Epidemiology

- To know the principles and foundations of the epidemiological method.
- To know how to calculate and interpret the basic demographic and health indicators to establish a population health diagnosis.
- Being able to describe and characterize the essential aspects of a health problem through its distribution according to the variables of person, place and time.
Know how to calculate and interpret the measures of frequency, association and potential impact.
- Know, understand and be able to design the different types of epidemiological studies to analyze different situations and health problems.
- Know the useful measures to measure the impact of interventions on population health.
- Be able to detect, avoid and correct random and systematic errors in the design and analysis of research studies.
- Be able to assess the reliability of diagnostic and screening tests for the disease using the measures of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values.
- Correctly interpret the methodology and results of a scientific publication

Block I. Introduction (1 hour)
Topic 1. Epidemiology. Historical evolution, concept and applications. Causal inference and causality criteria

Block II. Demographics (2 hours)
Topic 2. Static demography and dynamic demography
Topic 3. Health information systems and health indicators

Block III. Epidemiological studies (6 hours)
Topic 4. Measurements of frequency, effect and impact.
Topic 5. Experimental studies
Topic 6. Cohort studies
Topic 7. Case-control studies
Topic 8. Cross-sectional and ecological studies
Topic 9. Biases. systematic and random errors

Block IV. Diagnostic tests (1 hour)
Topic 10. Studies of diagnostic tests. Screening criteria

Block V. Synthesis of scientific evidence (2 hours)
Topic 11. Systematic reviews of the scientific literature. PRISMA guide
Topic 12. Meta-analysis. MOOSE Guide

PROGRAM OF PRACTICAL SEMINARS.
Seminar 1. Standardization of rates
Seminar 2. Measurements of frequency, effect and impact.
Seminar 3. Studies of diagnostic tests

LABORATORY PROGRAM

Laboratory 1. Design of epidemiological studies I
Laboratory 2. Design of epidemiological studies II.
Laboratory 3. Critical reading of scientific studies

Ildefonso Hernández-Aguado y Blanca Lumbreras Lacarra. Manual de Epidemiología y Salud Pública para Grados en Ciencias de la Salud. Ed Panamericana. ISBN 9788491101734. 2018. 420 páxinas.

Ahlbom A, Alfredssom L, Alfven T. Fundamentos de epidemiología. 9ª ed. Siglo XXI de España Eds. Madrid, 2007.

Argimón JM, Jiménez J. Métodos de investigación aplicados a la atención primaria de salud. Ed Doyma. Barcelona, 1991.

Argimón JM, Jiménez J. Métodos de investigación clínica y epidemiológica. 2ª Ed. Ediciones Harcourt. Madrid, 1999.

Ashton J. La Nueva Salud Pública. Ed Masson. Barcelona, 1990.

Hulley SB, Cummings SR. Diseño de la investigación clínica. Un enfoque epidemiológico. Ed. DOYMA. Barcelona, 1993.

Institut Universitari de Salut Pública de Catalunya. La epidemiología y sus apellidos. Promociones y Publicaciones Universitarias, S.A. Barcelona, 1995..

Last JM, Ed. A dictionary of Epidemiology. International of Epidemiology Association. Oxford University Press. Oxford, 1983.

Martínez Navarro F et al. Salud Pública. MacGraw-Hill-Interamericana. Madrid, 1997.

Norell S. Diseños de estudios epidemiológicos. Siglo XXI de España Eds. Madrid,1994.

Rothman KJ. Epidemiología Moderna. Diaz de Santos. Madrid, 1987

Rothman KJ. Epidemiology: An introduction. Oxford University Press, 2002.

Método Epidemiológico. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. http://www.isciii.es/ISCIII/es/contenidos/fd-publicaciones-isciii/fd-do… 2009.

BASIC AND GENERAL
CG3-Know and apply the theoretical and methodological foundations and principles of nursing
CG6 – To base nursing interventions on scientific evidence and available means.
CG16 – Be aware of the health information systems
CB2 - That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and have the skills that are usually demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and problem solving within their area of study
CB3 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature
CB4 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both a specialized and non-specialized public
CB5 - That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy

TRANSVERSAL
CT2 - Capacity for teamwork.
CT5 - Ability to solve problems.
CT7 - Analysis and synthesis capacity.
CT16 - Research skills

