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Module: Epidemiology and Statistics

Topic 1: Introduction to the Module and Assignment


Objectives

When you have completed the reading and participated in the taught components for this week, we hope you will be able to

  • Understand the need for critical appraisal of research information
  • Understand the role of good quality data in monitoring and improving a population’s health


Lecture: It's not just about the numbers

Numbers are often used in news media and debates about health, but where do the numbers come from? This lecture will introduce the concepts of critical appraisal and the need to look behind the numbers as to how they were collected, who from, and how they are interpreted. Lack of systems for collecting vital statistics will contribute to global inequality. Using examples of information from the media, reports and scientific literature the principles of critical appraisal will be described. Tools for critical appraisal will be introduced.

Preparation for this Week

Read the two articles from the media and the accompanying research papers. You will find it helpful to read the media article first.

 

1. Malaria in India

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11588212 and Dhingra et al

2. Eating red meat

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/mar/12/red-meat-death-heart-cancer

and Pan A et al

Write down any questions that arise from reading the papers and bring to the seminar. 

Set Reading

BOOK CHAPTERS

 

ACADEMIC PAPERS

  • N Dhingra, P Jha, VP Sharma, for the Million Death Study Collaborators et al. Adult and child malaria mortality in India: a nationally representative mortality survey Lancet 2010; 376: 1768–74 (read it here)
  • Pan A, Sun Q, Bernstein AM, Schulze MB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Hu FB Red Meat Consumption and Mortality Results From 2 Prospective Cohort Studies - Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(7):555-563. (read it here)
  • Fowkes FG, Fulton PM. Critical appraisal of published research: Introductory guidelines. BMJ; 302: 1136–1140. (read it here)

 

WEB SITE

Lecture Notes and Powerpoints

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