Download the Observational Epidemioligy Course registration form - PDF
Design and analysis of observational studies
Program |
|
| 09.15-09.30 |
Welcome and introduction (Luigi Gagliardi) |
| 09.30-10.10 |
Architecture of observational studies (Roberto Bellù) |
| 10:10-10:30 |
Coffee Break |
| 10.30-11.10 |
Confounding and causal inference (Luigi Gagliardi) |
| 11.10-11.50 |
Threats to validity and biases in observational results (Patrick Truffert) |
| 11.50-12.30 |
How to conduct an observational study (Kate Costeloe) |
| 12.30-13.20 |
Lunch Break |
| 13:20-14:20 |
Analysis of observational studies (Daniel Virella) |
|
|
| 14.20-16.20 |
Analysis of papers and of abstracts presented to the ESPR 2009, in small groups (all together + students) |
| 16:20-16:30 |
Coffee Break |
| 16.30-17.30 |
General Discussion |
| 17.30-17.40 |
Closing remarks |
SPEAKERS
- Robert Bellù, Italy
- Kate Costeloe, UK
- Luigi Gagliardi, Italy
- Patrick Truffert, France
- Daniel Virella, Portugal
Target: European clinical investigators, interested in non-randomised studies (observational and quasi-experimental studies)
Limit: 30 people
Following up a cohort of patients, and seeing what happens, seems the simplest way to gain knowledge about risks, exposures and outcomes. Year after year, a large number of abstracts, papers and research projects on follow up of cohorts of infants are submitted to the ESPR congress as well as to other congresses worldwide.
And yet, a task that seems so simple hides many potential pitfalls. What are the threats to validity in observational research? What are the potential biases that undermine many results? What makes for a good research, and what are the most frequent problems?
Organized by the Section of Epidemiology of the ESPR, this course, aimed at gaining a better understanding of design of experiments and analytical aspects of non-randomised clinical studies, is targeted to researchers doing observational research, and tries to follow the main aspects of designing, conducting and interpreting an observational study. The analysis of real material (anonymised abstracts, published papers) will make it interactive, alternating theory with practical exercises.