حسان سليمان صالح حلوانى

 

King Saud University, College of Dentistry

Department of Preventive Dental Sciences

 

 

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN COMMUNITY DENTISTRY

 

DEN 513

General Epidemiology

 

Course Director      :           Dr. Hassan Halawany

 

Time                           :           Tuesday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM

 

Course Description:

 

            This course is an introduction to epidemiology and to epidemiologic approach to problems of health and disease.  The basic principles and methods of epidemiology are presented together with many of the application of epidemiology to public health and clinical practice.

 

Course Objectives:

 

            That by the end of the course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

 

• The nature and uses of epidemiology.

 

• The epidemiological approach to defining and measuring the occurrence of health related states in population.

 

• The strengths and limitations of epidemiological study designs.

 

• The epidemiological approach to causation.

 

• The contribution of epidemiology to the prevention of disease.

 

• The contribution of epidemiology to clinical practice.

 

 

 

 

 

Course Organizations:

 

Class activities will be in form of lectures and discussions.  The discussion will be organized so that both faculty and students will discuss the concepts presented.  Homework assignment in form of problem-solving exercises will be given.  Two written examinations in form of short answer questions, multiple choice questions and problem-solving question will be given.

 

 

Course Assessment:

 

            Classroom Participation              -           10%

            Assignments                                                -           20%

            Exams:                      

Midterm                    -           30%

                                    Final                           -           40%

 

 

Textbooks:

 

            Textbooks used in this course are:

 

            1.         Epidemiology

                        Gordis L.

 

2.         Epidemiology in Medicine

Hennekens CH, Buring JE

Little Brown and Company, 1987

 

3.         Epidemilogy – An Introductory Test

Mausner J, Kramer S

W.B. Saunders Company, 1985

 

            4.         Basic Epidemiology

Beaglehole R, Bonita R, Kjellstorm T

WHO, Geneva 1993

 

            A “course pack” of selected readings from the above-mentioned textbooks is available at the PDS Secretary’s Office – Miss. Beth.  These are required readings; students are expected to be sufficiently familiar with them to discuss them in class.

 

/Betchay. September 11, 2007

 

 

LECTURE OUTLINE

 

Week 1                      :           Basic Concepts

·        Definition and Background

·        History of Epidemiology

·        Epidemiologic Orientation to Health and Disease

 

Week 2                      :           Epidemiologic Concepts

·        Scope of Epidemiology

·        Epidemic vs. Endemic Disease

·        Classification of Disease

·        Multiple Causation of Disease

·        Interrelations of Factors (Ecologic Models)

·        Etiologic Concepts and the Control of Disease

 

Week 3                      :           The dynamics of disease transmission

·        Mode of transmission

·        Disease spectrum

·        Clinical and subclinical disease

·        Carrier status

·        Disease outbreak

 

Week 4                      :           Measures of Disease Frequency

·        Rates, Ratios and Proportions

·        Incidence and Prevalence Rates

·        Crude, Specific and Adjusted Rates

 

Week 5                      :           Measures of Disease Frequency (Cont’d.)

·        Major Sources of Error in Measurement of Disease

·        Selected Indices of Health

 

Week 6                      :           Descriptive Epidemiology

·        Person

·        Place

·        Time

 

Week 7                      :           Epidemiologic Aspects of Infectious Disease

·        Variation in Severity of Illness

·        Components of the Infectious Disease Process

·        Mechanisms of Transmission of Infection

·        Some Aspects of Person-to-Person Spread of Disease

·        Types of Epidemics

 

 

Week 8                      :           MID-TERM EXAMINATION

 

Week 9                      :           Types of Epidemiological Studies

A.                Observational Studies

1.                  Descriptive Studies

·        Correlational Studies

·        Case Report and Case Series

·        Cross-sectional

 

Week 10        :           Types of Epidemiologic Studies (Cont’d.)

2.                  Analytical

·        Retrospective (case-control)

·        Prospective (cohort)

 

Week 11        :           Types of Epidemiologic Studies (Cont’d.)

B.                  Quasi Experimental

·        Program/Policy

 

C.                Experimental

·        Clinical Trial

 

Week 12        :           Epidemiologic Studies

·                    Choice of Study Methods

·                    Problems in Etiologic Investigation of Disease

·                    Potential Errors in Epidemiology studies

 

Week 13        :           Causation in Epidemiology

·        Concept of Causality

·        Steps in the establishment of Causal Relationship

 

Week 14        :           Clinical Epidemiology

·        Definition

·        Distinguish Normal from Abnormal

·        Diagnostic Test

·        Prevention in Clinical Practice

 

Week 15        :           Ethical and Professional Issues in Epidemiology

 

 

 

/Betchay. September 11, 2007