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OBJECTIVES

Epidemiologic Methods II is designed to extend upon the topics taught in Epidemiologic Methods (Epi 203) and to include further instruction in the methodology specific to epidemiologic research. Topics will include: the interrelationships between various measures of disease occurrence and association; concepts of attributable risk; interactions; practical and theoretical considerations of the most common study designs in observational research; methods of reducing confounding including matching, instrumental variables and propensity scores. More advanced analytic techniques specific to epidemiologic research are covered, including regression model building and diagnostics and hierarchical modeling. There is also in depth instruction in quantitative bias analysis for misclassification, selection bias, and unmeasured confounding.

The main objective of the course is to enhance a student’s ability to design and conduct unbiased and efficient research. The goals are to:

• Introduce students to advanced-level epidemiologic methods;
• Synthesize understanding in selected topics of advanced epidemiological methods; and
• Create a forum for discussion of methodological and theoretical issues of epidemiologic methodology and to put them into the perspective of the current knowledge of these issues.

PREREQUISITES

Epidemiologic Methods (Epi 203), Clinical Epidemiology (Epi 204), and Biostatistical Methods IV (Biostat 210). Exceptions may be made with the consent of the Course Directors, space permitting.

FACULTY

FORMAT

The course instructional goals are achieved through weekly lectures, small group discussion/computer laboratory sections, and data and literature-based problem sets. While there may be a brief review of topics covered in Epidemiologic Methods (Epi 203), it will be assumed that the student has a solid foundation in that material.

TEXTBOOK

Modern Epidemiology by Rothman K, Greenland S, Lash T. Lippincott-Raven Publishers. 3rd edition. 2008.

For theoretical aspects of epidemiological research and data analytic methods the following books are also recommended for reading and have been placed on reserve at the UCSF Library:
1. Epidemiology: An Introduction by Rothman, K. Oxford University Press. 2002.
2. Applied Logistic Regression by Hosmer DW, Lemeshow S. John Wiley & Sons. 2nd edition. 2004.
3. Applied Survival Analysis by Hosmer DW, Lemeshow S. John Wiley & Sons. 2008.

Textbooks may be purchased from the UCSF online bookstore (as well as Amazon and other vendors).

GRADING

Student grades will be assigned as follows:

ENROLLMENT

Application (Word doc, 20KB)

Course fees covered by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.