Quantitative Research Methods for Health Professionals

- Preface
- Acknowledgements
1. Philosophy of science and introduction to epidemiology
- Introduction and learning objectives
1.1 Approaches to scientific research
1.2 Formulating a research question
1.3 Rates: incidence and prevalence
1.4 Concepts of prevention
1.5 Answers to self-assessment exercises
2. Routine data sources and descriptive epidemiology
- Introduction and learning objectives
2.1 Routine collection of health information
2.2 Descriptive epidemiology
2.3 Information on the environment
2.4 Displaying, describing and presenting data
2.5 Summary of routinely available data
2.6 Descriptive epidemiology in action
2.7 Overview of epidemiological study designs
2.8 Answers to self-assessment exercises
3. Standardisation
- Introduction and learning objectives
3.1 Health inequalities in Merseyside
3.2 Indirect standardisation: calculation of the standardised mortality ratio (SMR)
3.3 Direct standardisation
3.4 Standardisation for factors other than age
3.5 Answers to self-assessment exercises
4. Surveys
- Introduction and learning objectives
4.1 Purpose and context
4.2 Sampling methods
4.3 The sampling frame
4.4 Sampling error, confidence intervals and sample size
4.5 Response
4.6 Measurement
4.7 Data types and presentation
4.8 Answers to self-assessment exercises
5. Cohort studies
- Introduction and learning objectives
5.1 Why do a cohort study?
5.2 Obtaining the sample
5.3 Measurement
5.4 Follow-up
5.5 Basic presentation and analysis of results
5.6 How large should a cohort study be?
5.7 Confounding
5.8 Simple linear regression
5.9 Introduction to multiple linear regression
5.10 Answers to self-assessment exercises
6. Case-control studies
- Introduction and learning objectives
6.1 Why do a case-control study?
6.2 Key elements of study design
6.3 Basic unmatched and matched analysis
6.4 Sample size for a case-control study
6.5 Confounding and logistic regression
6.6 Answers to self-assessment