MPH-515: Epidemiology & Biostatistics for Public Health Application I

MPH-515: Epidemiology & Biostatistics for Public Health Application I is a foundational course for students pursuing a Master’s in Public Health degree. The course covers essential concepts in epidemiology and biostatistics that are critical for public health practice. Students in this course learn how to analyze and interpret health data, assess the distribution and determinants of diseases, and evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions.

This article provides an overview of the MPH-515 course, its objectives, content, and learning outcomes. We will also discuss the importance of epidemiology and biostatistics in public health practice and the role of the MPH-515 course in preparing students for a career in public health.

Objectives of MPH-515

The main objectives of MPH-515 are to provide students with an understanding of the basic principles of epidemiology and biostatistics and their application in public health practice. The course aims to help students:

Understand the fundamental concepts of epidemiology and biostatistics, including measures of disease frequency and association, study designs, sampling methods, hypothesis testing, and data analysis techniques.

Critically evaluate scientific literature and study designs to assess the quality and validity of research findings.

Identify the determinants of health and disease and their distribution in populations, including social, environmental, and genetic factors.

Understand the principles and practice of disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Apply statistical methods to analyze and interpret public health data, including the use of descriptive and inferential statistics, regression analysis, and survival analysis.

Communicate public health information and research findings to different audiences, including policymakers, health professionals, and the general public.

Content of MPH-515

The MPH-515 course covers a wide range of topics in epidemiology and biostatistics, including:

Introduction to Epidemiology

This section provides an overview of the history and principles of epidemiology, including measures of disease frequency, the natural history of disease, and the epidemiologic triad of host, agent, and environment.

Study Designs

This section covers the different types of epidemiologic study designs, including cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and randomized controlled trials, and their strengths and limitations.

Sampling Methods

This section discusses the principles and methods of sampling in epidemiologic research, including simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and systematic sampling.

Measures of Association

This section covers measures of association used in epidemiologic research, including relative risk, odds ratio, and attributable risk.

Hypothesis Testing

This section introduces the basic principles of statistical inference, including hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and p-values.

Data Analysis Techniques

This section covers descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, regression analysis, survival analysis, and other statistical methods commonly used in public health research.

Disease Surveillance

This section covers the principles and practice of disease surveillance, including the collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data for public health purposes.

Outbreak Investigation

This section discusses the steps involved in investigating outbreaks of infectious diseases and the principles of outbreak management and control.

Control of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

This section covers the principles and strategies for controlling both communicable and non-communicable diseases, including vaccination, screening, treatment, and lifestyle interventions.

MPH-507 Public Health Program Planning & Evaluation

Public Health Communication

This section covers the principles and strategies of effective

public health communication, including message development, audience segmentation, and dissemination through various channels.

Importance of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in Public Health Practice

Epidemiology and biostatistics are essential disciplines in public health practice. Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations, while biostatistics is the application of statistical methods to biological and medical data.

Epidemiology provides a framework for understanding the causes and consequences of disease in populations, as well as the distribution of diseases across different subgroups. It helps public health professionals to identify risk factors for disease, develop prevention strategies, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Biostatistics provides the tools and methods for analyzing and interpreting health data. It allows public health professionals to summarize data, test hypotheses, and draw inferences about population health. Biostatistics is critical for the design of epidemiologic studies, the analysis of surveillance data, and the evaluation of public health interventions.

The integration of epidemiology and biostatistics is critical for the development of evidence-based public health practice. By applying epidemiologic principles and biostatistical methods, public health professionals can identify health problems, design appropriate interventions, and evaluate their effectiveness. These disciplines also help public health professionals to communicate findings to a range of stakeholders, including policymakers, health professionals, and the general public.

Learning Outcomes of MPH-515

Upon completing MPH-515, students should be able to:

Describe the basic principles of epidemiology and biostatistics and their application in public health practice.

Evaluate the quality and validity of scientific literature and research studies.

Identify the determinants of health and disease and their distribution in populations.

Apply epidemiologic and biostatistical principles and methods to analyze and interpret public health data.

Design and conduct basic epidemiologic studies and analyze and interpret the results.

Describe the principles and practice of disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and disease control.

Communicate public health information and research findings to different audiences, including policymakers, health professionals, and the general public.

Conclusion

MPH-515: Epidemiology & Biostatistics for Public Health Application I is a foundational course for students pursuing a Master’s in Public Health degree. The course provides students with essential knowledge and skills in epidemiology and biostatistics, including study design, sampling methods, measures of association, hypothesis testing, and data analysis techniques.

Epidemiology and biostatistics are critical disciplines in public health practice, providing the tools and methods for understanding the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations, developing prevention strategies, and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. By completing MPH-515, students will be well-prepared to apply epidemiologic and biostatistical principles and methods to address public health challenges and communicate findings to different audiences.