FRM9910 – NFIF - Introduction to pharmacoepidemiology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Using current examples and with the participation of active researchers in pharmacoepidemiology, this course addresses a range of study designs and analytic techniques for observational studies on the utilization, safety, and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals. Students will develop an understanding of how to plan, implement, analyse, and criticize pharmacoepidemiological studies. Original research will be presented by principal investigators, followed by intensive discussions on design options, analytic strategies, and sensitivity analyses of confounding and misclassification bias. Lectures will provide methodological background and will cover applied issues typically encountered in pharmacoepidemiology.
Learning outcome
After completing the course the student should be able:
- to plan and implement pharmacoepidemiological studies
- to analyse data from pharmacoepidemiological studies
- to criticize pharmacoepidemiological studies
Admission
The final registration deadline is 10 October 2015. Registration is done by filling out an online application form.
PhD candidates who are admitted to other education institutions than UiO must at the same time apply for visiting status. They must submit the same documentation as regular visiting status applicants, but the application and documentation is to be sent by e-mail to The School of Pharmacy, studieinfo@farmasi.uio.no and not to the Faculty point of contact. Applicants must be able to present original documentation on request.
If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, PhD students who are members of the Norwegian School of Pharmacy and the Norwegian Research School in General Practice will have priority.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
There is a prerequisite with basic knowledge in statistics and epidemiology (i.e. FRM4110 - Applied statistics for pharmacists, MEDSEM 1 medical statistics).
Teaching
The course will run for the first time in October 2015 and is founded by the National PhD School in Pharmacy and the Research School in General Practice. The venue will be at The School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo. The course curriculum will change on a yearly basis and address important research questions, approaches as well as applied methods in selected topics within the PhD schools's research areas. The course is centred on a three day obligatory session held in Oslo and includes lecturers, student’s presentations, data lab, plenary discussions and group work. Lectures will be held by local, national and foreign invited speakers within the topic of pharmaco-epidemiology. All students will give an obligatory short presentation on their own research project. Prior to this course week the students will receive course material (approximately 300 pages) that will be used and useful for the obligatory assignments, group discussions and data laboratory work. Discussion groups between students and lecturers will be established. Attendance is obligatory. Course literature will be pre-selected and accessible to course participants in due time prior to the course.
Obligatory activities
Three day course in Oslo which includes
- 10 hours of lectures
- 6 hours of students presentations
- 6 hours groups discussions
- Two assignments
Examination
Each student will be evaluated by two obligatory written home assignments based on the course theme and literature in addition their active participation during the course. The student will be expected to present one of the assignments during the course.
Home assignment 1: Prepare presentation of own research project
Home assignment 2: Critical appraisal of a pharmaco-epidemiological study
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. If you would prefer to have the exam text in English, you may apply to the course administrators.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.