Ateneo - UPO

The Integrated Course (IC) consists of two modules: (1) Epidemiology; (2) Statistical methods for experimental studies

1) Barbuti, Fara, Giammanco. Igiene e medicina preventiva. Monduzzi Editore. 2008; Rothman. Epidemiology: An Introduction. Oxford press. Versione italiana: Rothman. Epidemiologia. Idelson – Gnocchi
2) Whitlock MC, Schluter D.Analisi statistica dei dati biologici. Zanichelli, 2010.

1) EPIDEMIOLOGY
Knowledge and understanding: To know the most important sources of epidemiological data. To understand the elements in the design and conduct of the most important types of epidemiological studies. To know the most important sources of bias in epidemiological studies. To understand the criteria for characterizing the causality of associations in Medicine. To know the key features of a systematic review of the scientific literature. To know the most important determinants of health in Italy and worldwide. To know the key features of the process of drug discovery and development and of pharmacoepidemiology. To understand the key features of Evidence-Based Medicine. To know the structure of an epidemiological paper and of the scientific editorial system. To know the main ethical aspects of epidemiological research
Applying knowledge and understanding: to be able to calculate measures of frequency and association. To be able to interpret the results of a meta-analysis
2) STATISTICAL METHODS FOR EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
At the end of the course, students will be able to describe from a statistical point of view of the data obtained from an experiment based on the type of variable measured and to identify and carry out the correct statistical test based on the biological hypothesis that guided the experiment carried out.

EPIDEMIOLOGY: None
STATISTICAL METHODS FOR EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES: none

The two IC modules adopt the following common teaching methods: Interactive Lectures with Presentations in MS-Power Point format. Use of e-learning platform and educational Internet sites

Specific exercises are planned on the topics covered in each of the modules.
A pdf copy of the projected slides, the in-depth material and all the information regarding the course and examination methods will be made available on the DIR (https://www.dir.uniupo.it/).

The two IC teachings adopt the modality of the written exam test. The test is based on closed questions, open questions, calculation exercises and interpretation of the results. The final grade is determined taking into account the achievement of the expected learning results of all the modules of the integrated course.

1) EPIDEMIOLOGY
General principles of Public Health
Definition of Hygiene and Public Health.
The concept of Health and its evolution over time.
Epidemiological methods for Public Health
Introduction to medical statistics (sources of data; elaboration and presentation of epidemiological data; health indicators: incidence, mortality, prevalence, survival; measures of frequency and association).
Main Epidemiological studies: clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, descriptive studies.
Sources of uncertainty in epidemiology: the role of chance, bias and confounding. Effect modification.
Causal inference in Epidemiology.
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses.
Introduction to pharmacoepidemiology.
Evaluation of the efficacy of health interventions
process of drug discovery and development
Adverse Drug Events and pharmacovigilance
Evidence-based medicine
Disease mongering.
the structure of an epidemiological paper; the scientific editorial system; ethical aspects of epidemiological research.

2) STATISTICAL METHODS FOR EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
Descriptive statistics (frequencies, position and variability indexes)
Basics of probability and normal distribution
Confidence intervals and hypothesis test for one mean
Hypothesis test for proportions
Chi-squared test
T Test for independents and paired tests
Correlation
Simple linear regression
Operating characteristics of a diagnostic test

1) EPIDEMIOLOGY
Knowledge and understanding: To know the most important sources of epidemiological data. To understand the elements in the design and conduct of the most important types of epidemiological studies. To know the most important sources of bias in epidemiological studies. To understand the criteria for characterizing the causality of associations in Medicine. To know the key features of a systematic review of the scientific literature to know the most important determinants of health in Italy and worldwide. To know the key features of the process of drug discovery and development. to understand the key features of Evidence-Based Medicine. To know the key features of National Health Systems.
Applying knowledge and understanding: To be able to calculate measures of frequency and association; to able to interpret the results of a meta-analysis
2) STATISTICAL METHODS FOR EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
Knowledge: At the end of the course the students will know the main descriptive and inferential statistical analysis techniques
Skills: Students will be able to describe the results deriving from a biological experiment and carry out the correct statistical test based on the biological hypothesis that guided the experiment carried out. They will also be able to understand the results reported in a scientific article regarding regression.
Transversal skills: Students will be able to understand the statistical analysis and the results reported in a scientific article in order to verify what is already known in the literature about a specific biological question of interest and compare the results obtained with those available in the scientific literature.