Occupational Epidemiology
- Course Number
- CHL5410H
- Series
- 5400 (Epidemiology)
- Format
- Seminar
- Course Instructor(s)
- Paul Demers, Tracy Kirkham, Jeavana Sritharan
Course Description
This course covers the basic principles needed for critical appraisal of occupational epidemiological studies. Study design, sources of bias, exposure assessment for epidemiological purposes, evaluation of causation, and the practical challenges of conducting occupational studies in Canada will be emphasized.
The course consists of lectures and readings associated with each lecture. There are no tutorials in this course. Papers and other material will be made available on Blackboard. Students will be expected to have read assigned materials and be prepared to discuss them in class.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course students should have a good understanding of basic methodological principles and be able to apply them to the critical appraisal of occupational epidemiological studies. The specific learning objectives are as follows:
- Describe common study designs in occupational epidemiology
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the various designs to address a specific research question
- Understand the methods for assessing exposure in occupational epidemiologic studies
- Describe the strengths and limitations of methods used to measure exposure in occupational epidemiologic studies
- Understand and identify the bias, confounding, and random error on occupational epidemiologic studies
- Be able to evaluate causation in in occupational epidemiologic studies
Methods of Assessment
| Participation | 10% |
| Assignment 1 – Background on Term Paper Topic | 10% |
| In-term Exam | 35% |
| Assignment 2 – Summary of Term Paper | 10% |
| Final Term Paper | 35% |