Module 1: Foundations and Principles of Epidemiology

• Definition, scope, and core functions of epidemiology in public health
• The epidemiological triad: Host, Agent, and Environment
• Concepts of disease causality and the Bradford Hill criteria
• Differentiating between descriptive, analytical, and applied epidemiology
• Introduction to epidemiological data sources and quality assessment
• Practical session: Analyzing a simulated public health scenario to apply the epidemiological triad and basic principles

Module 2: Measures of Disease Occurrence and Association

• Calculating and interpreting incidence rate, cumulative incidence, and prevalence
• Measures of association: Risk Ratio (RR), Odds Ratio (OR), and Rate Ratio
• Understanding and calculating Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) and Number Needed to Treat (NNT)
• Standardized rates and direct/indirect standardization
• Interpretation of confidence intervals and $p$-values in epidemiological studies
• Practical session: Calculating and interpreting key measures of occurrence and association from raw population data

Module 3: Study Design: Observational Studies (Cross-Sectional and Case-Control)

• Cross-sectional studies: Design, uses, and limitations (e.g., prevalence surveys)
• Case-control studies: Logic of design, selection of cases and controls, and matching
• Calculation of the Odds Ratio (OR) as the primary measure of association in case-control studies
• Introduction to nested case-control studies
• Sources of bias specific to cross-sectional and case-control designs (e.g., recall bias)
• Practical session: Designing a case-control study protocol for a non-communicable disease

Module 4: Study Design: Cohort and Intervention Studies (Trials)

• Cohort studies: Design (prospective vs. retrospective), measures, and strengths
• Calculation of the Risk Ratio (RR) and Rate Ratio (IRR) in cohort studies
• Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Key features, randomization, and blinding
• Types of trials: Parallel, crossover, and cluster randomized trials
• Ethical and logistical considerations in conducting intervention studies
• Practical session: Analyzing the results of a hypothetical cohort study to determine risk factors and relative risks

Module 5: Addressing Bias, Confounding, and Effect Modification

• Definition and types of bias (selection bias, information bias) and strategies to minimize them
• Confounding: Definition, criteria, and methods of control (restriction, matching, stratification, adjustment)
• Effect modification (Interaction): Definition and methods for detection and interpretation
• Introduction to the Mantel-Haenszel procedure for stratified analysis
• Assessing internal and external validity of study findings
• Practical session: Using stratified analysis to test for confounding and effect modification in a dataset

Module 6: Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation

• Purpose and characteristics of public health surveillance systems (passive vs. active)
• Steps of an outbreak investigation (e.g., confirming diagnosis, case definition, hypothesis generation)
• Creating and interpreting epidemic curves and calculating attack rates
• Practical considerations for field epidemiology and rapid response
• Using GIS and spatial analysis techniques in disease mapping
• Practical session: Interpreting an epidemic curve and formulating a hypothesis during a simulated foodborne outbreak

Module 7: Introduction to Regression Modeling in Epidemiology

• Rationale for using multivariate regression models (beyond stratification)
• Introduction to Simple and Multiple Linear Regression for continuous outcomes
• Introduction to Logistic Regression for binary outcomes (calculating adjusted ORs)
• Model building strategies (e.g., backward elimination, purposeful selection)
• Interpreting regression output, including adjusted coefficients and  values
• Practical session: Running and interpreting a basic Logistic Regression model to control for multiple confounders

Module 8: Causal Inference and Advanced Analytical Techniques

• Advanced concepts in causal inference: Counterfactual framework and directed acyclic graphs (DAGs)
• Introduction to Advanced Designs: Case-crossover and ecological studies
• The concept of Mediation and Moderation in epidemiological pathways
• Introduction to systematic reviews and meta-analysis
• Addressing misclassification in exposure and outcome variables
• Practical session: Critically appraising a complex study to identify potential biases and assess the strength of causal inference

Module 9: Validity, Reliability, and Survey Instrument Design

• Defining validity (face, content, construct, criterion) and reliability (test-retest, inter-rater)
• Steps in designing a high-quality questionnaire or data collection instrument
• Formats for asking questions and designing appropriate response scales
• Techniques for pilot testing and refining survey instruments
• Methods for data collection (e.g., interviews, self-administered, mobile data capture)
• Practical session: Designing and critiquing a 10-item survey instrument for a public health topic

Module 10: Ethical Issues, Communication, and Proposal Development

• Key ethical principles in human subjects research (Belmont Report)
• The role and function of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)
• Strategies for effective communication of epidemiological findings to diverse audiences (media, policy makers)
• Developing the key components of a full research proposal (background, methods, analysis plan)
• Writing the Discussion section: Limitations, generalizability, and policy implications
• Practical session: Developing the Methods and Analysis sections for an epidemiological research proposal

Requirements:

• Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.
• Applicants must live up to Armstrong Global Institute admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free

2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.

4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.

5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.

Or call us on +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:

1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Armstrong Global Training & Development Center Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.

2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.

3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.

2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.

3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Tailor Made Courses

This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588 or Email training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com

Accommodation and Airport Transfer

Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588