IDE7104: The Theory and Principles of Field Epidemiology

This course will cover the fundamental principle of applied epidemiology through articulation of evidence-based science to achieve public health objectives. It will equip students with understanding, knowledge, skills and competences applicable for identification of public health problems, measurement of risk factors, and designing and evaluation of public health programs for the improvement of the health of the public. Specifically, the course will develop students through training that brings understanding, knowledge and skills in the following:  
 

• Response to acute problems such as outbreaks, natural and man-made disasters. 
• Development of the scientific basis for program and policy decisions to prevent and control disease outbreaks, health disasters and other key public health problems. 
• Strengthening the surveillance systems through evaluations, managing ongoing or new surveillance systems, and training of local health staff. 
• Strengthening the communication of epidemiological information by contributing to the national data use process for prevention and control of disease outbreaks.  

 
Aim  

The primary aim of this course is to train students to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes and competences geared towards improvement of the health of the people of Uganda and the region. 
In pursuit of this aim, this course will practically train by provision of training on essential public health services to the country, work with the students to prioritise issues of health threats and strengthen public health systems to respond to health threats.  
 
Course objectives  
By the end of this course, the students will be able to: 

• Apply the pillars of theory and principles of disease outbreak investigation. 
• Demonstrate the concepts of screening and testing in a range of health and other settings. 
• Apply epidemiological criteria needed to establish causal relationships. 
• Apply key ethical issues in the conduct of epidemiological and other scientific investigations. 
• Demonstrate community entry procedures for outbreak investigation. 
• Gain indepth knowledge of surveillance of diseases using laboratory tests. 
• Interpret test properties including sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values among others. 
• Conduct field epidemiological research. 
• Conduct passive and active surveillance. 
• Evaluate passive and active surveillance systems. 
• Implement community engagement principles in field epidemiology. 
• Conduct risk communication. 

 
Expected course outcome 
Application of acquired understanding, knowledge, skills and competences in: 

• In planning for field epidemiology. 
• Demonstrating working disease outbreak response plans, models, designs and investigation. 
• Sampling and power calculations. 
• Demonstrating surveillance plans, models and designs.