ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 2 Expository Class: 27 Interactive Classroom: 16 Total: 45
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
Areas: Preventive Medicine and Public Health
Center Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
- To learn the fundamental principles of the epidemiological method as the essential core of Public Health.
- To understand and apply the criteria of causality in epidemiology and health sciences.
- To know the keys to epidemiological analysis: study designs; measures of frequency, measures of effect; identification of biases (selection, information, confusion).
- To know the fundamentals of diagnostic test studies, both in terms of validity and reproducibility.
- To understand and know how to apply the fundamentals of Demography as an auxiliary science of Epidemiology and Public Health: identification and analysis of populations, both static and dynamic.
- To know the theoretical foundations and the research process
- To know how to interpret a scientific publication.
- To know how to plan, with the appropriate design, an epidemiological study.
- To know the main tools for the synthesis of scientific literature, the systematic review and meta-analysis.
THEORIC LECTURE PROGRAMME (27 hours)
Block 1. Introductory module (3 hours)
Topic 1. History of public health and epidemiology.
Topic 2. Concept of health and disease. Epidemiological chain and introduction to causality. Causality criteria.
Block 2. Demography (3 hours)
Topic 4. Static Demography
Topic 5. Dynamic Demography
Topic 6. Health indicators and health surveys.
Block 3. Design of Epidemiological Studies (10 hours)
Topic 7. Measures of frequency, effect and impact.
Topic 8. Clinical trials
Topic 9. Cohort studies
Topic 10. Case-control studies
Topic 11. Cross-sectional studies
Topic 12. Ecological studies
Topic 13. Biases
Block 4. Diagnostic test studies (3 hours)
Topic 14. Study of the validity of diagnostic test studies and their biases.
Topic 15. Study of the reproducibility of diagnostic test studies
Blocks 5-6. Search and synthesis of scientific evidence (4 hours).
Topic 16. Structure and operation of automated biomedical databases.
Topic 17. Systematic reviews of scientific literature
Topic 18. Other review types: narrative review, scoping review, umbrella review, clinical practice guidelines.
Topic 19. Meta-analysis
Block 7. Publication and misconduct in scientific research (3 hours)
Topic 20. The scientific publication process
Topic 21. Scientific Writing: Structure of the Article and Authorship Criteria
Topic 22. Research misconduct. Definition and typology.
SEMINAR PROGRAMME (one hour each, 4 hours in total).
Seminar 1. Standardization of rates.
Seminar 2. Measures of frequency.
Seminar 3. Measures of effect and impact.
Seminar 4. Diagnostic tests.
LABORATORIES PROGRAMME (one hour each, 12 hours in total).
Laboratory 1. Research project I: The research question, hypothesis and objectives.
Laboratory 2. Research project II: Structure and fundamental parts of the investigation protocol.
Laboratory 3. Search for scientific literature in automated databases I.
Laboratory 4. Search for scientific literature in automated databases II.
Laboratory 5. Elaboration of questionnaires I.
Laboratory 6. Elaboration of questionnaires II.
Laboratory 7. Study design.
Laboratory 8. Critical reading: clinical trials.
Laboratory 9. Critical reading: cohort studies.
Laboratory 10. Critical reading: case-controls.
Laboratory 11. Meta-analysis.
Laboratory 12. Compilation of evidence.
- Ildefonso Hernández-Aguado y Blanca Lumbreras Lacarra. Manual de Epidemiología y Salud Pública para Grados en Ciencias de la Salud. 3ª Edición. Ed Panamericana. ISBN 9788491101734. 2018. 420 páginas.
- Ahlbom A, Alfredssom L, Alfven T. Fundamentos de epidemiología. 9ª ed. Siglo XXI de España Eds. Madrid, 2007.
- Argimón JM, Jiménez J. Métodos de investigación clínica y epidemiológica. 5ª Ed. Ediciones Harcourt. Madrid, 2019.
