Overview
This course examines the methods used to generate, evaluate, synthesize, and apply evidence in population health. It integrates epidemiology, biostatistics, health services research, qualitative inquiry, mixed-methods research, and evidence-based decision-making. Topics include causal questions and frameworks, study designs, validity, selection and information bias, confounding, effect modification, causal diagrams, screening and diagnostic evaluation, intervention effectiveness, implementation evidence, systematic and scoping reviews, meta-analysis, evidence grading, risk-of-bias assessment, and knowledge translation.
Students formulate answerable population health questions, develop search and inclusion strategies, critically appraise primary studies and reviews, distinguish association from causation, interpret absolute and relative measures of effect, assess heterogeneity and applicability, and communicate certainty and limitations. The course emphasizes health equity, structural determinants, community and stakeholder perspectives, ethical evidence use, and the challenges of applying findings across populations and settings. Culminating work connects research findings to feasible, equitable, and policy-relevant recommendations.
Learning Outcomes
- Formulate answerable population health questions using appropriate conceptual and causal frameworks.
- Evaluate epidemiological, biostatistical, qualitative, mixed-methods, and health services research designs for validity and relevance.
- Construct causal diagrams and distinguish confounding, mediation, effect modification, selection bias, and information bias.
- Interpret absolute and relative measures of effect, diagnostic performance measures, uncertainty estimates, and clinically relevant differences.
- Critically appraise primary studies, systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and implementation evidence using appropriate assessment tools.
- Synthesize evidence while assessing heterogeneity, certainty, transferability, applicability, and limitations.
- Design reproducible search, screening, inclusion, and data-extraction strategies for evidence synthesis.
- Integrate community perspectives, structural determinants, health equity considerations, and ethical principles into evidence interpretation.
- Develop policy-oriented recommendations that align evidence strength with feasible and equitable population health action.
- Communicate evidence, uncertainty, and limitations clearly to academic, clinical, policy, and community audiences.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Seminar | 2 hours | Fortnightly | Second term |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Critical appraisal assignments (2 × 10%) | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Evidence search and review protocol | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Critical evidence brief | 25.00% |
| Test | Practical appraisal test | 15.00% |
| Exam | Final examination | 25.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.