METODOLOGIA EPIDEMIOLOGICAModule EPIDEMIOLOGIA
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: MARIA FIOREExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will acquire basic knowledge of epidemiological methodology necessary to understand how health phenomena are studied in populations. In particular, they will gain knowledge of the main epidemiological study designs, with particular reference to observational studies, the principles for measuring disease frequency and associations between exposures and health outcomes, and the key concepts of validity, bias, and confounding in epidemiological research.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to apply the principles of epidemiological methodology to the planning and design of basic epidemiological studies, distinguishing among different observational study designs and recognizing their main characteristics, strengths, and limitations. They will also be able to correctly interpret epidemiological indicators and contribute to the collection, organization, and preliminary analysis of data, providing methodological support in the preparation of technical or research reports.
Making judgements
Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate the results of epidemiological studies reported in the scientific literature and in public health technical reports, recognizing the main methodological limitations, potential sources of bias, and confounding factors that may influence the interpretation of results.
Communication skills
Students will be able to appropriately use basic epidemiological terminology and clearly present the results of simple epidemiological analyses, contributing to the preparation of technical reports and to the communication of relevant data and information for prevention and control activities in health and environmental contexts.
Learning skills
By the end of the course, students will have acquired the conceptual tools necessary to independently deepen their knowledge of epidemiological methodologies and to understand the scientific literature in the field of public health, developing the ability to continuously update their knowledge on methods for the analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Epidemiological relationship and causality
Determinants, confounders and effect modifiers
Measurements of occurrence and association
Types of studies, descriptive and analytical, observational and experimental
Ecological studies
Observational studies: cross-sectional, case-control, cohort
Experimental studies: RCT
Review and meta-analysis
Textbook Information
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epidemiological relationship and causality | SLIDES and MATERIALS distributed by the teacher |
| 2 | Determinants, confounders and effect modifiers | SLIDES and MATERIALS distributed by the teacher |
| 3 | Measurements of occurrence and association | SLIDES and MATERIALS distributed by the teacher |
| 4 | Types of studies, descriptive and analytical, observational and experimental Ecological studies | SLIDES and MATERIALS distributed by the teacher |
| 5 | Observational studies: cross-sectional, case-control, cohort | SLIDES and MATERIALS distributed by the teacher |
| 6 | Experimental studies: RCT | SLIDES and MATERIALS distributed by the teacher |
| 7 | Review and meta-analysis | SLIDES and MATERIALS distributed by the teacher |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The assessment consists of a structured written test with 13 multiple-choice questions covering the course content, administered via the Exam.net digital platform.
Each of the first 12 questions has one correct answer and is worth 2.5 points, for a maximum of 30 points. The 13th question is used exclusively for the possible award of honors (cum laude) and is considered only if the student achieves full marks in the first 12 questions.
The test is designed to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the main concepts of epidemiological methodology, their ability to apply this knowledge to the interpretation of epidemiological studies, and their ability to correctly identify relationships between exposures and health outcomes, measures of frequency and association, and the main sources of bias and confounding.
An oral examination may be required at the instructor’s discretion.
Grading Criteria
The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale and is based on the number of correct answers in the first 12 questions (2.5 points each).
A score of 30/30 is awarded for 12 correct answers. Lower grades are assigned proportionally based on the number of correct responses.
A minimum of 8 correct answers (18/30) is required to pass the exam. Higher scores reflect a progressively stronger level of knowledge (e.g., 10 correct answers = 25/30; 11 correct answers = 28/30, after rounding).
The final grade directly reflects the level of mastery of the course content, particularly with regard to the understanding and application of epidemiological methodology.
Honors (cum laude) may be awarded to students who achieve 30/30 and correctly answer the 13th question.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1) If an Odds Ratio equal to 3 was calculated through a case-control study, the factor investigated is...
a) a protective factor
b. a risk factor
c. a neutral factor
d. None of the above
2) In the forest plot on your right, what does the number 1.0 indicated by the arrow represent?
a) overall relative risk
b. sample size
c. absence of association
d. None of the above