Epi 2: Bias in Epidemiologic Studies

Sep 2, 2011 course is cancelled

Brief Description:

This is a second level epidemiology course that emphasizes the underlying concepts and methods for addressing validity and bias issues in epidemiologic research. Topics covered in the course include: overview of validity and bias, selection bias, information bias, and confounding bias.

Instructor(s):
Level: Intermediate

Who Should Take This Course:

Administrators, practicing professionals, researchers, graduate or undergraduate and even high school students in the health, medical, and behavioral sciences interested in learning fundamental principles and methods of epidemiologic and public health research . This course is also intended to address increasing demands to provide training to public health professionals and students in developing countries that do not have convenient access to academic training in epidemiology and related public health fields.

Dates:
August 31, 2012 to September 28, 2012
epi2 Click here to be reminded of future sessions of this course.

Registration:
Please read the syllabus tab, noting the prerequisites, text and software requirements.

Register Online -$499
Register Online -$399 (you must be affiliated with a college, university or high school)

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Epi 2: Bias in Epidemiologic Studies

Aim of Course:

This is a second level epidemiology course that emphasizes the underlying concepts and methods for addressing validity and bias issues in epidemiologic research. Topics covered in the course include: overview of validity and bias, selection bias, information bias, and confounding bias. See also the companion courses Epi 1: Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Epi 3: Analysis of Epidemiologic Data.

This course is a core requirement or elective in the following Program(s) in Advanced Statistical Studies (PASS):

• Biostatistics (Epidemiology)

Prerequisite(s):
Course participants should have some previous training or experience in epidemiologic research, in particular, having some knowledge about epidemiologic study designs and measures of frequency and effect. The mathematics level is basic algebra.
Course Program:

SESSION 1: Overview of validity and bias

• Examples of validity problems
• Validity versus precision
• A hierarchy of populations
• Internal versus external validity
• Quantitative definition of bias
• Direction of bias
• What can be done about bias

SESSION 2: Selection bias

• Selection bias in different study designs
• Examples of selection bias
• Selection ratios and selection probabilities
• Quantitative assessment of selection Bias
• Selection bias in different study designs (cont'd)
• What can be done about selection bias quantitatively
• What can be done about selection bias qualitatively

SESSION 3: Information bias

• What is misclassification bias
• Misclassifying disease and/or exposure
• Misclassification probabilities- sensitivity and specificity
• Non-differential misclassification
• Differential misclassification
• Independent misclassification of disease and exposure
• Quantitative assessment of misclassification bias
• Diagnostic testing and its relationship to misclassification bias
• Predictive value

SESSION 4: Confounding bias

• Simpson's paradox
• The concept of confounding
• Crude versus adjusted estimates
• Characteristics of adjusted estimates
• Criteria for confounding
• Confounding in different study designs
• Confounding, interaction and effect modification
• Confounding involving several risk factors
• Joint versus marginal confounding
• Variable selection and control of confounding
• Confounding: validity versus precision

Organization of the Course:

This course takes place over the internet, at statistics.com for 4 weeks. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing - there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor.

The course typically requires 15 hours per week. At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials, work through exercises, and submit answers. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments, and you will receive individual feedback on your homework answers.

Credit:
Students come to The Institute for a variety of reasons:

1. You may be interested only in learning the material presented, and not be concerned with grades or a record of completion.
2. You may be enrolled in PASS (Program in Advanced Statistical Studies) that requires demonstration of proficiency in the subject, in which case your work will be assessed for a grade.
3. You may require a "Record of Course Completion," along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU's).

As you begin the class, you will be asked to specify your category.

This course offers continuing education units (CEU's). For those successfully completing the course (generally this means marks of 50% or better on the homework), 5.0 CEU's and a record of course completion will be issued by Statistics.com, upon request.

Course Text:

The required course material is ActivEpi, Version 2 courseware (on CD) and its accompanying ActivEpi Companion Text, Springer Publishers, 2003. This companion text in electronic form is contained on the ActivEpi CD. If you wish, you may purchase a printed version of the companion text here. The previous links allow you to purchase these items directly from Springer. Springer typically offers a 15% discount when you use the order code AECT15 during check out. PLEASE ORDER YOUR COPY IN TIME FOR THE COURSE STARTING DATE!

Software:

None

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Epi 2: Bias in Epidemiologic Studies

Instructor(s):
Dates:
August 31, 2012 to September 28, 2012
Course Fee: $499
Academic Discounted Rate: $399

Before registering, please read the syllabus tab, noting the prerequisites, text and software requirements. When you click the register button, you will be taken to our secure transaction page.

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