Course

Reproductive, Perinatal Epidemiology&Biostatistics - SWCH9011

Faculty: Faculty of Medicine

School: School of Women's and Children's Health

Course Outline: http://wch.med.unsw.edu.au/postgraduate-obstetrics-gynaecology

Campus: Sydney

Career: Postgraduate

Units of Credit: 6

EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 0

CSS Contribution Charge: 3 (more info)

Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule

Further Information: See Class Timetable

View course information for previous years.

Description

This course aims to provide an understanding of statistics methodology and clinical appraisal for students undertaking study in a reproductive-health related Program.

This course is a core subject for Programs 9014 Masters of Women's Health Medicine. This course aims to introduce students to research methodology and statistical analysis. Using examples drawn specifically from the field of reproductive medicine this course will also develop in students the ability to critically analyse/appraise literature pertinent to that area. It is likely to be most relevant to those working primarily in a reproductive health setting-in particular gynaecologists in training, sexual health physicians, primary care physicians and family planning practitioners as well as nurses, counselors and scientists with a special interest in this field.

The Course will cover 7 topics:
  • Introductory statistics and epidemiology overview (includes ecological studies)
  • Incidence and prevalence
  • Case controls studies
  • Cross sectional studies
  • Retrospective cohort studies
  • Prospective cohort studies
  • Randomised control trials
This Course is delivered entirely online. An online assessment (by Multiple Choice Questionnaire) completed at the end of each module contributes to the overall assessment. The remainder of the assessment will be determined by essay/s related to the topics covered during the Course.

Course Aims

This course aims to provide a basic grounding in research methods, critical analysis of epidemiological studies and statistical analysis. It seeks to provide the student with the skills required to critically analyse relevant literature, both primary research
and reviews. Since this course sits within a Program which focuses on reproductive health examples cited in the course are drawn from that field of study so as to
make them relevant to course participants and applicable to their specific work context.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an awareness of the various epidemiological study designs and the benefits and limitations of each of these within a perinatal, maternal and reproductive health context
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of applied biostatistical methods, confidence intervals and statistical significance
  3. Use SPSS software as a means of analysing limited data
  4. Critically appraise literature published in the field of reproductive, perinatal and sexual health, assessing both study design and method, with an understanding of the potential errors and bias which could potentailly impact on any conclusions reached by the researchers
  5. Explain the benefits and limitations of specific research findings when providing information/opinion to patients and colleagues
School of Women and Children's Health

Study Levels

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