Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to research in disasters and humanitarian crises; main research approaches, research methodologies, and data collection techniques; objectives, challenges, and critical issues of research in disasters and humanitarian crises; basic epidemiological methods and concepts.

1. Rothman. Epidemiology: An Introduction. Oxford press. 2. World Health Organization. (‎2021)‎. WHO guidance on research methods for health emergency and disaster risk management. World Health Organization. Free download: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/345591

Knowledge and understanding: - Acquire a general overview of the main research methodologies applicable in disaster and humanitarian crises - Familiarise oneself with the sources of scientific evidence related to disasters and humanitarian crises - Understand the purposes, structures and challenges of research in disasters and humanitarian crises - Know the essential characteristics of the main epidemiological studies - Recognise the main sources of bias in epidemiological studies Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: - Be able to navigate among different sources of scientific evidence related to disasters and humanitarian crises (databases, platforms, etc.) - Formulate research objectives and research questions within the field of disasters and humanitarian crises - Learn the foundations of calculating the main epidemiological measures of frequency and association

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The course includes innovative and integrated teaching methods, including lectures, video recordings, and (a)synchronous online activities to apply the knowledge acquired.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam is written and in-person, and consists of a quiz with multiple-choice questions. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and to pass the exam, a student must achieve at least 18/30. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of at least the fundamental concepts of the subject. To achieve a passing grade, students must be familiar with the context of epidemiology and research in disasters and humanitarian crises, and be able to demonstrate acquisition of the relevant basic notions of epidemiology and research in disasters and humanitarian crises. To achieve a high grade, students must demonstrate complete mastery of the topics covered.

Formulation of research objective and research question; strategies for collecting and synthesising scientific evidence; approaches to field data collection (questionnaires, interviews); literature reviews; qualitative, quantitative and participatory research methodologies; research in humanitarian crises: challenges and applications. Epidemiological methods in disasters and humanitarian crises; sources and methods of data collection; processing and presentation of epidemiological data; meaning of selected health status indicators; measures of frequency and association; sources of uncertainty in epidemiological studies. Integration of the gender dimension The gender dimension is considered in the analysis of concepts, in case studies, and in the application of the research methodologies proposed during the course.

Knowledge and understanding: - Be able to describe the main research methodologies applicable in disaster and humanitarian crisis contexts - Be able to identify the main sources of scientific evidence relating to disasters and humanitarian crises - Be able to explain the purposes, structures and critical issues of research in these contexts - Be able to recognise the fundamental characteristics of the main epidemiological study designs - Be able to illustrate the main sources of bias in epidemiological studies Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: - Be able to retrieve, select and critically interpret scientific evidence relating to disasters and humanitarian crises - Be able to formulate a research objective and a research question relevant to issues in disaster or humanitarian crisis contexts - Be able to calculate and interpret the main epidemiological measures of frequency and association