Key facts

Overview

The aim of this module is to develop students' core knowledge and skills in applied clinical epidemiology through exploring how research evidence can be used to inform practice and how epidemiological information can be applied to both individual patient and health policy decisions. The module will be led by Dr Amanda Burls who is a Senior Clinical Research Fellow of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, at the University of Oxford.

Description

Grading Evidence

By the end of this section students will be able to:

• assess the overall quality of a research paper or report concerned with:
  • defining the magnitude of a health problem
  • evaluating the effect of a health intervention
  • causal inference (including the Bradford-Hill criteria)
• understand strategies for handling and adjusting for bias (selection, measurement and confounding)
• distinguish which of the methodological flaws in any paper are the most important and their implications for decision making

By the end of this section students will be able to:

• understand the other factors that influence decisions, such as quality of life, patients' values, ethical issues, and economics.
• understand how to integrate research in the clinical context to inform individual patient decisions taking into account the different risks, contexts and values of patients
• assess the reliability, validity and efficacy of a diagnostic test and how results should be interpreted in the context of the individual patient
• appraise and use decision analytic models and health technology assessments
• evaluate screening tests and consider their use in different populations
• consider the benefits and limitations of guidelines
• discuss the steps required in guideline development
• critically appraise a guideline
• consider the role of decision support systems in the implementation of guidelines

Staff

Assessment methods

Accommodation

Accommodation is available at the Rewley House Residential Centre, within the Department for Continuing Education, in central Oxford. The comfortable, en-suite, study-bedrooms are rated 3-star, and come with free high-speed internet access and TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

Scholarships

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are available on our financial assistance page.

Fee options

Programme Fee

Students enrolled on MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care: £1575.00

Students enrolled on Postgraduate Cert in Health Research: £1575.00

Students enrolled on Postgraduate Dip in Health Research: £1575.00

Short course in health sciences: £1890.00

Apply for this course

Programmes including this module

This module can be studied as part of these programmes:

• MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care
• Postgraduate Certificate in Health Research
• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research
• Short courses in health sciences