AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquire the epidemiological knowledge necessary to understand and address issues relating to organisation, research and teaching in the diagnostic healthcare sector

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course has the following objectives:

1. To learn the fundamental concepts of epidemiology.
2. To apply the primary measures used in epidemiology, including measures of frequency and association.
3. To acquire basic concepts of demography and understand standardization techniques.
4. To plan and understand the key types of epidemiological studies, such as descriptive, cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies.
5. To comprehend the methodology used in clinical trials.
6. To become familiar with the concepts and models of epidemiological surveillance, focusing particularly on syndromic surveillance systems.
7. To understand the role of epidemiology in health planning and to develop critical skills for evaluating the results of clinical and epidemiological studies.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is delivered through traditional face-to-face lectures.

Students with certified Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities, or other special educational needs are strongly encouraged to contact the instructors at the beginning of the course. Together, they can agree on appropriate teaching strategies which, while respecting the learning objectives, take into account individual learning styles and provide suitable compensatory tools.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Epidemiology: definition and objectives;

• Measuring health events: absolute frequencies, ratios, proportions, and rates; incidence, prevalence, mortality, and case fatality;

• Measuring health events in a fixed (static) cohort and in an open (dynamic) cohort;

• Assessment of risks, needs, and effectiveness in Public Health;

• Epidemiological surveillance and epidemic management;

• Describing the health status of the population: descriptive epidemiological studies;

• Evaluating associations in epidemiology: cohort and case-control studies;

• Experimental epidemiological studies: randomized controlled trials and community trials.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Lopalco PL, Tozzi AE Epidemiologia facile Il pensiero scientifico

- Jekel JF, Katz DL, Elmore JG Epidemiologia, biostatistica e medicina preventiva EdiSES

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course is held in person during the first semester of the first year.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Student learning is assessed through an oral examination.

Exam dates will be published on Aulaweb.

Examinations for integrated courses are held in a single session at the University of Genoa. The examination boards are chaired by the Coordinators of the integrated courses or their delegates and must be composed in accordance with Article 29, paragraphs 5 and 6 of the University Teaching Regulations.

As established by the Degree Program Regulations, examinations may only be held during designated periods, known as examination sessions. Assessment activities must not, as a rule, overlap with periods in which teaching activities are scheduled.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination discusses at least two topics covered during the course. It is designed to assess the student’s knowledge of theoretical concepts and their ability to make connections between topics and express ideas independently. If the minimum learning objectives of the course are not met, the exam will be considered a failure.

Students with certified Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or other special educational needs may agree with the instructor on whether to take the exam in written or oral form by contacting the teaching staff at least 10 days before the exam date. These students are also entitled to 30% additional time during the examination.