the health situation allows it):
Introduction to the program R. Estad. description
Analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study
Classroom debate - face-to-face (if the health situation allows it):
Statistical problems
Problems with diagnostic methods and rates
Design of epidemiological studies
Analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study
*Unless the requirementsenforced by the health authorities demand a prioritization or reduction of these contents.
Methodology
The teaching methodology will involve asynchronous theory classes and synchronous tutorials via Teams to resolve doubts that we will try to be as participatory as possible. We will also do synchronous computer practices via Teams in which students will have to obtain the statistical and epidemiological parameters of different databases.
We will also do synchronous practical classes in which students will have to obtain the statistical and epidemiological parameters of different databases.
At the same time, students will have to prepare some problems that will later be discussed in class and any doubts that may arise will be solved and they will have to prepare two oral presentations that will be discussed in the classroom.
*The proposed teaching methodology may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.”
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Computer work | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 4, 5, 2, 6, 9, 15, 16, 17 |
| Debate at class | 6 | 0.24 | |
| Lectures | 34 | 1.36 | 4, 5, 2, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Development of works | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 4, 5, 3, 2, 6, 8, 10, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Self study | 65 | 2.6 | 4, 3, 8, 10, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 |
Assessment
Attendance at practical classes (face-to-face or synchronous) is mandatory to pass the subject.
The final grade is calculated based on:
- Statistical exam (30% of the note). The exam will be of short questions and problems.
- Epidemiology exam (40% of the note). The exam will be of test and short questions.
- 3 exercises (30% of the note).
. Assistance and deliveries of the statistical practices (5% of the note)
. Oral presentation on design of epidemiological studies (10% of the note)
. Oral presentation on analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study (15% of the note)
To approve, you need to take a minimum of 5 of each one of the exams. The last week the exam and the two analysis works of a database can be retrieved. If you have to go to recovery, the student must be examined of the part that is below 5. Students who have approved and want to raise their note should keep in mind that only the final exam will be considered.
*Student’s assessment may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistance and deliverables of statistical practices | 0,05 | 0 | 0 | 1, 4, 3, 2, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 14 |
| Epidemiology exam | 0,4 | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 3, 2, 7, 8, 10, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 14 |
| Oral presentation on analysis and interpretation of data in the context of an epidemiological study | 0,15 | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 4, 5, 3, 2, 7, 8, 10, 9, 11, 12, 13 |
| Oral presentation on design of epidemiological studies | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 1, 4, 5, 3, 7, 10, 9, 11, 12, 13 |
| Statistical exam | 0,3 | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 5, 2, 6, 15, 16, 17 |
Bibliography
Delgado, R., Probabilidades y estadística para ciencias e ingenierías, Delta Publicaciones 2008
Milton, J.S, . Estadística para Biología y Ciencias de la Salud. Mc- Graw Hill Interamericana (2001).
Petrie A.Watson P., Statistics for Veterinary and Animal Science (3d. ed.) Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
Pfeiffer, D.U, (2002) Veterinary Epidemiology. An Introduction http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/education/courses/epi/Pfeiffer.pdf
Stevenson M. (2011). An Introduction to Veterinary Epidemiology. http://epicentre.massey.ac.nz/Portals/0/EpiCentre/Downloads/Education/227-407/Stevenson_intro_epidemiology-web_2011.pdf
Thrusfield, M. (2005) Veterinary Epidemiology. (3ª ed.) Ed. Blackwell Science. Oxford.