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New this year: An online version of this course will be available to a limited number of distance learners outside of UCSF on a first come, first served basis. Please note that the online Small Group Section will be held on Thursdays from 8 to 9:30 am Pacific Time, and the online Journal Club on Thursdays from 10 to 11 am Pacific Time.

OBJECTIVES

All clinical research regardless if classified as patient-oriented, translational, epidemiologic, behavioral, outcomes, or health services research has individual human beings or groups of human beings as its unit of observation. As such, principles of epidemiology serve as the basic scientific methodology of all clinical research.

The objectives of this course are to provide a detailed understanding of the basic principles of epidemiology including:

• diverse array of study designs available in clinical research;
• importance of measurement;
• different types of measures of disease occurrence;
• methods to measure risk factor - disease association;
• approaches to identify and minimize selection, measurement and confounding bias; and
• conceptual motivation for multivariable regression analysis, a common tool in epidemiologic analyses.

PREREQUISITES

Designing Clinical Research (Epi 202), or equivalent experience, and Introduction to Statistical Computing in Clinical Research (Biostat 212), or equivalent experience with the Stata software program, are recommended.

FACULTY

FORMAT

Both an in-person and online version of the course are offered. The online version will feature the exact materials as the in-person version, with content being delivered through online recordings of the weekly lectures as well as online web conferencing for small group discussion sections and journal clubs.

1. Lectures: Tuesdays: 8:45 to 10:15 AM, Sept. 20 through Dec. 6. Lecture recordings will be available online later in the day. To determine if you have sufficient bandwith to view online lectures, please visit our demonstration site.



2. Small Group Sections
   Content: Overview and discussion of lectures, and review of assignments.
   Time:
   A. In Person Small Group Sections: Tuesdays 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Begin September 27
   B. Online: Thursdays 8:00 to 9:30 am (Pacific Time). Begin September 29. Note: A high-speed internet connection is required.



3. Journal Clubs
   Content: Apply methodologic topics from the course to the critical dissection of the contemporary biomedical literature.
   Time:
   A. In Person: Every other Tuesday 3:15 to 4:15 pm, beginning on third week
   B. Online: Every other Thursday 10:00 to 11:00 am (Pacific Time) beginning on third week. Note: A high-speed internet connection is required.

All course materials and handouts will be posted on the course's online syllabus.

TEXTBOOKS

Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics by M. Szklo and F. Nieto (S & N). Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 2nd edition. 2007.

Stata Statistical Software (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX) version 12 will also be used. A six-month student license for Stata/IC is the least expensive option that will be suitable to complete all course assignments. The TICR Program has arranged for a sizeable discount for UCSF-affiliated personnel. Directions for ordering can be found here.

GRADING

Grades will be based on total points achieved on homework (~60%) and the final exam (~40%). Weekly problem sets are due at the start of the Small Group Section. Please note that late assignments are not accepted. Scholars unable to attend Small Group Sections are expected to email their assignments to their section leader by the beginning of the session. Answer keys to problem sets will be posted following the Small Group Section.

ENROLLMENT

This course is open to a limited number of individuals outside of the ATCR and Master's programs. Preference is given to UCSF-affiliated personnel. We regret that auditing is not permitted. To apply for this course please fill out and submit the application below. Cost and submission information are in the application.

For scholars applying for the online version: Partial scholarships may be available, upon justification, to scholars residing in countries with low income or lower middle income economies as defined by the World Bank. If you believe you are eligible for a scholarship, please send a justification of less than one page to Olivia DeLeon at olivia@epi.ucsf.edu. In the justification, include the country in which you reside, your current income, and your access, if any, to educational funds from local institutions. Please also send your curriculum vitae (CV). Note that the scholarship does not include cost of textbook, any software, or any local costs associated with accessing a high-speed internet connection.

Application (Word doc, 20KB)