Exam: Epidemiology, Study Designs, Outcome Measures, and Biases
Learning Outcomes
With this exam, participants demonstrate their ability to:
- Describe the frequency of health outcomes in a population
- Assess the association between a specific exposure and a health outcome
- Explain the differences between causal and noncausal associations
- Critically appraise study designs and identify potential sources of bias
- Compute and interpret common measures used to evaluate diagnostic tests
- Apply epidemiological toolbox (theory) to case studies (practice)
Topics/Content
Self-study, consultation with lecturers, and examination.
Basic information
| Number | E046.ExE.25 |
|---|---|
| Dates | Self-study: June - October 2025 (Recommended books: see suggestions below) |
| Times | 20.10.2025: 13:15 – 17:15 / 04.11.2025: 13:30 – 17:00 |
| Course location | Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine ISPM 20.10.2025: room 371, third floor |
| Lead | Ben Spycher PD, PhD |
| Seats max. | 10 people |
| Course language | English |
| Registration deadline | 06.10.2025 |
| Format | Individual event from Public Health Sciences Course Program |
| Governing Unit |
Faculty of Medicine University of Bern Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) |
| ECTS info |
1.5 ECTS points will be credited For an accreditation of the ECTS, students are required to attend the on-site consultation and pass the exam. |
Target audience
This exam targets PhD students.
Special
Recommended book for self-study:
Essential Epidemiology: An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals (4th edition) by Penelope Webb, Chris Bain, and Andrew Page ISBN 978-1-108-76680-7
Admission requirements
Participants are required to have completed the courses “Introduction to Epidemiology and Study Design” and “Diagnostic Test Evaluation” or have equivalent training.
Application and admission procedure
The program manager decides on the final admission.
Application process: You are requested to enroll online. Seats will be allocated according to date of enrolment.
Costs
Amount still open
Administrative / Payment modalities
Registration fees are waived for PhD students of the University of Bern who commit to the whole course attendance. To avoid being invoiced, it is mandatory that you indicate your institute and the matriculation number upon registration for the course. Please note cancellation regulations below.
Cancellation regulations
These cancellation rules apply to PhD students of the University of Bern.
Processing fee of CHF 100 will be applied for:
- Cancellations after two weeks before the first course day (late cancellations)
- Participants with course attendance of less than 80% of the on-site course time
- Absence on the first day of the course (considered as a late cancellation)
Course attendance must be cancelled at the latest 2 weeks before the first course day. Write an email to phs-admin.ispm@unibe.ch.
The cancellation has to be confirmed by the course coordination.
For your registration the General Terms and Conditions of the PHS Course Program apply.
Contact
University of Bern
Public Health Sciences Course Program
c/o Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine
Mittelstrasse 43
3012 Bern
Switzerland
Tel: +41 31 684 34 04