- Warren S. Browner MD, Thomas B. Newman MD, Steven R. Cummings MD, Deborah G. Grady MD, MPH. Diseño de investigaciones clínicas. 5º Edición. 2023. Wolters Kluwer.
- Porta M. A dictionary of Epidemiology. International of Epidemiology Association. Oxford University Press. 6ª Ed. 2014.
- Norell S. Diseños de estudios epidemiológicos. Siglo XXI de España Eds. Madrid, 1998
- Rothman KJ. Epidemiology: An introduction. Third Edition. Oxford University Press, 2024.
- Gordis L. Epidemiología. Elsevier. 2025. 7ª edición
Students should be able to design an epidemiological study and plan a research study, apply epidemiological measurement tools and critically analyse variable relationship using the methods learnt throughout the course. Students should also be able to interpret a diagnostic test study. Furthermore, they should be able to understand the process of scientific writing and publication.
Knowledge:
Con39. Risk factors and disease prevention.
Con40. Recognise the determinants of population health.
Con41. Health Indicators.
Con42. Planning, Programming and Evaluation of Health Programmes.
Con46. Epidemiology.
Con47. Demography.
Con50. Health and environment.
Con53. Knowing, critically assessing and knowing how to use the technologies and sources of clinical and biomedical information, in order to obtain, organise, interpret and communicate clinical, scientific and health information.
Con57. Knowing the history of health and disease.
Con60. Use the systems of search and retrieval of biomedical information.
Con62. Understand and critically interpret scientific texts.
Con63. Know the principles of the scientific method, biomedical research and clinical trials.
Con65. Know and handle the principles of medicine based on the (best) evidence.
Instrumental Competences:
Comp01. Capacity for analysis and synthesis.
Comp02. Ability to organise and plan.
Comp06. Information management skills (ability to search for and analyse information from different sources).
Comp07. Problem solving.
Comp08. Decision-making.
Interpersonal skills:
Comp09. Critical and self-critical skills.
Systemic competences:
Comp17. Ability to apply knowledge in practice.
Comp18. Research skills.
Comp25. Project design and management.
Lectures (27 hours): lectures will be delivered with the support of audiovisual and computer resources. During the sessions, problems, theoretical questions or practical examples may be posed.
Interactive seminar classes (4 hours): the seminars will be conducted in coordination with the lectures. Students will be required to bring the activity notebook to the seminars, which will be available on the virtual campus from the starting day of the course. The dynamics of the seminars may include problem solving exercises, debates to encourage student participation and the use of gamification techniques in the classroom, among other methods. The work conducted by students during the seminars may be individual or in groups. Students are advised to review the planned seminar activities in advance. A final seminar test or a homework assignment can be done through the virtual campus.
Interactive laboratory classes (12 hours): the laboratories will be conducted in coordination with the lectures. Students will be required to bring the activity notebook to the seminars, which will be available on the virtual campus from the day the course begins. During the laboratories, problem-solving techniques, discussion forums or debates may be used to encourage student participation and gamification techniques in the classroom, among other methods. The work carried out by students during the laboratories may be individual or in groups. It is recommended that students review the planned laboratory activities in advance. A final test of the laboratories or a homework assignment can be done through the virtual campus.
IMPORTANT: The weight of the final exam may account between 70% to 100% of the final grade, while the weight of the continuous assessment will range between 0% and 30%.
The evaluation will be as follows for the first opportunity.
Examination: Knowledge acquired during the different classes imparted during the course will be evaluated by means of a written test (multiple choice test), with a maximum of 60 questions. Passing this written test will be mandatory to pass the subject. Students will be required to obtain 70% or more of the total points to obtain a passing grade in the written test (5 or higher). The weight of this written test may represent between 70% and 100% of the final grade.
Continuous assessment: this may account for up to 30% of the final grade, only if the written test is passed.
Attendance and participation in lectures, seminars and laboratories may be considered. Additional assessments may include tests at the end of the laboratories, seminars or face-to-face lectures or assignments submitted through the virtual campus.