SPECIFIC
CE23 - Know the applicable legislation and the ethical and deontological code of Spanish nursing, inspired by the European code of nursing ethics and deontology. Provide care, guaranteeing the right to dignity, privacy, intimacy, confidentiality and decision-making capacity of the patient and family. Individualize care considering age, gender, cultural differences, ethnic group, beliefs and values.
CE12 - Understand from an ontological and epistemological perspective, the evolution of the central concepts that make up the nursing discipline, as well as the most relevant theoretical models, applying scientific methodology in the care process and developing the corresponding care plans.
CE16 - Ability to describe the fundamentals of the primary health level and the activities to be developed to provide comprehensive nursing care to the individual, the family and the community. Understand the role and activities and cooperative attitude that the professional has to develop in a Primary Health Care team. Promote the participation of individuals, families and groups in their health-disease process. Identify factors related to health and environmental problems, to care for people in situations of health and illness as members of a community. Identify and analyze the influence of internal and external factors on the level of health of individuals and groups. Apply the necessary methods and procedures in their field to identify the most relevant health problems in a community. Analyze the statistical data referred to population studies, identifying the possible causes of health problems. Educate, facilitate and support the health and well-being of community members, whose lives are affected by health problems, risk, suffering, illness, disability or death. Know the applicable legislation and the ethical and deontological code of Spanish nursing, inspired by the European code of ethics and deontology for nursing.
- Provide care, guaranteeing the right to dignity, privacy, intimacy, confidentiality and decision-making capacity of the patient and family. Individualize care considering age, gender, cultural differences, ethnic group, beliefs and values

Expositive classes (12 hours): In the expository teaching sessions, the teaching staff will present the theoretical-practical concepts of the contents, supported by audiovisual and computer tools. It can have different formats (theory, general examples, general guidelines of the subject and clinical cases). In addition to the recommended bibliography, students will be provided with complementary teaching material through the Virtual Campus.


Interactive seminar classes in small groups: theoretical/practical classes in which different topics of the expository classes will be worked on and some problems and practical cases will be solved, so that students can actively participate in solving the tasks that are raised (exercises, problems, practical cases, etc.). The student's work could be individual or in a group, and they might need to finish some of the exercises outside of class. There may be surprise tests to qualify the students when the teachers decide.

Interactive laboratory classes (6 hours): classes in which the students, following the instructions prepared for this purpose, will solve the tasks that are raised. The student's work could be individual or in groups and they might need to finish some of the tasks outside of class. Problem-based learning techniques, case studies, discussion forums or collaborative learning, can be used, among others There may be surprise tests to qualify the students when the teachers decide. For the interactive classes (seminars and laboratory) it is necessary to bring a scientific calculator, and a recommended laptop with Epidat 3.1. and 4.0 installed.

Interactive classes in which the activities are carried out outside the classroom (1.5 hours): they can be carried out with the aim of expanding, complementing, deepening, enriching and applying theoretical-methodological knowledge.

Tutorials (individual or in small groups) (1.5 hours): the tutorials are aimed at clarifying doubts, providing information or guiding the students, as well as to know the progress in the acquisition of skills.

The weight of the exam will account for a maximum of 70% and the weight of the continuous evaluation will represent a minimum of 30%. The evaluation will be as follows for the first opportunity:

Exam: The knowledge acquired will be evaluated through an exam that may include short questions, topic questions or multiple-choice questions on all the topics covered in the explanatory and interactive classes. Multiple choice questions will have a single valid answer, with incorrect ones not counting negative. The final exam will be graded from 0 to 10. To control the probability of randomly correcting the multiple-choice questions, it will be necessary to obtain 70% of the possible points in these questions to pass this test with an “aprobado” (5). To pass the subject it will be necessary to pass this exam.

Continuous evaluation: Different criteria may be used for continuous evaluation: attendance at expository or interactive classes, delivery of work carried out in class individually or in groups, completion of unscheduled tests at the end of seminars, laboratories or expositive classes, either in written from or through the Virtual Classroom. The continuous evaluation will qualify from 0 to 10.

Final mark: To obtain the final mark, the weighted exam marks and the continuous assessment marks will be added if the exam test is passed. If the exam is not passed, the final mark will be that of the exam, the continuous evaluation will not be considered. The grade will be zero if the exam is not carried out regardless of the continuous assessment.

The student's mark will be:
Final exam*0.7 + Continuous assessment*0.3

In the extraordinary evaluation of July, the same evaluation system that was used in the previous call will be maintained. The same evaluation system will also be used for students who take the subject at another university via Erasmus and return with it failed.

The overall mark obtained in the continuous evaluation is only saved for a single year.

Three hours a week, reviewing the theory given in class as well as the problems already solved in the interactive classes and other similar problems that are provided, already solved, in several of the recommended works.

Attendance to classes, both theoretical and practical, and dedication to rereading the subject the recommended weekly time. Consultation, extending the themes, of the recommended works, two or three basic ones and assistance to the tutorials. Absolute understanding of the exercises proposed in the seminars.