39112 - DEMOGRAPHY, STATISTICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Jordi Sarola Gassiot

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

• Catalan

Oral presentations in the classroom will be in Catalan.

The subject of Demography, Statistics and Epidemiology belongs to module 1 of Basic Training of the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics.  

This subject will give students an introductory knowledge of the main biostatistical research techniques used in the analysis of biological data. 

Demography analyzes populations, demographic sources, growth, mortality, fertility, nuptials, migrations, etc. It aims to acquire basic knowledge related to the analysis of the population, its change, structure and phenomena that affect it. It will be necessary to calculate and interpret basic indicators, know and use the main demographic sources and have knowledge of the main population theories. 

Statistics is the discipline that allows you to analyze and interpret numerical data, look for relationships and make comparisons in order to make decisions. The course aims to introduce the statistical method through basic statistical concepts. 

Epidemiology is a scientific discipline that studies the distribution, frequency and determining factors of existing diseases in defined human populations. Aid in disease surveillance and control, to create programs to aid in health promotion and education, health management and others. 

Module 1. Demography 

Topic 1. Introduction to the study of the population. Basic concepts. 

• Concept of demography. 

• Type of demographics. 

• Data sources in demography. 

• Terminology in demography. 

Topic 2. Static demography 

• Demographic indicators 

• Types of measures: ratios, proportions and rates 

• Static demography (population structure) 

Topic 3. Dynamic demography 

• Fertility and Migration.  

• Birth and fertility. Lexis diagram.  

• Natural movement and migratory movements.  

Topic 4. Health demography. 

• Mortality  

• Gross mortality.  

• Maternal and infant mortality.  

• Specific mortality by age and by causes.  

• Avoidable mortality and potential years of life lost.  

• Lifespan.  

• Life expectancy in good health. 

Module 2. Statistics 

Subject 1. Introduction to applied statistics in health sciences 

Topic 2. Descriptive statistics 

Topic 3. Probability and probability distribution functions 

Module 3. Epidemiology 

Topic 1. The scientific method 

Topic 2. Types of studies. design 

Topic 3. Measures of disease frequency 

Topic 4. Measures of association of diseases with risk factors 

Seminar 1. Demography. 

Seminar 2. Epidemiology and statistics. 

The evaluation system will be carried out according to the guidelines of the Academic Regulations for Undergraduate Teaching at Pompeu Fabra University. The results obtained for the student body will be expressed in numerical grades, in accordance with the scale provided for in Royal Decree 1125/2003, of September 5, for which the European system of credits and the system of qualifications in university degrees of an official nature and valid throughout the national territory:  

0,0 - 4,9: Suspension (SS) 

5,0 - 6,9: Approved (AP) 

7,0 - 8,9: Notable (NT) 

9,0 - 10: Excellent (SB) 

According to the Academic Regulations for Degrees, there will only be one official call that will include two different evaluation periods: 

1. Ordinary period, which takes place in an integrated way in the training process and during the teaching period. 

2. Extraordinary period, in which the student can be assessed again for tasks, activities or tests that have not been passed satisfactorily within the framework of the first period. 

Ordinary evaluation period 

Evaluation of the face-to-face modality: 

Evaluation of the virtual modality: 

Assignments: All assignments must be submitted through the Virtual Classroom on the date indicated. No late work will be accepted. Total or partial copying in any of the learning activities will mean a "Not Presented" in the subject, without the option to take the make-up test and without prejudice to the opening of a file for this reason. Therefore, plagiarism or copying someone else's work will be penalized according to the Regulations on the rights and duties of Pompeu Fabra University students. The University will be informed and a serious offense will be placed on the file.  

To facilitate the appropriate citation of texts and materials it is necessary to consult the orientations and guidelines for academic citation available at the website of the Library. 

The final mark of the subject will be the average of the evaluations EP1, EP2, EP3, EV1, EV3 and EV4. To be able to make this average you need: 

1. having obtained a grade of at least 4/10 in the final exam (EP1) 

2. and having obtained a grade of at least 4/10 in the subject's final work (average of EP2 and EP3), 

3. and having scored at least 4/10 in the virtual assessment (average of EV1, EV3 and EV4),  

4. and having attended at least 1 of the 2 face-to-face seminars. 

The student who meets the 4 previous requirements (who can make the average) and whose average is 5 or more out of 10 will pass the subject in the ordinary period. 

Extraordinary assessment period 

In the event that a student has not passed the subject in the ordinary period, he/she may take the make-up exam, as long as he/she has taken the ordinary final exam (EP1). In this case, the grade of the recovery exam will account for 40% of the final grade, averaging with the rest of the assessment activities, following the weighting described above. Exceptionally, you do not need to meet the requirements b), c) and d) above to make an average, but you do need to have a grade of at least 4/10 on the retake exam. 

If the student does not appear in the ordinary exam, he will not be able to take the make-up exam and will have the subject suspended. 

If the student takes the make-up exam but does not achieve a 4/10 on this exam, or the weighted average of all assessments does not reach a 4/10, the subject will be failed. 

Assessable activities EP2, EP3, EV1, EV3 and EV4 cannot be recovered. 

Gordis L. Epidemiology. 3rd edition. Ediciones Hancourt SA, 2005. 

Szklo M, Nieto J. Intermedia Epidemiology: Concepts and Applications. Díaz de Santos, 2003. 

Rey Calero J, Gil de Miguel A, Herruzo Cabrera R, Rodríguez Artalejo F. Fundamentals of Epidemiology for health professionals. Ramón Areces University Foundation. Madrid, 2007. 

Argimon Pallàs JM, Jiménez Villa J. Clinical and Epidemiological Research Methods (5th ed.). Elsevier. Madrid, 2019.