The weight of the continuous assessment in the extraordinary opportunity of recovery (June test opportunity) will be the same as the one used in the first call.
The final grade will be calculated combining the score of the exam and the continuous assessment score (based on the marks awarded to each part), if any, and only if the written exam is passed. If the exam is not passed, the final grade will be the exam score alone and the continuous assessment will not be considered. The final grade will be “Not Shown” if the exam is not taken, regardless of any continuous assessment. If continuous assessment is not carried out by the teaching staff, the final grade will be solely based on the written exam score.
For the second opportunity, the same evaluation system as in the first opportunity (written test) may be used or the written test may be replaced by a topic-type written exam or by an oral exam conducted by one of the teachers of the subject, which will have the same weight in the evaluation as the written test. In the second opportunity, the mark achieved in the continuous assessment will be maintained, if this assessment has been carried out throughout the course. The rest of the evaluation conditions are maintained.
The continuous assessment mark is not saved from one academic year to the next.
The estimated study time is three hours per week, which should include reviewing the theory covered in class, as well as the completion of the problems covered during practical sessions and working through similar exercises that can be found in the recommended bibliography.
Active attendance at classes, both theoretical and interactive, and continuous study of the subject. Consultation, extending the topics with the recommended basic and complementary bibliography, two or three basic works. Complete understanding of the exercises proposed in the seminars and laboratories.
Communication with the teachers of the subject will be done through the Virtual Campus or the institutional mail of the USC. The Virtual Campus will be used to provide and update all the teaching materials necessary for the theoretical and interactive classes. As students’ progress in the subject and doubts arise in relation to concepts or practical aspects, these will not be answered by e-mail, they must request a tutorial session.
In the case of fraudulent behaviour in exercises and/or tests, the ‘Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións’ of the USC will be applied.
For the attention of students with specific educational support needs, the ‘Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e revisión de cualificacións’ of the USC will be followed, along with the “Protocolo de atención a personas con discapacidad del Área de Integración del Servicio de Participación e Integración Universitaria“ of the USC. If necessary, adaptations will be made to meet the educational needs of these students.
Alberto Ruano Raviña
- Department
- Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
- Area
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- Phone
- 881812267
- alberto.ruano [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Maria Leonor Varela Lema
- Department
- Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
- Area
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- leonor.varela [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Monica Perez Rios
Coordinador/a- Department
- Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
- Area
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- Phone
- 881812277
- monica.perez.rios [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Lucía Rodríguez Loureiro
- Department
- Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
- Area
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- lucia.rodriguez.loureiro [at] usc.es
- Category
- Investigador/a Sara Borrell
Julia Rey Brandariz
- Department
- Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
- Area
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- juliarey.brandariz [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Intern Assistant LOSU
Ana Teijeiro Teijeira
- Department
- Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
- Area
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- anat.teijeira [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
Guadalupe Garcia
- Department
- Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine
- Area
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- guada.garcia [at] usc.es
- Category
- Predoutoral FIDIS
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 10:30-11:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 16:30-17:30 | Grupo /CLE_04 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 17:30-18:30 | Grupo /CLE_03 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 17:30-18:30 | Grupo /CLIL_14 | Spanish | Medicina-Seminario A |
| Wednesday | |||
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 10:30-11:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 16:30-17:30 | Grupo /CLE_04 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 17:30-18:30 | Grupo /CLE_03 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| Thursday | |||
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 10:30-11:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 16:30-17:30 | Grupo /CLE_04 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 17:30-18:30 | Grupo /CLE_03 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| Friday | |||
| 09:30-10:30 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 10:30-11:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 16:30-17:30 | Grupo /CLE_04 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 17:30-18:30 | Grupo /CLE_03 | Spanish | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 2 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 3 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 6 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 7 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 8 |
| 06.03.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicina-Aula 10 |
| 07.02.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 3 |
| 07.02.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 07.02.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 07.02.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 7 |
| 07.02.2026 09:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Medicine-Classroom 8 |