流行病學方法

Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to: 1. Describe basic epidemiologic methods 2. Identify and distinguish basic epidemiological study designs 3. Recognize important characteristics associated with measurement in epidemiologic studies 4. Recognize and analyze the most important threats to validity: confounding, information bias, and selection bias 5. Critically review published epidemiologic papers and assess the validity of their design and their inferences

Introduces students to the principles and concepts used in epidemiologic research. Presents material in the context of an epidemiological framework with three major areas: population and an introduction of study designs; measurement, including measures of accuracy, disease occurrence and associations; bias and confounding in epidemiologic studies. Laboratory exercises and assignments provide experience with applying concepts and calculations to problems drawn from real epidemiological data and published literature.

Midterm assignment: 30% Final exam: 30% Class participation: 40% (10% per lab session)

Required textbook: Gordis, L. (2014) Epidemiology, 5th ed. Elsvier: Philadelphia, PA. ISBN: 978-1-4557-3733-8 Suggested readings: Modern Epidemiology. 3rd ed. Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL. Lippoincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2008. Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials, 4th ed. Fletcher RH, Fletcher SW, & Wagner EH. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Asia Ltd., 2005. 流行病學 --方法與原理. 陳建仁著. 聯經書局, 1999. Applied Epidemiology. Theory to Practice. 2nd ed. Brownson RC, Petitti DB. Oxford University, 2006