Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Epidemiology
Course Code
SVUEK_106
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine; Public and environmental health
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Information and Communication Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Aija Bukova-Žideļūna
Structure Unit Manager
Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne
Structural Unit
Institute of Public Health
Contacts
Riga, 8 Kronvalda boulevard, svek@rsu.lv, +37167338307
About Study Course
Objective
Extend knowledge of basic issues of epidemiology that is necessary for understanding and interpreting health research and other health information.
Preliminary Knowledge
Good reading skills in English.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.On successful completion of the course, students will: • Describe the historical development and present understanding of the concept of epidemiology, presenting the future challenges. • Identify and interpret the concepts of causative factors, risk factors, as well as related factors of health and diseases in the context of multifactorial causation theory. • Define the principles for measuring health events and conditions. • List potential sources of health information, their advantages and disadvantages. • Classify the main types of epidemiological studies. List their advantages and disadvantages. • Explain the concept of confounder and systemic deviation.
Skills
1.On successful completion of the course, students will: • Distinguish between causal and non-causal associations of factors and health events. • Calculate indicators of health events and conditions. • Calculate association indicators. • Calculate the specificity, sensitivity and predictable values of the tests.
Competences
1.On successful completion of the course, students will: • Select the health incident rates that are appropriate for describing the health problem. • Assess the relevance of the research design to the subject matter. • Interpret the nature of association indicators. • Interpret the disease prevalence and incidence, morbidity and mortality rates in different populations and their changes over time. • Assess the validity of evidence for treatment, prevention and healthcare system and policy practices.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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Work with literature, data search and compilation for submission of the independent work. Presentation of the independent work.
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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Cumulative rating consisting of 2 presentation of independently accomplished work (2 x 25%) and a written exam (50%).
A successful assessment of his/her own work must be obtained for the student to be admitted to the examination.
Taking an exam is mandatory for a cumulative final score.
The assessment of independent work does not increase the assessment of an unsuccessful examination.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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The concept and basic principles of epidemiology.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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The concept and basic principles of epidemiology.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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History of epidemiology.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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History of epidemiology.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Causality. Risk factor. Confounder.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Causality. Risk factor. Confounder.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Key epidemiological indicators.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Key epidemiological indicators.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Crude, specific and standardised indicators.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Crude, specific and standardised indicators.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Critical assessment of health information.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Critical assessment of health information.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Descriptive epidemiological studies.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Descriptive epidemiological studies.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Biases. Sampling.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Biases. Sampling.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Analytic epidemiological studies.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Analytic epidemiological studies.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Association indicators.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Association indicators.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Diagnostic tests. Evaluation of screening for diseases.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Diagnostic tests. Evaluation of screening for diseases.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Planning the research, independent work.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Planning the research, independent work.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
48 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
M. Baltiņš. „Lietišķā epidemioloģija”. „Zinātne”, Rīga, 2003.
2.
Bouter, L. M., Zielhuis, G. and Zeegers M. P. Textbook of Epidemiology. Bohn Stafleu van Loghum. 2018.
Additional Reading
1.
Alfredo Morabia. Enigmas of health and disease. 2014.
2.
L. Gordis. „Epidemiology”. 3rd Edition. Elsevier Saunders, 2004.
3.
Fletcher, R. H., Fletcher, S. W. and Fletcher, G. S. Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials. 5th Edition. Philadelphia: LWW, 2014.