Study Designs in Epidemiology

This course is part of the Epidemiology for Public Health Specialization

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Filippos Filippidis

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Part of the Global Master of Public Health degree

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Epidemiology for Public Health SpecializationImperial College London

About this Course

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Choosing an appropriate study design is a critical decision that can largely determine whether your study will successfully answer your research question. A quick look at the contents page of a biomedical journal or even at the health news section of a news website is enough to tell you that there are many different ways to conduct epidemiological research. 
In this course, you will learn about the main epidemiological study designs, including cross-sectional and ecological studies, case-control and cohort studies, as well as the more complex nested case-control and case-cohort designs. The final module is dedicated to randomised controlled trials, which is often considered the optimal study design, especially in clinical research. You will also develop the skills to identify strengths and limitations of the various study designs. By the end of this course, you will be able to choose the most suitable study design considering the research question, the available time, and resources.

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Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 2 of 3 in the

Epidemiology for Public Health Specialization

Intermediate Level

A background in health sciences or/and quantitative methods would be useful, but not essential.

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

What you will learn

Compare and contrast different epidemiological study designs in order to describe their strengths and weaknesses.

Skills you will gain

Randomized Controlled TrialCase-Control StudyStudy designsCohort

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 3 in the

Epidemiology for Public Health Specialization

Intermediate Level

A background in health sciences or/and quantitative methods would be useful, but not essential.

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.78/5 (82 Ratings)

Filippos Filippidis

Senior Lecturer in Public Health

School of Public Health

17,846 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

Imperial College London

Imperial College London is a world top ten university with an international reputation for excellence in science, engineering, medicine and business. located in the heart of London. Imperial is a multidisciplinary space for education, research, translation and commercialisation, harnessing science and innovation to tackle global challenges.

Start working towards your Master's degree

This course is part of the 100% online Global Master of Public Health from Imperial College London. If you are admitted to the full program, your courses count towards your degree learning.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Introduction to Study Designs: Ecological and Cross-Sectional Studies

The range of different study designs can be quite confusing. However, to help you navigate the maze of study designs, we can split them into groups which share common characteristics. In this module, you will be introduced to these common characteristics, and you will learn the main principles of ecological and cross-sectional studies, as well as when it is appropriate to use them. By the end of the module, you will be able to identify and critically consider the advantages and disadvantages of these study designs.

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 15 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz

Week

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Case Control Studies

This module focuses on case-control studies, which is one of the best known epidemiological study designs. Case-control studies are particularly useful when you don’t have the luxury of waiting for a long follow-up period to conclude. In this module, you will learn the key elements of case-control study design, and you will learn how to estimate the appropriate measure of association when presented with data from a case-control study.

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 14 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Cohort Studies and Nested Studies

Cohorts were ancient Roman military units, but in modern epidemiology the word “cohort” is used to describe a group with a shared characteristic. In cohort studies, we follow groups of people over time, we collect data on their exposure and outcome, and try to estimate whether there is an association between the group-defining characteristic and the outcome of interest. In this module, you will learn how to design such a study, the kind of problems which may arise and how it compares with case-control studies. You will also learn about nested case-control and case-cohort studies, which allow us to harness the advantages of cohort studies in more efficient ways. By the end of the module, you will be able to choose the best study design in a variety of contexts.

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 20 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes

5 videos

Cohort Studies: An Overview4m

Measures of Association in Cohort Studies4m

Calculating Relative Risks3m

Nested Case-control Study4m

Case-cohort Study Design3m

5 readings

Recap: Cohort Studies10m

Strengths and Weaknesses of Cohort and Case-control Studies15m

Quiz Instructions2m

Strengths and Weaknesses of Nested Case-control and Case-cohort Studies10m

Quiz Instructions2m

2 practice exercises

Cohort Studies20m

Nested Case-control and Case-cohort Studies20m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Randomised Controlled Trials

Randomised controlled trials are often seen as the gold standard of epidemiological research, especially in clinical settings, and in this module you will learn why. You will learn the main design features of randomised clinical trials, why they are so important, and the difficulties and limitations in applying these principles in real life. By the end of this module, you will know how to design a randomised clinical trial and how to decide which is the best analytical approach for the data you have obtained.

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 21 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes

4 videos

Randomised Controlled Trials: An Overview7m

The Randomisation Process6m

Blinding in Randomised Controlled Trials5m

Course Summary1m

7 readings

Types of randomisation15m

Phases of clinical trials15m

Designs of RCTs10m

Strengths and Weaknesses of Randomised Controlled Trials10m

Quiz Instructions2m

Overview of Study Designs10m

Quiz Instructions2m

2 practice exercises

Randomised Controlled Trials20m

Comparing Study Designs20m

Reviews

4.8

74 reviews

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TOP REVIEWS FROM STUDY DESIGNS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

by MMay 8, 2020

I absolutely love this course. It's engaging and the facilitators are amazing. I have learned a lot from this course. It has deepened my interest in epidemiology. I will recommend it to anyone.

by STApr 11, 2020

Truly amazing experience ... i refer this course to the beginners in Epidemiology (PH) .. all study designs have been elobarately explained but in a very simplistic and understandable manner.

by KDNov 1, 2020

I can not thank enough the lecturer for his superb explanation of this concepts. I want to pursue on research feild and this was enlightening and inspiring.

by CMay 29, 2019

I think I'm in love... with Epidemiology. With each subsequent course, my thirst to understand epidemiology deepens. Thank you for this opportunity

View all reviews

About the Epidemiology for Public Health Specialization

Thousands of new epidemiological studies are conducted every year and their results can have a profound impact on how we live our lives. Decisions regarding the food you eat, how much you exercise, where you live and what treatment you will follow if you get sick are made based on data from such studies. This specialization aims to equip you with the skills that will allow you to correctly interpret epidemiological research, consider its limitations, and design your own studies.

The first course of the specialisation, Measuring Disease in Epidemiology, looks into the main measures used in epidemiology and how these can inform decisions around public health policy, screening and prevention. The second course, Study Designs in Epidemiology, provides an overview of the most common study designs, their strengths and limitations. The third course, Validity and Bias in Epidemiology, builds on the fundamental concepts taught in the previous courses to discuss bias and confounding and how they might affect study results. It also provides the essential skills to prevent and control bias and confounding and critically think about causality. At the end of this specialization you will have gained the essential skills to design and critique epidemiological research and you will be able to pursue more advanced courses in epidemiology. Although this specialization is part of the GMPH programme, it can be taken independently of the GMPH.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

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Study Designs in Epidemiology