84245 - Medical Statistics and Epidemiology

Learning outcomes

Select, apply and interpret the most common statistical tests for descriptive and comparative analyses used in the biomedical literature and in the clinical setting. Contrast different study designs used in clinical epidemiology and research, and compute measures of treatment efficacy and risk factor impact. Describe the use and management of healthcare data in compliance with data protection regulations.

Course contents

This course is part of the Integrated Course in Humanities and Scientific Methods. The Integrated Course aims to provide students with an initial but structured understanding of how humanistic, social, and scientific disciplines contribute to health and medical practice. Through this interdisciplinary approach, students will explore key historical milestones in medicine, fundamental ethical principles, and communication strategies in the doctor–patient relationship, as well as the psychological and cultural dimensions of health. They will also examine major determinants of health and disease — including inequalities — and acquire essential skills in medical statistics, epidemiology, and scientific research methodology. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the role of evidence, data, context, and values in shaping healthcare practice and public health policies.

The contents of this specific course are the following:

• Observation units, variables, and measurement scales
• Frequency distributions and graphical representations
• Measures of central tendency and variability
• Shape of a frequency distribution
• Relationship between two variables: contingency tables and correlation indices
• Introduction to probability: random variables and probability models
• Random sampling, estimator theory, and confidence intervals
• Statistical tests for comparing means, proportions, and distributions
• Measures of occurrence and association in epidemiology

Readings/Bibliography

Pagano, M., & Gauvreau, K. (2000). Principles of biostatistics (2nd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Duxbury. [Chapters 1–3, 6–15]

Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., & Kjellström, T. (2006). Basic epidemiology (2nd ed.). Geneva: World Health Organization. [Chapters 1–3]. [Free download: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43541/9241547073_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y]

Teaching methods

Lectures and exam simulation.

Assessment methods

The final exam is a joint written test covering all the teaching units of the Integrated Course. It consists of a paper-based, multiple-choice quiz with 32 questions (each with 4 choices, only one of which is correct). The number of questions for each unit is proportional to its number of CFU:

• History of Medicine: 4 questions
• Ethics and Behavioural Sciences: 8 questions
• Medical Statistics and Epidemiology: 8 questions
• Scientific Research Methodology: 4 questions
• Determinants of Health and Disease: 8 questions

The exam lasts 30 minutes. There are no penalties for wrong or blank answers.

The test is passed with at least 18 correct answers, provided that the student answers at least one question correctly in each module. A score of 31 or 32 correct answers is awarded with 30 cum laude (30L). Students who fail the exam can retake it on the next available date.

Grades will be sent by email to each student's institutional address (@studio.unibo.it). The student has three days to reject the grade by replying to the professor's message. After that, the grade will be considered accepted and recorded.

Reviewing the exam with the professor is possible, upon request, only in case of a failing grade. Details about the test questions or the student's incorrect answers will not be shared by email.

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or those with temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the relevant office in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) to arrange appropriate compensatory measures. The request must be submitted to the professor at least 15 days before the exam date. The professor will assess the suitability of the proposed measures in relation to the course's learning objectives.

Teaching tools

The slides and scientific articles presented in class will be made available to students on the university's online platform, along with other selected teaching materials.

Office hours

See the website of Jacopo Lenzi