78853 - Environmental Epidemiology

Learning outcomes

The student acquires epidemiological and biostatistical methodologies applied to public health and evidence-based medicine (EBM), as well as the skills to design, analyze, and evaluate both experimental and observational studies aimed at identifying risk factors and assessing the impact of preventive interventions.

Course contents

Research methodology in environmental epidemiology:

• main experimental and observational epidemiological study designs;
• measures of frequency (incidence, prevalence) and association;
• causality, bias, and confounding;
• overview of epidemiological study analysis;
• evidence-based prevention and systematic literature reviews.

Analysis of case studies from the literature regarding health prevention and promotion interventions in living and working environments.

Given the nature of the activities and the teaching methods employed, participation in this course requires all students to have previously completed the e-learning modules (1 and 2) on workplace safety for study environments.

Readings/Bibliography

Learning materials will be distributed during lessons.

Textbooks for deepening study topics

General introduction to epidemiology methods

Lash TL, VanderWeele TJ, Haneuse S, Rothman KJ. Modern Epidemiology, 4th edition. Wolters Kluwer, 2021.

Introduction to environmental epidemiology

Bake D, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. Environmental Epidemiology. Study methods and application. OUP, 2008.

Advanced methods

Thomas DC. Statistical Methods in Environmental Epidemiology. OUP, 2009.

Dominici F, Peng RD. Statistical Methods for Environmental Epidemiology with R A Case Study in Air Pollution and Health. Springer, 2008.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Small group work and presentation

Assessment methods

Presentation of the group work (up to 20 points)

Multiple choice test, 11 questions (up to 11 points). One point for each correct answer, no penalty for wrong answers.

Regarding the assessment of learning, limited, declared, and non-substantial use of AI is permitted for support activities (e.g., summarizing, rephrasing). Substantial use of AI to complete parts of the assessment itself is not permitted.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Distributed directly or via the university website

Office hours

See the website of Eva Vanna Lorenza Negri